Eagle River Museum
Source: https://www.keweenawhistory.org/Eagle-River-Museum
Archived: 2026-04-23 15:31
Eagle River Museum
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Bammert Blacksmith Shop
Eagle River Museum
Central
Exploring Central – The Central Mine and The Central Mining Company
Exploring Central – The Churches at Central & The Central Reunion
Exploring Central – Life At Central
Exploring Central – The School at Central
Exploring Central – “Sad News From Central Mine”
Exploring Central- Photo Album of Historic Photos of Central
Schoolhouse at Gay
Copper Milling at Gay- About the Exhibit
Copper Milling at Gay- Timeline
Copper Milling at Gay- A Rich and Unique Landscape
Copper Milling at Gay- Copper Processing and Stamp Sands
Copper Milling at Gay- Social Life in a Company Town
Copper Milling at Gay- After the Mills: Fishing and Lumbering
Copper Milling at Gay- After the Mills: Gay Industries
Copper Milling at Gay- Migrating Sands and Buffalo Reef
Copper Milling at Gay- How Harmful are Stamp Sands?
Copper Mining at Gay- The Legacy: Living with the Effects
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Caretakers of the past, stewards of the future.
Keweenaw County Historical Society
Sites
Eagle Harbor Lighthouse
Maritime Museum
Commercial Fishing Museum
Keweenaw History Museum
Rathbone School/Knights of Pythias
Eagle Harbor Lifesaving Station
Phoenix Church
Bammert Blacksmith Shop
Eagle River Museum
Central
Exploring Central – The Central Mine and The Central Mining Company
Exploring Central – The Churches at Central & The Central Reunion
Exploring Central – Life At Central
Exploring Central – The School at Central
Exploring Central – “Sad News From Central Mine”
Exploring Central- Photo Album of Historic Photos of Central
Schoolhouse at Gay
Copper Milling at Gay- About the Exhibit
Copper Milling at Gay- Timeline
Copper Milling at Gay- A Rich and Unique Landscape
Copper Milling at Gay- Copper Processing and Stamp Sands
Copper Milling at Gay- Social Life in a Company Town
Copper Milling at Gay- After the Mills: Fishing and Lumbering
Copper Milling at Gay- After the Mills: Gay Industries
Copper Milling at Gay- Migrating Sands and Buffalo Reef
Copper Milling at Gay- How Harmful are Stamp Sands?
Copper Mining at Gay- The Legacy: Living with the Effects
Schedules/Events
Sites and Museum Schedule
Event Calendar
Rentals
Lighthouse Cottage Rental
Miner's Home Rental
Your KCHS
About the KCHS
Contact the KCHS
Log In
Become a member
Renew Your Membership and FAQs
Become a KCHS Volunteer
donate
Publications of the KCHS
Privacy Notice
Members Only
Additional Resources
The Eagle River Museum
Looking out over the broad stretch of sandy beach on the Lake Superior shore near the town of Eagle River it’s hard to imagine that this shallow expanse of water was once a bustling shipping port. While it lacks a natural harbor such as those found at Copper Harbor and Eagle Harbor, the mines near Eagle River built a series of docks and warehouses that turned the town into a hub of commercial activity.
(Photo: An early photograph showing the Cliff Mine stamp mill and rock pile. Photo courtesy of the Keweenaw County Historical Society.)
The Keweenaw County Historical Society, The Keweenaw National Historical Park, and the community of Eagle River have worked together to develop The Eagle River Museum. The photo at the top of this page, taken by John Deal, shows a group of Model A’s visiting the museum in 2016. The museum focuses on four major themes: The Cliff Mine, the town of Eagle River; the neighboring town and mine of Phoenix; and, the amusement area known as Crestview which was located between Phoenix and Eagle River. The ceiling height of the first floor of the building was restored to its original height and new windows were installed before work was begun on designing and installing exhibits, etc.
(Photo: In-house display for The Joseph Blight AKA The Original Lake Superior Fuse Company factory. It's site was located near the dam across the street from the museum.)
