Exhibit Gallery

The challenging environment of the Upper Peninsula has helped shape the dynamic, persevering and resourceful people who call it home. The natural resources determined livelihoods, and there is a deep connection between residents and the land.

Travel back with us and explore state-of-the-art interactive exhibits, unique artifacts and engaging oral histories which bring the 11,000 year journey to life.

Special Exhibits

Railroads of Marquette County: Yesterday and Today

January 31, 2022 - February 11, 2023

Railroads were a central part of Marquette since its earliest development. Trains were an everyday sight around the city and downtown, crossing Front Street with ore cars, pulling into the depot to pick up and drop off passengers, or hauling logs from Alger County. Many Marquette families relied on the railroads for their livelihoods. Multiple railroads were headquartered in the city of Marquette. As iron mines on the Marquette Range opened in the 1840s, railroads developed to haul the iron ore. As mining expanded, so did the number of tracks and ore docks. Soon passengers, iron ore, timber, and other freight were all shipped to or from Marquette County. The railroads connected Michigan’s Upper Peninsula to the rest of the country. Learn where tracks ran, what they carried, and their destinations. We will look at how working the railroad has changed over the decades and how it is part of this region today. This exhibit features select hands on elements as well as maps, artifacts, and photographs.

Upcoming! Our next special exhibit: Exposing Photography: Anything but a Small Business opens on March 6, 2023.

Permanent Collection

The permanent collection includes artifacts from the Prehistoric copper culture through contemporary times. Only a fraction of the permanent collection is on display at one time. Ongoing special exhibits allow the museum to highlight different areas of the collection.

Over the years, the community has been so generous with donations, that the museum recently moved to a larger location. The new location is climate controlled and allows for continued collection of artifacts.