Marquette Regional History Center
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Field Trips


​We can accommodate you in the museum with a pre-scheduled field trip, taking care to use masks at this time. Contact Betsy via email to schedule: [email protected]

If you are unable to bring your class in at this time, try a virtual visit! See the information below to schedule or purchase yours. 

​These virtual field trips are created so you may enjoy them from your classroom.
Fur Trade Virtual Visit 
Customized Virtual Visit
MRHC Virtual Field Trip - Fur Trade
$
20.00    
Enjoy this 26 minute video visit full of photos and museum footage, to learn about the fur trade era in our region. Click View Product for details.
"Come on In!" Virtual Visit
$
20.00    
Virtual Archaeology Field Trip
Purchase here to enjoy in your classroom or at home.
MRHC Virtual Field Trip - Archaeology
$
15.00    
Scheduled In Class Video Visit
$
10.00    

5th-H History 4-H Club Digital Story Project: The Time of the Shining Rocks 
This video is 42 minutes in length. Enjoy it like an audio book with pictures. Audio begins :47 seconds in.
For more information on our history club, see below.


School Group Visits

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Photo: School group activity - trade bead bracelet.
The History Center offers guided tours through the museum, including hands-on projects, live performances and activities for all ages. Call to schedule your visit today.
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We can host school groups both big and small. 60 is a nice maximum group size.
(For restrictions during the Covid-19 pandemic, please call).

Many dates and times are available for your field trip. Call or email to schedule as far in advance as possible; please try to schedule at least one week in advance.

Programs designed for all age groups are available, Preschool through College age!

School group prices:
$2.00 per K-12 student
$3.00 per College student
$5.00 per each adult chaperone
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From preschool to college level, we have a field trip for everyone. Design your field trip with Museum Educator, Betsy Rutz or choose from those we have ready to go. Such as: 

Pre-K and Kindergarten: Animal hunt in gallery, puppet fables, train conductor tour through main gallery and special exhibit. (45-60 min) 
1st Grade: Communities. Meet historical characters, everyday heroes of our local community who will share their stories in the main gallery. Focus on past, present, future (1.5-2 hr)
2nd Grade: Communities, or early Marquette history focus.  (1.5-2 hr)

3rd Grade: Fur Trade Unit and quill or bead craft (1.5-2.5 hr depending on number of students) 
4th Grade: Lumbering Unit in main gallery and gathering hall activity. (1 hr +) 
5th-12th Grades: Early Footprints, Innovations, Early U.P., local geology, weather and climate, primary documents and research. (1-2 hours) 

We often create a field trip around a class specific focus such as a language class; just let us know what you are studying. 
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Email Betsy Rutz, Museum Educator, for more information on scheduling your tour! [email protected] or call 906.226.3571

Group Tours

Group tours are available for any type of group or club; please call or send us an email if you would like to schedule one!
No group is too small. 906-226-3571 or  email
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Visitors from Korea through NMU International Programs Office, Summer 2016
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Red Hat Club learning from a first-person narrative in our main exhibit gallery.
Fill out a teacher/group leader evaluation here. Email to [email protected]

Family Programming 

The History Center offers unique and fun family programming all year.
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Join us for these 2022 events!

​“Working as Though For Their Self:” The Archaeology of Cordwood Choppers' Everyday Life
Wednesday, June 1, 6:30 p.m. 

Join Dr. LouAnn Wurst, professor of Industrial Archaeology and Heritage program, Michigan Technological University, for this presentation. Archaeologists from MTU have excavated five sites occupied by cordwood choppers and their families who worked for Cleveland Cliffs Iron Company. These sites, currently in the Hiawatha National Forest, date from 1900-1935. The excavations recovered thousands of ceramic, bottle, and can fragments, animal bones, and many personal items which help us understand the choppers’ everyday life and how these camps changed over time. $5 suggested donation. 

17th Annual Cemetery Walk: Railroad Connections  
​Thursday, June 23, 1:00 and 6:00 p.m.

Join us for our ever-popular cemetery tour, at Holy Cross for 2022. This year we will feature people connected to the railroads including Joseph LaFave, who worked for the DSS&A for 57 years, and Timothy Patenaude, the “Human Adding Machine.” Our rain date will be June 30. $5 suggested donation.

