​Welcome to the Houghton County Historical Society

2022 Schedule

As Summer turns to Fall, the end of our 2022 Season is drawing closer. We anticipate closing our Museum doors in mid-October. Please note that Fall hours for the Museum (starting in October) are weekends only, and are weather dependent. Call to verify.

MUSEUM AND GROUNDS
Hours: Noon until 4 PM, seven days a week.
You are welcome to tour the grounds during off hours. ​

RESEARCH ROOM
Hours: 9 AM until Noon, Mondays, Wednesdays & Fridays, open Year 'Round.
Our volunteer staff is happy to help you with local history or genealogical research. 
​Other hours may be available by appointment - call to arrange @ (906) 296-4121.

Join or Renew Your Membership

​Seeking Your Help Gathering Info on Local Veterans

We're looking for your help to honor our local veterans as part of a planned electronic display within our Museum's Veteran's Room. We are hoping to have this display available when the Museum opens next spring for the 2022 season.
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In order to include Veterans in this display, they must meet the following criteria:

1. Have been born, lived OR died within Houghton County, Michigan.
2. Served at any time from the Civil War to current.

We would like information for all Houghton County Veterans, not just those who served or died during a war.

If you have a local Veteran you'd like included in our display, please click the button below and fill out the online form to send us your input. Thank you!

Yes, I have info on a local Veteran

Help Restore the #3 Steam Locomotive

This summer we were the happy recipients of a generous gift that, along with prior donations, has allowed us to refurbish the boiler of our C&H #3 steam locomotive. 

Built in 1915, this small industrial locomotive was used by the Calumet & Hecla mining company around the mills and smelters of Lake Linden and Hubbell to move copper concentrate, ingots, and other materials.  Calumet & Hecla donated the locomotive to the Historical Society in 1969. For several years the old #3 has served the Society and our visitors well, providing memories as it took passengers on rides around our site.  As of mid-September we are anticipating recertification of the locomotive boiler. Work will then be done in house to complete the refit of the boiler and allow for operation of the locomotive.

​However, before we can place the locomotive back in service providing rides around our grounds we must fund repairs to the rails and ties that make up our track. So, we are still in need of donations to complete this work. Your help to get this done will be very much appreciated, not only by our volunteers but also by the many future passengers we hope to provide with a ride behind our historic locomotive. 

Donate Today

About Us

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Our Museum Complex
Our Museum Complex in Lake Linden was once the site of the largest copper milling operation in North America.

Today, it is home to our Museum, and also to the Lake Linden & Torch Lake Railroad, the  one room Traprock Valley School House, the WPA era Leo Chaput Log Cabin and the Perl Merrill Research Center (which is our archives and genealogical facility). The HCHS Heritage Center, a former Congregational Church building built in 1887, is just around the corner.

Our Operations
Open June thru September at variable hours.  Our staff is all volunteer so please call ahead.  If no one is available to take your call, please leave a message and your call will be returned as soon as possible. Off season tours and field trips can be arranged by calling the museum office at (906) 296-4121

Our Mission Statement
The mission of the Houghton County Historical Society is to preserve, present, and interpret the history and culture of the Copper Country of Michigan, with emphasis on Houghton County and copper mining, processing and transportation. The society will pursue this mission through cooperation, collaboration, and participation with the community at large as well as other historical groups.

Our Location
Located on M-26 in Lake Linden, between Hancock and Copper Harbor, Michigan. The Museum building offers three floors of exhibits of local Copper Country mining, logging and cultural history.  Included among the outdoor exhibits is a working Calumet & Hecla Mining Co. train with a 3 gauge Porter steam engine that was used to transport various materials at their mill and smelter sites.  The steam train is now used for passenger tours and interpretation of the milling operation.

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Houghton County Historical Society
53102 Hwy M-26 PO Box 127
Lake Linden, MI 49945
(906) 296-4121