One of the first mines that used Eagle River as their port to ship out copper and bring in supplies was the neighboring Cliff Mine. The Cliff was the first commercially successful mine in the Keweenaw. While the most productive time of the Cliff was 1844 to 1870 some work continued on and off through the 1930s. During the 1844-1870 period, the owners of the Cliff invested $110,000 in the mine and got back more than $2,000,000 in profits. The Cliff Mine and its relationship to and dependence on the town of Eagle River is one of the museum’s major exhibits.
The first display you will encounter is the pilot house of the
S.S. Tioga
which wrecked on Sawtooth reef off of Eagle River on November 26, 1919 while carrying a load of grain from Superior Wisconsin. During the wreck the pilot house broke free and floated into Eagle River where it was rescued by a local family. The pilot house saw many uses over the years including a playhouse and for many years a local art studio. The family recently donated it to the Keweenaw County Historical Society. It has been restored and now sits outside the museum. It contains several exhibits concerning ships that sailed Lake Superior.
(Photo: The Tioga and the 2016 State Historical marker sit next to the Eagle River Museum.)
The museum also has exhibits on the important role the town of Eagle River played in the history of the Keweenaw and of the neighboring town and mine of Phoenix. As one example, the copper mines needed explosives and fuses to produce copper. One of the early factories for the production of mining fuse in the Keweenaw was the Lake Superior Fuse Company which built the dam that tourists see across the road from the museum. Another exhibit focuses on the Crestview Casino and resort area. The Keweenaw Central Railroad built a pavilion and recreation area between the towns of Phoenix and Eagle River in 1909 and called it Crestview. It was designed to encourage the use of the railroad beyond the mines. The Crestview Casino had a kitchen, running water, etc. and was used by individuals and groups seeking to enjoy a nice day in the country. Visitors could either walk to the shore of Lake Superior or take a wagon ride to the beach. It was estimated that over 500,000 people visited Crestview during its first year in 1909. Though Crestview was called a casino, gambling and alcoholic beverages were not allowed at Crestview according to the brochures published by the railroad.
The
center piece and perhaps oldest artifact of the museum is the 1852 W.P.
Emerson Square Grand Piano that was brought to Eagle River in 1853 and
placed in the Eagle River Hotel. The hotel burned in 1912 but the staff
was able to get the piano out of the hotel before the fire reached it.
(Photo: This top-of-the-line piano offered a bit of high society in the early frontier town.)
There are two memorials near the museum that honor the memory of Douglass Houghton. Houghton was Michigan’s first State Geologist and his 1841 report was responsible for the copper mining boom in the Keweenaw. A short drive from the museum is the Douglass Houghton Memorial. This memorial was dedicated on October 10, 1914 and contains rocks from many copper and iron mines in the Upper Peninsula. The memorial is now owned and maintained by the Keweenaw County Historical Society. In 2016 a State of Michigan Historical Marker was placed near the museum to also honor the memory of this important figure in the history of Keweenaw County.
(Photo: The 1914 memorial to Douglass Houghton is located on M26 just a short distance west of the museum.)
Visiting The Eagle River Museum
2026 Season-
June 17th through October 10th
Hours-
Noon to 4pm, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday
Admission-
There is no admission fee for this museum, but a donation is appreciated.
Location-
The Eagle River Museum is housed in the old Eagle River School House building which now serves as the Houghton Township Community Building, along M-26 near the historic waterfall and dam in town. The address is 5059 4th Street, Eagle
River, MI. GPS: N 47 24.769 W 88 17.763, Decimal Degrees: 47.412815, -88.29605
Related Links–
Keweenaw Geoheritage
Terry Pepper’s lighthouse website
The Cliff Mine Archeology Project Blog
All sites are closed for the season.
We hope to see you next year!
SITE SCHEDULES
No upcoming events until next season
SEE ALL EVENTS
Keweenaw County Historical Society
670 Lighthouse Road Eagle Harbor
Mohawk, MI 49950
We are proud to be a Keweenaw National Historical Park Heritage Site.