​Tracks Through Time: A Walking Tour with Jim Koski. Wednesday, July 6, 6:30 p.m.
Join Jim Koski as he explores downtown Marquette and uses "urban archaeology" to learn how railroads shaped what we see there today. Learn how there are many signs of long-ago tracks and train facilities still hidden among the modern day neighborhood. Meet at the History Center. $5 suggested donation.

Marquette County Fair 2022
August 11-13, 10 a.m.-10:00 p.m. each day. ​

Join us at the fair grounds for fun in the Antiques Division and look for History Project submissions by our 5th-H History Club in the 4-H Building.
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Day Camp
Hands On! Art and History Day Camp 
​August 22-26, 10:00-12:00 each day. ​

In partnership with the Liberty Children’s Art Project, we are excited to put on our 9th annual summer camp for ages 8-12. Inventive art making and museum exploration highlight this week. Register at the MRHC.

10th Annual Archaeology Fair
Saturday, October 15, 11:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. 

Join the international celebration of archaeology! Enjoy hands-on learning for all ages. Multiple booths feature various regional and global displays and activities. Included with general museum admission.
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History Club

5th-H 4-H History Club
The four Hs are: Head, heart, hands, health. We are the 5th-H club as we add "history!" 
Join us for this youth club. We are meet through the school year and summer. Currently we have members ages 8-15 and are working on group projects and individual projects in theme with our special exhibit and community activities. 
Email Betsy with any questions or give us a call.
Club history:
The History Center joined with Marquette County 4-H to create a History Club in early 2017. Youth ages 8-16 and parents are invited to join. This club meets twice a month. We will learn about local history through projects such as: special guests, building a diorama, role playing, local authors, traditional crafts, and the stories youth choose to explore. A great opportunity to meet new friends and create group or individual projects. Youth can also create exhibits for the Marquette County Fair, and win prizes.  
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We took Best in Show for History Project 2017, 2018, and 2021!
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Club members learning up in our research library.

Archaeology Bingo Scavenger Hunt

Bingo October 2020 was a great success!
​View some archaeology bingo players' answer submissions on this slideshow:

To see all of the museum programming and details, and updates on programs check out the Events Page!

Outreach Programs

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Looking for an interesting 20-30 minute program for your community organization or service club, veterans group, senior center, or nursing home?  Outreach programs are offered free of charge in Marquette County. Call if you're interested in scheduling a tour! 906-226-3571.
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Through the Curator’s Eyes
Join the curator to explore highlights from the History Center’s diverse collection. All artifacts have stories and mysteries, whether they are a beautiful gown, unique sculpture, ordinary household tools, business signs or a hockey uniform. Each program will feature different artifacts.

Leaves on My Family Tree
What do a voyageur, blacksmith and train conductor have in common? Find out as Robert Mercure’s family history comes to life. Mercure’s ability to portray the lives of three men is entertaining and  engaging. Learn how he uncovered his family tree and created this fascinating story.
 
Early Pioneers
Meet William Austin Burt, Amos Harlow and Charles Harvey, early settlers who changed the landscape of Marquette County. Their stories are told through diaries, letters, photographs, maps and field notes.

When Beaver Was King
Prior to the discovery of iron ore, the most valuable natural resource was the beaver. This unique era in local history is shown through the perspective of either a Courier de Bois or a Metis woman living in the north woods. Learn how the Ojibwe and French traders adapted to their environment and influenced each other’s culture and way of life. View museum-quality historic  reproductions made by local artisans.

Maritime Tales
Share the stories of lighthouse keeper William Wheatley, hear about Samuel Wetton’s rescue at sea and view the resulting Carnegie and Coast Guard medals, learn about the Anderson Fish Company through oral histories and fishing logbooks.

Amazing Women in Marquette History
Diaries, scrapbooks and photographs illustrate the lives of Olive Harlow, Abby Longyear Roberts and Elba Morse. Each has an interesting story to tell.

Archival Treasures from the
J.M.  Longyear Research Library

View actual historical documents such as: the first post office record book, early weather observation books, railroad accident logs, Lincoln inauguration invitation, photo scrapbooks, Peter White correspondence, Martin Luther King signed program.

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Marquette Regional History Center | 145 W. Spring St. Marquette, MI 49855 | (906) 226-3571 | ©2020                                     Contact Us!