Houghton County
The Copper Country, the home of Keweenaw National Historical Park. Visitors can explore Keweenaw's heritage in a variety of ways, from a simple drive along the highways to a designed walking tour of historic districts. Many historic buildings are still in use. The identical row houses of the mining locations, once occupied by miners, are still used by families of todays, more diversified, working class. School buildings, nearly a century old, provide the enviroment to educate the children of today. Courthouses, post offices, city halls, fire halls, and churches still serve the local residents after a hundred years.
Historical Lodging
- Hamar House -- Located in Chassell, this turn of the century style house has been lodging guests since 1988. The house was built in 1903 by Ed Hamar, prominent in the local lumbering industry. The hand carved oak woodwork and original sunroom add to its special charm.
- Laurium Manor -- This magnificent home was built by Capt. Thomas Hoatson, founder of the Calumet and Arizona Mining Company. You may spend the night in this beautiful Manor or take a tour. You will enjoy the third-floor ballroom, elephant hide wall covering in the dining room and a turntable in the carriage house that rotated vehicles to face outward when needed.
- Charleston House Historic Inn -- Built in 1900 for Houghton County Prosecutor Allen Reese, it is a example of Colonial revival style architecture. The B&B home features beamed ceilings, restored solid oak woodwork and original stained glass windows. It is a popular site for weddings. Tours are available daily by appointment.
Historic Eateries
- Lindell Chocolate Shop -- Don't expect a sweet shop. It used to be, and still does offer ice cream and soda, but this Lake Linden landmark serves breakfast, lunch and dinner as well as spirts. Here you will find the most authentic turn of the century eating experience in the area. Housed in the circa 1893 Joseph Bosch building, the interior is virtually unchanged from its original design. You will find hand laid mosaic tiles on the floor, golden oak tables, elaborately carved wooden archway, and stained glass booth lamps.
- Marco Curto's Saloon -- "Shutte's". This saloon, next to historic Calumet Theatre, was erected in 1883 with additions and improvements made in 1900. The original fittings, include oak cabinets, marble based counter and the multicolored glass canopy centered above a wide wall mirror are enhanced by a mural, by local artist Donna Mae Harris, depicting the Calumet area at the turn of the century.
- Michigan House -- This building is a project of the old Bosch Brewing Co, built in 1895. It was originally a hotel, bar and restaruant. The barroom, with its ornate bar, colorful mural and intricate stained glass served as an outlet for the brewery's beer while the hotel provided acommodations to notables such as John Philip Sousa and George Gipp, as well as many actors and vaudevillians of the time.
- The Ambassador -- Yet another outlet for the Bosch Brewing Company, this popular bar and restaruant in downtown Houghton, features a series of old world style German "biergarten" murals and a great view of the Portage Lake Lift Bridge.
- The Douglass House -- A downtown Houghton landmark, its twin towers rise above the street below. It was built in 1900, originally a hotel designed to improve the quality of lodging in the Copper Country. The building was converted into a senior citizen apartment building in 1984. The original restaurant and bar are still intact. The Douglass House saloon, known locally as the "Dog House", and adjacent Armando's restaruant are still serving food and drinks.
Cities, Towns, and Villages of Houghton County
Attractions
- McLain State Park on Lake Superior
- Twin Lakes State Park
- Portage Lift Bridge
- Portage Canal--Both sides of the canal, and both ends, offer different things to do. On the Houghton side at the North entry, a quaint country park welcomes picnickers and sunbathers. Across the canal is McLain State Park. The south entry offers white sand beaches and great fishing, near Jacobsville. Chassell is on the other side of the water, and offers a township park for a picnic or fishing.Click for pictures taken in 2006.
- Upper Peninsula Firefighters Memorial Museum -- The 1898 Calumet fire station is now home to a colletion of a 100 years of firefighting history.
- MTU's Seaman Mineral Museum--The museum is located on the fifth floor of the Electrical Energy Resources Center on the main campus of Michigan Tech.
Historic Locations