All content
copyright © 2010-2025
Powered by
Wild Apricot
Membership Software
Menu
Log in
Keweenaw County Historical Society
Sites
Eagle Harbor Lighthouse
Maritime Museum
Commercial Fishing Museum
Keweenaw History Museum
Rathbone School/Knights of Pythias
Eagle Harbor Lifesaving Station
Phoenix Church
Bammert Blacksmith Shop
Eagle River Museum
Central
Exploring Central – The Central Mine and The Central Mining Company
Exploring Central – The Churches at Central & The Central Reunion
Exploring Central – Life At Central
Exploring Central – The School at Central
Exploring Central – “Sad News From Central Mine”
Exploring Central- Photo Album of Historic Photos of Central
Schoolhouse at Gay
Copper Milling at Gay- About the Exhibit
Copper Milling at Gay- Timeline
Copper Milling at Gay- A Rich and Unique Landscape
Copper Milling at Gay- Copper Processing and Stamp Sands
Copper Milling at Gay- Social Life in a Company Town
Copper Milling at Gay- After the Mills: Fishing and Lumbering
Copper Milling at Gay- After the Mills: Gay Industries
Copper Milling at Gay- Migrating Sands and Buffalo Reef
Copper Milling at Gay- How Harmful are Stamp Sands?
Copper Mining at Gay- The Legacy: Living with the Effects
Schedules/Events
Sites and Museum Schedule
Event Calendar
Rentals
Lighthouse Cottage Rental
Miner's Home Rental
Your KCHS
About the KCHS
Contact the KCHS
Log In
Become a member
Renew Your Membership and FAQs
Become a KCHS Volunteer
donate
Publications of the KCHS
Privacy Notice
Members Only
Additional Resources
Log in
^
LOG IN
Caretakers of the past, stewards of the future.
Keweenaw County Historical Society
Sites
Eagle Harbor Lighthouse
Maritime Museum
Commercial Fishing Museum
Keweenaw History Museum
Rathbone School/Knights of Pythias
Eagle Harbor Lifesaving Station
Phoenix Church
Bammert Blacksmith Shop
Eagle River Museum
Central
Exploring Central – The Central Mine and The Central Mining Company
Exploring Central – The Churches at Central & The Central Reunion
Exploring Central – Life At Central
Exploring Central – The School at Central
Exploring Central – “Sad News From Central Mine”
Exploring Central- Photo Album of Historic Photos of Central
Schoolhouse at Gay
Copper Milling at Gay- About the Exhibit
Copper Milling at Gay- Timeline
Copper Milling at Gay- A Rich and Unique Landscape
Copper Milling at Gay- Copper Processing and Stamp Sands
Copper Milling at Gay- Social Life in a Company Town
Copper Milling at Gay- After the Mills: Fishing and Lumbering
Copper Milling at Gay- After the Mills: Gay Industries
Copper Milling at Gay- Migrating Sands and Buffalo Reef
Copper Milling at Gay- How Harmful are Stamp Sands?
Copper Mining at Gay- The Legacy: Living with the Effects
Schedules/Events
Sites and Museum Schedule
Event Calendar
Rentals
Lighthouse Cottage Rental
Miner's Home Rental
Your KCHS
About the KCHS
Contact the KCHS
Log In
Become a member
Renew Your Membership and FAQs
Become a KCHS Volunteer
donate
Publications of the KCHS
Privacy Notice
Members Only
Additional Resources
The Eagle River Museum
Looking out over the broad stretch of sandy beach on the Lake Superior shore near the town of Eagle River it’s hard to imagine that this shallow expanse of water was once a bustling shipping port. While it lacks a natural harbor such as those found at Copper Harbor and Eagle Harbor, the mines near Eagle River built a series of docks and warehouses that turned the town into a hub of commercial activity.
(Photo: An early photograph showing the Cliff Mine stamp mill and rock pile. Photo courtesy of the Keweenaw County Historical Society.)
The Keweenaw County Historical Society, The Keweenaw National Historical Park, and the community of Eagle River have worked together to develop The Eagle River Museum. The photo at the top of this page, taken by John Deal, shows a group of Model A’s visiting the museum in 2016. The museum focuses on four major themes: The Cliff Mine, the town of Eagle River; the neighboring town and mine of Phoenix; and, the amusement area known as Crestview which was located between Phoenix and Eagle River. The ceiling height of the first floor of the building was restored to its original height and new windows were installed before work was begun on designing and installing exhibits, etc.
