Menominee County Historical Museum

This animated miniature circus, a gift from circus fan and curator Bill King, is one highlight of the summer-only museum. Menominee Indian artifacts and woven Lloyd Loom baby carriages are some others.

An animated miniature circus is the starring attraction at the museum of the Menominee County Historical Society. Push a button and a clown rides a motorcycle, elephants perform and work pushing a wagon, and calliope music plays. (Say "CAL-ee-OHP" not "cal-I-o-PEE" and the volunteers will take you for a visiting circus fan.) This model is a close approximation of the 1929 Cole Brothers circus. Curator Bill King considers it one of the better ones in the U.S. (The best have more animation.) Bill got the circus bug as a boy in the 1930s because he lived here near the train tracks where circuses unloaded.

A local man built small model circus wagons for a wealthy Indiana collector assembling a grand model circus. The models were displayed briefly in Menominee-area store windows. That further inspired King's passion. He's one of some 2,000 members of a nationwide circus modelers' association.

Visitors also enjoy the beautiful, restored St. John's Catholic Church from 1921. A building this large has room for thousands of interesting things. In a corner devoted to works by local artists are many carved wood animals, some winter scenes, portraits of interesting local characters, and a series depicting significant local buildings. There's quite a collection of vintage Lloyd-Flanders wicker outdoor seating, evoking a Gatsby-like lifestyle, made here in Menominee.

Two very old dugout canoes are in the large collection of area Menominee Indian artifacts. The very early Chappe trading postup the Menominee River has been recreated. The large logging collection includes the usual tools and lots of photographs of camps, mills, and the families of New England and New Brunswick lumbermen.

The heritage display uses artifacts, clothing, utensils, and photos to highlight the Polish, Scandinavian, German, and other non-Yankee families who came to the area. Balcony displays include a recreated shoe store, doctor's office, printer, fashions with bathing suits, and more.

The adjoining building, open during museum hours, houses the genealogical, newspaper, and other archives of the Michael J. Anuta Research Center. Archives protect the business records of the Menominee River Boom Company, responsible for the initial development in much of Menominee, Iron, and Dickinson counties.

904 11th Ave., 1/2 block east of U.S. 41/10th St. Open Mem. Day thru Labor Day Mon-Sat 10-4:15 Central Time. By appointment to groups in Sept. Donations welcome. Wheelchair accessible: ground floor but not balcony.
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