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Monday 10am - 2pm Wednesday 10am - 2pm Friday 10am - 2pm Saturday 10am - 2pm

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Iron County Wisconsin Historical Society Museum

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Hurley, WI
Iron County Wisconsin Historical Society Museum

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The Iron County Historical Society Museum is volunteer run & located in Hurley WI in the old courthouse, National Register of Historic Places.

We have an large collection of historical artifacts, publications, documents and photographs dating from before Iron County was founded in 1893 to recent years. Visit our exhibits on logging and mining, important industries in our history. Take a walk trough Grandma's house in our Kitchen, Living Room and Bedroom exhibits. Enter the past when you walk through our one room school, tavern, funeral parlor and courtroom. See how we honored our veterans and how we once dressed. And of course, no visit would be complete without a stop to our clock tower and weaving room.

10/09/2026

“Head, Heart, Hands, and Health”! October 4-10 is National 4H Week! For over 100 years, 4H has been shaping the lives of young people and by helping them see the important role they play in their community. Photo: One of the aspects of 4H programs is that they provide members opportunities to learn new skills through hands-on-learning and participation and then allows them to put those skills into use. This 4-Her is shown handling his Hereford beef cow at the Iron County Fairgrounds in the circa 1990s. Source: Iron County University of Wisconsin-Extension(4-H) collection.

10/05/2026

October 5-11 is Spinning and Weaving Week! This week recognizes the ancient arts of weaving, spinning, and other similar arts that have been passed down over the generations. Photo: The Iron County Wisconsin Historical Society Museum has made it a point to highlight the art of weaving since our early days as a historical society. Our talented weavers volunteer their time to take scraps of fabric and turn them into highly sought after rugs, placemats, and table runners. The money made from these woven products help keep our museum heated in the winter. If you or someone you know is interested in volunteering as a weaver, sewer, or cutter in our weaving room, you can call us at 715-561-2244 during our business hours (Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.) or feel free to stop in for a visit. Former weaver and volunteer Irene Harma poses for a picture while she works on her loom in the weaving room in 2003. Source: The Iron County Museum.

10/02/2026

It’s time to adorn yourself in your best plaid finery! Today is Plaidurday! On this day, we recognize the cultural and historical impact of plaid. On this day, plaid lovers all over the world come together and wear their best plaid clothing. Photo: Eddie Popko was clad in plaid when this picture was taken in the late 1920’s - early 1930’s. Source: The Craig Lewis Collection.

09/29/2026

The Iron County Wisconsin Historical Society Museum has made the difficult decision to cancel our annual Flashlight Tour for 2026 due to a lack of volunteer guides and workers. However, we are currently planning next year’s tour and have some exciting things in the works. If you or someone you know is willing to help out next year, please let us know with by emailing us at [email protected], private messaging us, or by commenting below. We look forward to seeing you next year!

09/26/2026

Timber! Today is National Lumberjack Day! On this day, we recognize the contributions have made throughout history and the rich legacy they left behind. Starting in the mid 1880’s, the logging industry flourished in Iron County due to its rich resource of native timber. In the winter months, when it was easy to cut and haul logs, lumberjacks spent long hours harvesting trees and transporting them to landings where they waited to be transported in the spring. Softer woods such as white pine and cedar were easily floated down rivers to mills to be turned into lumber. Hardwoods, such as maple, birch, and aspen were transported mainly by railroad. Photo: These lumberjacks at the Van Cleve lumber camp in Upson, WI pose for a photo in the 1900’s. Mr. Van Cleve is pictured in the front row wearing the light felt hat. He was originally from Oconto, WI and would hire men to work in the lumber camps (this position was referred to as being a “man catcher”). Also featured in this photo is John Zambrovicz of Hurley. He is pictured on the left in front of the horses. Source: The Iron County Museum.

09/24/2026

We tip our hard hats to the men and women who help maintain and improve our nation’s infrastructure! September 21-25 is National Construction Appreciation Week! This weeklong celebration recognizes the vital impact the construction industry plays on our country’s economy, manufacturing, and transportation. Photo: Construction was being conducted at the Whitecap Mountain Ski Hill in June, 1990. Source: The Iron County Museum.

09/22/2026

The countryside is tinted in hues of russet, gold, and scarlet, the air is brisk, and the sound of geese flying south for the winter echoes overhead. Autumn has finally arrived! Today is the First Day of Fall! Did you know that a popular autumnal activity for children in many European countries is chestnut collecting? During September and October, children collect horse chestnuts, acorns, and other nuts and use them to make dolls and figurines. In Finland, instead of horse chestnuts, children make similar crafts using pinecones. Photo: local artist Cyril Kretek managed to capture the beauty of fall in this oil painting. Before becoming a painter, Mr. Kretek worked as a blacksmith in a lumber camp in Wisconsin. He began painting nature scenes on the pocket watches that belonged to the men at the lumber camp. When he saw how popular his paintings were becoming, he decided to quit blacksmithing and focus on painting. He eventually came to Hurley in the 1940’s. When asked by local reporters in the early 1950’s, he estimated that he had painted 2,000 paintings since he started in 1926. Source: the Iron County Museum.

09/21/2026

The Iron County Wisconsin Historical Society Museum is excited to be participating in Pabst Mine Cave-In Centennial Celebrations this week! Tomorrow evening, Tuesday, September 22, we will be hosting local singer and storyteller Bill Jamerson’s presentation entitled Life in the Location: Songs and Stories of Michigan’s Iron Miners at 6:00 p.m. in the courtroom. Free will donations are greatly appreciated. We will also be present at the event on Saturday, September 26 with the other local historical societies.

09/19/2026

It’s time to put on some music and show off your best moves! Today is National Dance Day! This day was founded by Nigel Lythgoe and Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton as a way of promoting physical fitness and dance education. Photo: This Hurley teen was really grooving to the music when this picture was taken at the J. E. Murphy High School gym during the Halloween dance sponsored by the Junior class on Friday, October 29, 1965. The music that evening was provided by the Vagabonds. Source: 1966 Log.

09/18/2026

The Iron County Wisconsin Historical Society Museum is excited to be participating in Pabst Mine Cave-In Centennial Celebrations next week. We will be hosting local singer and storyteller Bill Jamerson’s presentation entitled Life in the Location: Songs and Stories of Michigan’s Iron Miners on Tuesday, September 22 at 6:00 p.m. in the courtroom. Free will donations are greatly appreciated. We will also be present at the event on Saturday, September 26 with the other local historical societies.

Address

303 Iron Street
Hurley, WI
54534

Opening Hours

Monday	10am - 2pm
Wednesday	10am - 2pm
Friday	10am - 2pm
Saturday	10am - 2pm

Telephone

(715) 561-2244

Website

facebook.com

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