The Carnegie Museum of the Keweenaw is a community resource. It is available to use for free as a gathering space for community groups, presentations, or meetings. The museum throughout the year works to bring in traveling exhibits that enhance its ability to tell stories about Houghton and the Keweenaw Peninsula. Museum Curator Elise Nelson says that since the city became the sole owner of the property in 2006 it has remained a pillar of community engagement and activity.
It’s all about the community. I know that part of the impetus, I wasn’t involved in the very beginnings, but I believe part of the impetus was when the library moved, this building could have been purchased and raised or privatized. People come in here all the time saying, oh, I remember coming here as a child. Or they’re looking, they want to see these buildings that are beautiful. It’s very trite to say, but they just really aren’t built this way anymore. And I also think that it says a lot about what Houghton was at the time that it was built. But I think the fact that the city is dedicated to preserving it and continuing its dedication to the community says a lot about what Houghton is and can be or will be. – Elise Nelson, Museum Curator, Carnegie Museum of Houghton
This weekend the Carnegie Museum will host Night at the Museum. The annual member’s gala invites the community to view the space, share stories with one another, and listen to soothing sounds from local musicians.
And we have an exhibit here right now, extended through April 17th, about extraordinary women of the Copper Country that was created by the Bowmere UP Heritage Center a part of Northern Michigan University. And we get a few of their exhibits. So what’s great about that is that we can bring it in for a shorter period of time. We don’t have to do all the work of developing an exhibit, which is quite extensive. I think we’ve had a few things from them over the years. It’s not easy. Most exhibits for rent can be extraordinarily expensive. And also we always like to have a party. So having these openings for new exhibits is a great way to spread the word. And for this particular exhibit, we had a speaker come and talk about women in the Copper Country. – Elise Nelson, Museum Curator, Carnegie Museum of Houghton
Over the course of the year the Carnegie museum will host exhibits for short periods. But nelson adds throughout the year visitors can view permanent exhibits. Such as a collection of oil paintings created by Ray Lahikainen, commissioned for the Dr. Mark Shebuski’s Office.
The building is owned and maintained by the city, but the museum is a separate 501c3 and we raise money for support of all of our programming. We have a, for example, semi-permanent collection of paintings by a man named Ray Lahikainen. Who was a native of Dollar Bay, had a career as a professional artist in mostly Chicago, came back here in his retirement and started oil painting. So we have a series of paintings that he did initially for Dr. Shebuski, who had his offices in the old, Copper Range Railroad Depot west of the bridge. Those paintings are now, we have them downstairs, they are all done from historic photos. So I’ve always thought it was a great match of the museum’s sort of interest in cultural history, but also some contemporary interest in historic preservation in general we are in this old building staring across at another old building and it’s great. – Elise Nelson, Museum Curator, Carnegie Museum of Houghton
The Annual Night at the Museum also acts as a reminder to current museum members to renew their status. Tickets for the night at the museum cost 30 dollars. Kids can attend for free. The gala will open at 6 pm on Saturday.
Additionally the Carnegie Museum Night at the Museum silent auction will include an online auction. The online bidding will open tomorrow at 10 am, and close at noon on Saturday. The silent auction will wrap up in the evening at the gala with in-person bids. Those interested in viewing the Night at the Museum Silent Auction can find more details here.
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