Les Cheneaux Historical Museum

Permanent displays here are organized to show the development of Cedarville and Hessel since their settlement by Euro-Americans in 1884. There are local limestone fossils of unusual interest, Native American crafts, and dugout and bark canoes. Photographs and artifacts depict lumber camp life and the hotel and tourist era.

This building and the maritime museum east on M-134 are parts of one museum. Both display images of Great Lakes steamers and the area's famous wooden boats—from fishing boats to mahogany Chris-Craft runabouts that summer people still use to reach their island homes. The museum sponsors the famous Les Cheneaux Antique Wooden Boat Show and Festival of the Arts.

Most exhibits in this museum space change and rotate each year. Themes may be toys, old homes, local stores, food, or more. The rotation may feature items from the permanent collection, such as Andrew Tanner's precise glass-plate photographs of island summers between 1885 and 1920, or stunning photographs of birds and plants. In the maritime museum visitors may ask to see videos on Les Cheneaux birds, geology, plants, and history.

The museum shop is strong on local crafts (including bird carving and Native American jewelry), books, and note cards of local interest. Inquire or look at the website for occasional evening programs in both museums. Summer Wednesdays bring featured artists or quilters from the area from 11 to 3.

On Meridian Rd. in Cedarville, one block south of the light and supermarket at M-134 and M-129. (906) 484-2821. lchistorical.org. Open from Mem. Day weekend thru the first week after Labor Day. Mon-Sat 10-4. Free admission. Donations welcome.
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CEDARVILLE
POINTS OF INTEREST

Carmeuse Limestone, Cedarville Plant . Big port for freighters loading limestone that underlies most of this region ... more

Gerstacker Preserve. 890-acre stunning bedrock shoreline preserve has rare plants. 2+ miles of trails wind through dunes, forests. See loons, pileated woodpeckers. Swim off sandy beach. ... more

Government Island. This island of birch and conifers, the only public island among Les Cheneaux, is a nice picnic or camping destination, with a swimming beach ... more

Great Lakes Boat Building School. In this region long known for fine wooden boats there is now an impressive school teaching the art ... more

Les Cheneaux Historical Museum. Exhibits and excellent videos illuminate the natural history development of the Cedarville/Hessel area, from Indian artifacts to lumber camps and tourist and resort eras. ... more

Safe Harbor Books. This personal bookshop has a good selection of regional, Great Lakes maritime and nature books, plus rubber stamping supplies. ... more

Les Cheneaux Maritime Museum. Boats & boat-related things in a 1920s boathouse: sailboats, canoes, rowboats, old photos ... more

Prentiss Bay Marsh. Scores of nesting boxes for tree swallows are scattered across this wetland. ... more

Cedarville Wi-fi Hotspot. Les Cheneaux Public Library has wi-fi 24/7 in parking lot. Open Tues, Wed & Fri 11-5, Thur 11-8, Sat 10-3. 75 E. Hodeck St., south from I-134. ... more

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