Houghton County Historical Society

Houghton County Historical Society open Tu-Sun Jun-Sep 12-4pm. Our steam train exhibit runs Summer, Sat, weather permitting. Copper Country. Open seasonally Noon until 4 PM.

We preserve/present/interpret history and culture of Michigan’s Houghton Co. Our Research room houses local history and genealogy archives. The 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, the Lake Linden & Torch Lake Railroad (temporarily awaiting repairs), the one room Traprock Valley School House, and

the WPA era Leo Chaput Log Cabin. Our Research room (local history and genealogy archives) is just around the corner at 1st St. and N Ave, in the HCHS Heritage Center, a former Congregational Church building. Open year round M, W, F 9AM until Noon

Bottom Line Up Front- we are NOT pulling passengers Saturday, June 13, TomorrowOur steam engine is NOT pressurizing so w...
06/12/2026

Bottom Line Up Front- we are NOT pulling passengers Saturday, June 13, Tomorrow

Our steam engine is NOT pressurizing so we need to get that worked out. The engineers have some ideas. They will get it figured out.

And- I know! I want her to run too!!! It is so fun to ride our little rail loop and think about the history as we circle the Calumet Stamp Mill foundations, pass by the Hecla Mill foundations, and look out over our Torch Lake. Pull the rope to blow the steam whistle! Ring the bell! Listen to the chuffs! We will be there soon.

The museum WILL be OPEN Saturday, noon-4pm. And, the campus grounds are always open for exploring, just watch your step.

As always, thank you for your support!

Yes!! Work on the steam train is in progress! Hope to see all y’all on Saturdays 12-4 this Summer season, except July 4-...
06/10/2026

Yes!! Work on the steam train is in progress! Hope to see all y’all on Saturdays 12-4 this Summer season, except July 4- we are going to focus that week on July 3 to coincide with the Lake Linden celebrations culminating with fireworks the evening of the 3rd.

The gas train will again run on Wednesdays, 12-4.

Happy 250 and Happy Summer!
Nominal Fees for the train rides are the same as last year.
Adults 6
Students 4
Tots 3
Under 3 no fee
We take cash/credit/debit and no fee is added

The museum is open 12noon-4pm Tues-Sun. Closed Monday. Free, *and* we appreciate any donations from those who are able, which help keep it free.

Maps!!!!!a detail of a 1910 Wisconsin Rails map in our collection.Shout out to Sidnaw and Kenton! so many communities se...
06/09/2026

Maps!!!!!

a detail of a 1910 Wisconsin Rails map in our collection.

Shout out to Sidnaw and Kenton!

so many communities seen here have slipped back into the wilderness.

Goings on on the HCHS Campus in June….
06/05/2026

Goings on on the HCHS Campus in June….

Toot toot! *Almost* time for the steam engine, our 1915 HK Porter 12-ton #3 to come out of hibernation. Yeah!!!We are s...
05/27/2026

Toot toot! *Almost* time for the steam engine, our 1915 HK Porter 12-ton #3 to come out of hibernation. Yeah!!!

We are striving for Saturday, June 13 for the first passenger run for #3 this season.

During the week leading up to the 13th we will do a hydrostatic test on the boiler and all the fittings. Hopefully that all goes well. Keep us in your prayers.

Current plan is similar to last year- running steam from noonish to 4-ish on Saturdays. Given everything going on we are not increasing the prices and we are not adding service charge. We take cash or plastic as long as the wifi and reader are working (sometimes it acts up, but don’t we all occasionally).

As always, the museum is free will donation when open- generally 12noon-4pm Tues-Sun, i believe we are looking to be closed on Mondays this season.

access to the campus is free.
I believe we still have 2 Harvest Host spaces.

53102 M-26, Lake Linden, MI 49945

Playing around with other ideas for the giftshop.Challenge coins? Yes/no?Bright copper or antiqued copper?Thoughts from ...
05/18/2026

Playing around with other ideas for the giftshop.

Challenge coins? Yes/no?

Bright copper or antiqued copper?
Thoughts from the hive?

05/05/2026

May already?! That means the Museum (the brick building, formerly the Mill Office building) will be opening soon!! May 30 will be the first day for our 2026 season. Of course, the grounds are always available for walking. Later in the month i will post about the Steam train ( #3) and the Gas train schedules. Keep an eye out here and on the website for updates.

The museum campus in Winter.The Warming Hut with the Warehouse/Fire Hall to the rightThinking about putting this on a po...
03/07/2026

The museum campus in Winter.
The Warming Hut with the Warehouse/Fire Hall to the right
Thinking about putting this on a postcard.

Friends! Does anyone recognize this as being somewhere in Houghton County? The Holly Historical Society asked us to take...
02/22/2026

Friends! Does anyone recognize this as being somewhere in Houghton County? The Holly Historical Society asked us to take a look!

Thank you!

The Calumet News Feb 12 1916 (Lincoln’s Birthday)
02/16/2026

The Calumet News
Feb 12 1916 (Lincoln’s Birthday)

Address

53102 M-26
Lake Linden, MI
49945

Opening Hours

Tuesday 12pm - 4pm
Wednesday 12pm - 4pm
Thursday 12pm - 4pm
Friday 12pm - 4pm
Saturday 12pm - 4pm
Sunday 12pm - 4pm

Telephone

+19062964121

Website

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