Find rich arts, culture, and history in Ironwood Michigan. Ironwood has many theatre performances, visual art attractions, and historical displays to fulfill the need for any arts, culture, or history lover.
Historic Ironwood Theatre- Built in 1928, the recent restored theatre has a rich history of providing outstanding entertainment. The Mission of the Ironwood Theatre is to provide cultural entertainment of the highest possible quality to the greatest number of citizens in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan and Northern Wisconsin.
Built in 1892, the Chicago and Northwestern Railroad Depot was designed in the Richardson Romanesque style. It was the hub of an elaborate railroad yard operation in the center of Ironwood. As the mines closed, so too did the fortunes of the railroads, with the last iron ore trains ending in 1967 and passenger trains ending their service at the Depot in 1970. Purchased by the City of Ironwood, the Depot was refurbished by a dedicated group of volunteers, and it is now home to the Ironwood Area Historical Society and the Ironwood Area Chamber of Commerce.
Theatre North is among the three oldest continuously operating community theatres in the United States. There have been over 130 productions on the Theatre North stage and continue to showcase many different acts throughout the year.
Miners Memorial Heritage Park- MMPH encompasses the former iron ore mining locations within the City of Ironwood. The discovery of these mines resulted in the establishment of the City of Ironwood in the latter part of the 19th century. The last iron ore mine in the City of Ironwood closed in 1966.
Non-motorized trails can be used for activities including hiking, biking (a brand new state of the art trail system coming soon), running, walking, snowshoeing, and cross county skiing, while providing safe corridors between many locations within the City of Ironwood and the opportunity for regional trail connections. Miners Memorial Heritage Park will provide a unique attraction for residents and tourists alike!
The Memorial Building is a two-story Neoclassical structure built of concrete in a pentagonal shape. The first floor is raised, providing light to the basement level. The two front facades are faced in grey terra cotta and coursed stone, while the remaining elevations are faced with brick. The heavy bronze door entrances are approached with wide granite steps and are flanked by Ionic columns. Above each entrance, clocks are inset into the terra cotta. A balustrade runs around the roof edge. Multipaned windows separated by pilasters and topped with arches run around the first floor, and rectangular windows with architrave trim are used on the second. (more…)
The mission of the DAP is to promote and sustain the creation and appreciation of the visual arts in the greater Ironwood area, (encompassing Gogebic and Ontonagon Counties in Michigan and Iron and Vilas Counties in Wisconsin). The DAP is also dedicated to promoting local and regional artists in its galleries, gift shop, and arts education and is committed to partnering with its neighbor, the Historic Ironwood Theatre.
Built in 1901 with the support of Andrew Carnegie, we are proud to be the oldest continually operating Carnegie Library in the state of Michigan. Located in the historic downtown, our library is a beautiful historic building that has served the residents of our community for over 100 years. What makes our library unique is that it combines a rich past with the technology of the future. The library is a vital community resource that connects residents to each other and the world.
The men in the mural represent the thousands of men who worked in the Gogebic Range Mines of Michigan and Wisconsin. May we honor them for their tremendous contribution to the development of this great nation.There are two murals within walking distance of each other.
Hiawatha Statue was built in 1964 and is made mainly of fiberglass. Hiawatha is 52 feet tall and looks north to Lake Superior. Hiawatha was the leader and founder of the Iroquois Confederacy and the statue was designed to symbolize unity and peace within each nation that had joined the confederacy.
Developed in 2015 as part of a local crowdfunding effort, Ironwood’s Art Park was established to allow for the public display of outdoor art in the heart of the downtown art district! The park is directly across the street from the Historic Ironwood Theatre, the Downtown Art Place, and Art Studios on Aurora. Also hosting musical performances, the Art Park is an important addition to the downtown cultural center.
906 Boom We are a Creative MakerSpace located at 320 East Aurora. 906BOOM is a business incubator with multiple businesses, and is conveniently located in downtown Ironwood in the historic former Elk’s Building.
Z Place Gallery is an eclectic mix of art. From paintings, photos, & carvings to pottery, glass, jewelry, books & vinegar; we have something for everyone!
One of the best spots for history enthusiasts is the Iron County Historical Society Museum. Built in 1893 as the town hall for the now-vanished Town of Vaughn, the museum building was sold the following April to serve as the courthouse of Iron County. Mixed styles of architecture were used when erecting this building to include Richardsonian Romanesque. In 1976, the Iron County Historical Society acquired the building and spent a decade performing extension restoration.
The Iron County Museum offers you three full floors housing every kind of display from history of iron mining to railroads, timber to veterans, home life to faith based articles. The museum is filled with many
The National Finnish American Festival (NFAF) Cultural Center, known as Little Finland, is located on US Highway 2, just west of US Highway 51 South. The center keeps alive the proud heritage of the many Finnish immigrants who settled in the Hurley Area. Its’ purpose is to foster a cultural center and preserve the Finns rich heritage with song, dance, and ethnic foods. (more…)