Exhibits and Events

The Carnegie Museum of the Keweenaw features changing exhibits about local cultural and natural history. We also host a variety of events throughout the year including several annual exhibits, events, and recurring programs. Many of our exhibits and events include hands-on activities providing an excellent destination for people of all ages.

New Exhibit June 2025

World War I and the Copper Country Home Front

Current Exhibits

Message in a Bottle

Wish You Were Here: Postcards from the Copper County

Written in Stone: Exploring the Natural History of the Jacobsville Sandstone

The Making of Modern Houghton 1940-2015

Ray Lahikainen Houghton Waterfront Paintings

Beer UP: History of Brewing in the Keweenaw 1844-2014

Museum in the Streets

Self-guided Walking Tours of Historic Downtown Houghton:

  • Village to City: City of Houghton's Golden Anniversary 1970 - 2020. Placed along the waterfront from Kestner Park to East Houghton Park, this outdoor exhibit details the transformation of Houghton's waterfront from post-industrial wasteland to the beautiful recreational trails and parks of today.
  • Historic Houghton Museum in the Street. Posted on lampposts along Shelden Avenue, you can view the current scene just beyond the historic photo — and observe how much, and how little, has changed. Follow the QR codes or click on our EXPLORE tab for additional information about many of Houghton's historic buildings.
  • Historic Houghton Walking Tour. These 15 theme displays posted throughout downtown Houghton describe the change from rustic frontier village to industiral boomtown. Video by Visit Keweenaw.

Current Exhibits Available Online

Virtual Program Videos available online

Community Events and Programs

Our historic building was opened in 1910 as the Houghton Public Library in order to provide a place for the community to gather and learn. In this same tradition, in addition to hosting our own programs, we maintain a public space for interesting lectures and fun events. Our Community Room, originally a "Lecture Room" and most recently the children's library, has a small stage, audio / video presentation equipment, and seating for 50 people. If you have a program you would like to share with our community and visitors, please contact Museum Director, Elise Nelson, by email to make arrangements.

Annual Events and Programs

Night at the Museum: Annual Membership Gala

April 
Our annual membership appreciation gala and the launch to our yearly membership drive. Admission is one basic museum membership -- $30 “Friend” level -- per adult. $60 "Patron" level admits two adults. We serve hors d'oeuvres, wine, local beer, and kombucha tastings, and a selection of desserts. Live music on both floors and a silent auction of "Carnegie Museum Experiences"—guided mushroom walk, garden tours and more. 

Join or renew here!

Gingerbread Kits & Holiday Open House

December
A popular addition to our annual holiday open house. The kits are free but must be reserved in advance. Please bring a food item to be donated to a local food pantry, if you can. Our annual holiday open house features our gingerbread village and playhouse display, live music, hot chocolate and treats - and gingerbread kit giveaway. A great family event to kick off holiday festivities. Free.

Keweenaw Natural History Lecture Series

Mostly Monthly fall and spring
2025 Series: "Fungus Among Us in the Keweenaw." Exact dates TBD. 
This years' series includes a guided walk in September. Join us in our community room for a talk about local natural history. We open the doors at 6:30. Talk begins at 7:00. Free. 

Music at the Museum

Musical events sprinkled throughout the year. Past events have featured local musicians Dave Bezotte and Mark Oliver, Keweenaw Brewgrass, Jaztec jazz combo,The Thimbleberry Band, Bob Hiltunen, Jana & Adam Meckler, Carnegie Youth Cafe, UP Story Songs and more. At-will admission fee. Check out our 2020-2021 pandemic virtual programs: Ray Lahikainen: Houghton Waterfront Paintings, But You Should Sing!, and Holiday Open House 2020. 

Carnegie Guided Tours

Summer program of guided tours, on foot, by car, and occasionally by tour bus. Past tours have traced the Isle Royale Mine company, explored the Quincy Mine facilities, learned about downtown Houghton's unique sandstone architecture, toured Temple Jacob and a College Avenue sorority. Guided walking tours are $10.00 / ticket ($8 / ticket for Members).   

Annual Exhibits

Gingerbread Extravaganza: December - January

Each holiday season we set up a playhouse covered with fanciful designs made of candy and a village of buildings covered in sweets. You'll see many local icons such as the Lift Bridge, Quincy Mine Shaft, the Houghton County Courthouse, the Dee Stadium, and, of course, the Carnegie Museum covered with colorful candies! For the past two years, due to the pandemic, we created a virtual open house with photos from our Carnegie Gingerbread Kit giveaway. Check out this video to see what we did last year!

Award Winning Science Projects from The Western UP Science Fair: April

Each spring we celebrate local student scientists by exhibiting their award winning posters from the annual Western UP Science Fair. 

Michigan History Day Regional Finalists: May

In May, we celebrate the accomplishments of local high school historians by exhibiting their History Day projects including exhibits, web-sites and documentaries. 

Future Exhibits & Programs

WWI and the Copper Country Home Front 1917-1918

  • Learn how the people of the Copper Country supported the national war effort from the home front.

Torch Lake Community: Summer 2025 

  • History of mining companies and mining waste around Torch Lake.

Artists talks presented by Isle Royale's Artist-in-Residence Program participants

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