(Photo: In-house display for The Joseph Blight AKA The Original Lake Superior Fuse Company factory. It's site was located near the dam across the street from the museum.)
One of the first mines that used Eagle River as their port to ship out copper and bring in supplies was the neighboring Cliff Mine. The Cliff was the first commercially successful mine in the Keweenaw. While the most productive time of the Cliff was 1844 to 1870 some work continued on and off through the 1930s. During the 1844-1870 period, the owners of the Cliff invested $110,000 in the mine and got back more than $2,000,000 in profits. The Cliff Mine and its relationship to and dependence on the town of Eagle River is one of the museum’s major exhibits.
The first display you will encounter is the pilot house of the
S.S. Tioga
which wrecked on Sawtooth reef off of Eagle River on November 26, 1919 while carrying a load of grain from Superior Wisconsin. During the wreck the pilot house broke free and floated into Eagle River where it was rescued by a local family. The pilot house saw many uses over the years including a playhouse and for many years a local art studio. The family recently donated it to the Keweenaw County Historical Society. It has been restored and now sits outside the museum. It contains several exhibits concerning ships that sailed Lake Superior.
(Photo: The Tioga and the 2016 State Historical marker sit next to the Eagle River Museum.)
The museum also has exhibits on the important role the town of Eagle River played in the history of the Keweenaw and of the neighboring town and mine of Phoenix. As one example, the copper mines needed explosives and fuses to produce copper. One of the early factories for the production of mining fuse in the Keweenaw was the Lake Superior Fuse Company which built the dam that tourists see across the road from the museum. Another exhibit focuses on the Crestview Casino and resort area. The Keweenaw Central Railroad built a pavilion and recreation area between the towns of Phoenix and Eagle River in 1909 and called it Crestview. It was designed to encourage the use of the railroad beyond the mines. The Crestview Casino had a kitchen, running water, etc. and was used by individuals and groups seeking to enjoy a nice day in the country. Visitors could either walk to the shore of Lake Superior or take a wagon ride to the beach. It was estimated that over 500,000 people visited Crestview during its first year in 1909. Though Crestview was called a casino, gambling and alcoholic beverages were not allowed at Crestview according to the brochures published by the railroad.
The
center piece and perhaps oldest artifact of the museum is the 1852 W.P.
Emerson Square Grand Piano that was brought to Eagle River in 1853 and
placed in the Eagle River Hotel. The hotel burned in 1912 but the staff
was able to get the piano out of the hotel before the fire reached it.
(Photo: This top-of-the-line piano offered a bit of high society in the early frontier town.)
There are two memorials near the museum that honor the memory of Douglass Houghton. Houghton was Michigan’s first State Geologist and his 1841 report was responsible for the copper mining boom in the Keweenaw. A short drive from the museum is the Douglass Houghton Memorial. This memorial was dedicated on October 10, 1914 and contains rocks from many copper and iron mines in the Upper Peninsula. The memorial is now owned and maintained by the Keweenaw County Historical Society. In 2016 a State of Michigan Historical Marker was placed near the museum to also honor the memory of this important figure in the history of Keweenaw County.
(Photo: The 1914 memorial to Douglass Houghton is located on M26 just a short distance west of the museum.)
Visiting The Eagle River Museum
2026 Season-
June 17th through October 10th
Hours-
Noon to 4pm, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday
Admission-
There is no admission fee for this museum, but a donation is appreciated.
Location-
The Eagle River Museum is housed in the old Eagle River School House building which now serves as the Houghton Township Community Building, along M-26 near the historic waterfall and dam in town. The address is 5059 4th Street, Eagle
River, MI. GPS: N 47 24.769 W 88 17.763, Decimal Degrees: 47.412815, -88.29605
Related Links–
Keweenaw Geoheritage
Terry Pepper’s lighthouse website
The Cliff Mine Archeology Project Blog
All sites are closed for the season.
We hope to see you next year!
SITE SCHEDULES
No upcoming events until next season
SEE ALL EVENTS
Keweenaw County Historical Society
670 Lighthouse Road Eagle Harbor
Mohawk, MI 49950
We are proud to be a Keweenaw National Historical Park Heritage Site.
All content
copyright © 2010-2025
Powered by
Wild Apricot
Membership Software