Beaumier U.P. Heritage Center - NMU Events and Announcements

Beaumier U.P. Heritage Center

The lives and work of the Upper Peninsula’s greatest politicians will be on display beginning on Friday, February 21, in the Beaumier U.P. Heritage Center’s new exhibition, “The Political Life.” There will be an opening reception for the exhibition from 5 – 7 p.m. on Friday, February 21 in the Beaumier Center’s gallery in Gries Hall on the campus of Northern Michigan University. Admission to the reception and exhibition are free to the public. The exhibition will be on display at the Beaumier Center through June 28, 2025.

Ever since the Upper Peninsula became part of the State of Michigan in 1836, its history has been full of fascinating, powerful and even controversial figures in State, National and even International politics. These included politicians such as Chase Osborn of Sault Ste. Marie, the only Michigan governor from the U.P.; State Representative Dominic Jacobetti from Negaunee, who dominated Lansing for several decades; Connie Binsfeld of Munising, who became Michigan’s first female Lieutenant Governor; the colorful and controversial Joe Mack, State Senator from Ironwood; Cora Reynolds Anderson, the first woman and Native American to be elected a State Representative in Lansing and many others.

In addition, there will be a section dedicated to the various President’s of the United States who came to the Upper Peninsula, before, during and after their terms in office. Teddy Roosevelt visited the Upper Peninsula twice within one year, first to campaign for presidential run in 1912 and several months later to testify in his liable suit against the Ishpeming Iron Ore editor, George Newett. Four presidents have visited the U.P. during their term in office; William Henry Taft in 1911, George H. Bush in 1992, George W. Bush in 2004 and Barack Obama in 2011.

The Beaumier Upper Peninsula Heritage Center is a historical museum and educational facility on the campus of Northern Michigan University. The mission of the U.P. Heritage Center is to promote and preserve the history and culture of the Upper Peninsula through an active slate of exhibitions and engaging public programs for the whole region. The center also collects and preserves artifacts related to the history of Northern Michigan University. The center maintains a gallery in Gries Hall and several other displays throughout campus. The Heritage Center is part of Academic Affairs and has partnerships with several other departments.  It provides interdisciplinary programs and internships for students across the university spectrum.

Beaumier U.P. Heritage Center

To celebrate Women’s History Month and the great accomplishments of women across the region, the Beaumier U.P. Heritage Center is opening the exhibition, “Extraordinary Women of the U.P.,” on Saturday, March 23 at 1 p.m. The event will take place in the Center’s gallery in Gries Hall on the campus of Northern Michigan University and is free and open to the public. 

The exhibition will be on display through August 3 and then will begin touring the Upper Peninsula in the fall of 2024. It is funded in part by a grant from the Michigan Humanities Council, an affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities.

“Extraordinary Women of the U.P.” will feature the stories of no less than 60 women who made an impact in many different categories including the arts, education, politics, medicine, activism, and public service. Many were born and raised in the Upper Peninsula and others came to the region later in life, but they all share in common great accomplishments in their careers, volunteerism, and community service. Some of the women went on to have careers that have had an impact on the nation and even the world where others stayed in their hometowns and made them better communities for everyone. 

Much of the research for the exhibition was conducted by students of Dr. Emily Romeo’s women’s history course in the fall of 2023 at Northern Michigan University. Nominees were also submitted by local historical societies and private individuals.  The final list was determined by a committee consisting of: Lisa Cromell, director of the Munising School Public Library; Kathleen Long, director of the Iron County Historical Museum; Elise Nelson, director of the Carnegie Museum of the Keweenaw; Dr. Emily Romeo, assistant professor of history, Northern Michigan University; Daniel Truckey, director/curator of the Beaumier U.P. Heritage Center.

A short list of some of the individuals featured in the exhibition includes the pioneering accordionist Viola Turpeinen, the Anishinaabe poetess Jane Johnston Schoolcraft, medical researcher Kathleen Shingler Weston, politician Connie Berube Binsfeld, labor organizer Annie Clemenc, and many more iconic figures who have made the world a better place. Where many of the women are household names in the U.P., the community had some amazing discoveries of some lesser-known yet fantastic women, such as the civil rights activist and suffragette Blanche Williams Stubbs, daredevil wing/walker Sarah Kalishek, to an early disability advocate and publisher Nettie Steffenson Thorborg.

Beaumier U.P. Heritage Center

On Friday, February 16th, the Beaumier U.P. Heritage Center will be opening "Extracting History: Mining and Marquette County." This photography exhibition showcases contemporary photography by local artist Lexie Belles, historic images from Jack Deo's collection, and artifacts from the Cliff Shaft Mine Museum.

The exhibition's grand opening starts at 5:30 PM, welcoming all with hors d'oeuvres. 

"Extracting History: Mining and Marquette County" warmly invites the public to immerse themselves in this enlightening experience, running until March 1st, 2024. Visitors can explore the exhibition from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (Monday through Friday), until 8 p.m. on Thursdays and 12 to 4 p.m. on Saturdays.  It is free and open to the public.

The Beaumier U.P. Heritage Center is located at the intersection of 7th Street and Tracy Ave on Northern Michigan University's campus. For further details, please contact us at 906-227-1219. 

Beaumier U.P. Heritage Center

On Saturday, September 16, the Beaumier U.P. Heritage Center will be opening a landmark exhibition on the 1820 expedition of Lewis Cass on the Great Lakes. The exhibition, “Claiming Michigan: the 1820 Expedition of Lewis Cass,” will feature dozens of images, excerpts from journals, detailed narrative information and large format maps. Read more about the exhibition. 

There will be an opening reception at 1 p.m. with hors d’oeuvres and light beverages. The exhibition and reception are free and open to the public and will be open through January 27, 2024. Open hours will be 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (Monday through Friday), until 8 p.m. on Thursdays and 12 to 4 p.m. on Saturdays. 

The Beaumier U.P. Heritage Center is located at the corner of 7th Street and Tracy Ave, on the
campus of Northern Michigan University. For more information call 906-227-1219 or go to nmu.edu/beaumier.

Beaumier U.P. Heritage Center

For over 30 years, public arts advocate and organizer Mary Biekkola Wright led art projects in communities across the Upper Peninsula. To commemorate her life and legacy, the Beaumier U.P. Heritage Center is hosting the event, “Hats Off to Mary: a Mary Wright Reunion,” on July 8, at 2 p.m. It will be held at the Beaumier U.P. Heritage Center in Gries Hall on the campus of Northern Michigan University.  Admission is free to the public and there will be snacks and light beverages served.

The Center encourages anyone who was involved in one of Mary Wright’s projects or were friends of Mary to attend this event to celebrate her life and impact on the communities of the Upper Peninsula. In addition, attendees will be able to view the Beaumier Center’s current exhibition, “Mary Biekkola Wright: A Retrospective 1986-2011.” This exhibit features dozens of artifacts from the public art projects Mary led plus photographs and information on the different projects. 

In addition to the refreshments, the event will feature speakers, a video sharing booth, music, and lots of great memories and comradery. Attendees are encouraged to wear hats in honor of Mary’s love of headwear. 

Beaumier U.P. Heritage Center

The Beaumier U.P. Heritage Center is proud to announce the opening of its new exhibition celebrating the work of one the U.P.’s strongest public art advocates. “Mary Biekkola Wright: A Retrospective, 1986-2011” will open on Saturday, April 22 at 12 p.m. in the Beaumier Center’s gallery in Gries Hall. The gallery is free and open to the public. The Center’s summer hours are Tuesday through Saturday, 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. The Center is located at the corner of 7th St. and Tracy Ave. on the campus of Northern Michigan University.

Beaumier U.P. Heritage Center

To celebrate a season of fun in the snow, the Beaumier U.P. Heritage Center announces the opening of its new exhibition, “It’s All Downhill: Alpine Skiing in the U.P.” This fun, multi-media exhibition will open on Saturday, January 21 at 12 p.m. It will be on display until April 1 and is free and open to the public. The Beaumier Center is located in Gries Hall at the corner of 7th St. and Tracy Ave. on the campus of NMU. The Center’s hours are Monday through Wednesday and Fridays, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Thursdays, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.; and Saturdays, 12 p.m. to 4 p.m.

“It’s All Downhill” focuses on the Alpine ski hills that have existed for the past 80 years across the region. These include the 16 ski hills still in operation across the U.P., from the major resorts to the small-town hills. Each section will tell the history of the ski area and some of the individuals who made them what they are today. There will also be historic photographs from each hill, including some of the ski areas that no longer exist.  In addition, there will be sections on U.S. Olympic Alpine skiers and state champion skiers who grew up and trained on the U.P.’s ski hills.

It was the descendants of Scandinavians who brought the pastime of skiing to the Upper Peninsula. During the late 19th and early 20th century, recreational and sport skiing in the U.P. was of the Nordic kind (cross country and jumping). However, where there is a large hill, there will be skiers who will climb up it to ski down the steepest slopes possible. So, before Alpine skiing took off in the U.P., there were Yoopers with a “need for speed.” 

The first two ski hills with operating rope tows were Pine Mountain in Iron Mountain and Mont Ripley in Houghton, which were installed by Pabst Brewing Co. scion Fred Pabst, who was instrumental in developing Alpine skiing in the Midwest. Soon other town hills began popping up around the U.P. Eventually major ski resorts such as Indianhead and Big Powderhorn in Gogebic County were developed in the 1950s and 60s, creating a new economic driver in these hard-hit mining towns. Most of these resorts continue to exist today and new ones like Mt. Bohemia has come along to challenge the stereotype that Midwest skiing isn’t challenging.

Over the years there have been several U.S. Ski team members and Olympians from the U.P. including most recently Nick Baumgartner who won the Gold in Mixed Snowboard Cross in the 2022 games in Beijing. Nick grew up training at Ski Brule in Iron River. Mont Ripley has had three skiers who competed in the Olympics including brother and sister Chuck and Barbara Ferries and Mary Seaton. Terry Ahola grew up training at the Gladstone Sports Park and went on to become a member of the U.S. Ski team in the early 1980s.

In addition to all this historic info, “It’s All Downhill” will feature artifacts and memorabilia from some of the ski resorts and Northern Michigan University’s Alpine program, vintage film footage of Cliff’s Ridge (now Marquette Mountain) courtesy of Jack Deo and some interactive video skiing games to get you ready to hit the slopes.