Winter Activities
In Michigan’s Keweenaw Peninsula, snowfall isn’t measured in inches or counted by the day - it’s measured in feet and it stays around for months. And the best part is that snow and bitter cold don’t always have to be paired together. The average winter temperature in the Keweenaw is right around 20 degrees. Although ideally suited to take advantage of the Keweenaw’s outdoors, activities don’t stop once you come inside. Come see what fun a “real” winter can be!
ATTRACTIONS
CALUMET
CALUMET THEATRE 340 Sixth Street. 337-2610 A historic opera house built in 1900 presents a variety of theatre, music, opera and dance throughout the year. Self guided tours are available on Mon-Fri from 12 to 5 pm. Adults $2. 6 and under free. Guided tours by appt only..
WALKING TOUR OF CALUMET'S HISTORIC BUSINESS DISTRICT Self guided tour of the area's historic commercial buildings with accompanying map. Brochure is available at Keweenaw Tourism Council offices.
EAGLE RIVER
TOUR OF HISTORIC EAGLE RIVER Self guided tour of the historic town of Eagle River with accompanying map.
FIVE MILE POINT
SAND HILLS LIGHTHOUSE TOUR 8 miles north of Ahmeek on the 5 Mile Point Rd. 337-1744. Off season tours by appointment. $5.00 per person.
HANCOCK
FINNISH AMERICAN HERITAGE CENTER 601 Quincy St. 487-7347. Open Tues. – Sat. 8 am to 4:30 pm. Houses the Finnish-American historical archives, a museum, a theater, an art gallery & the Family History Center.
WALKING TOUR OF HISTORICAL DOWNTOWN HANCOCK Self guided tour through the historic downtown area with accompanying map. Brochure available at Keweenaw Peninsula Chamber of Commerce offices and Hancock City Hall.
HOUGHTON
KENNER RUOHONEN MEMORIAL HISTORY ROOM Dee Stadium at 700 E. Lakeshore Dr. 482-7760. Photographic historical displays of Houghton/ Hancock and the birthplace of professional hockey in North America. Open 7 days a week 11 am - 4 pm or by appointment.
A. E. SEAMAN MINERAL MUSEUM "The Mineralogical Museum of Michigan", 5th Floor, EERC Bldg., Michigan Tech University. 487-2572. Open Mon. - Fri. 9 am - 4:30 pm. Admission is voluntary.
WALKING TOUR OF HISTORIC HOUGHTON Self-guided tour celebrating Houghton’s rich and diverse past with a series of interpretive panels located throughout the central city area. Brochure is available at Keweenaw Peninsula Chamber of Commerce & City of Houghton offices.
LAKE LINDEN
JACOBSVILLE LIGHTHUSE INN IS OPEN AS A Bed & Breakfast year round and has Tower Tours available by appointment in the winter. 523-4137
LAURIUM
LAURIUM MANOR INN MANSION TOUR 320 Tamarack Street. 337-2549. 13,000 sq ft, 45 room ante-bellum mansion built in 1908 for copper mine owner. Self-guided tours call for hours. www.Laurium.info
WALKING TOUR OF LAURIUM'S HISTORIC RESIDENTIAL DISTRICT Self-guided tour of the area's historic homes with accompanying map. Brochure is available at Keweenaw Peninsula Chamber of Commerce offices.
GALLERIES & EXHIBITS
COPPER COUNTRY COMMUNITY ARTS CENTER, 126 Quincy Street, Hancock, MI 49930, 482-2333
ICE SKATING
INDOOR
BALTIC RECREATION CENTER, Stanton Avenue, Baltic, 482-4420. Daily 6 to 8 pm
DEE STADIUM, 700 E. Lakeshore Drive, Houghton, 482-7760. Public Open Skakting: Saturday 6:30pm - 8:30pm; Sunday 5:30pm - 7pm. Adult and Senior Open skating: Monday 12pm - 2pm; Thursday 12pm - 2pm. Learn to skate fopr kids Wednesday 12pm - 1:30pm. There may be occasional cancelations - call changes will be listed on the answering machine.
GEORGE GIPP ICE ARENA, 200 Isle Royale Street, Laurium, 337-1881. Fri. 6:00 - 7:30 pm; Sat. 3:00 - 4:30 pm; Sun. 3:00 - 4:30 pm & 6:30 - 8:30 pm; adult Fri. 2 - 3 pm
HOUGHTON COUNTY ARENA, 1500 Birch Street, Hancock, 482-4387. *Fri. 6:45 - 8:45 pm & Sun. 1:30 - 3 pm. *Open for public skating provided a high school hockey game is not scheduled
MICHIGAN TECH ICE ARENA, Student Development Complex, MacInnes Drive, Houghton, 487-2578. Sun. 8:10 - 9:10 pm
OUTDOOR
AHMEEK ICE RINK, School Street. Daily 6 - 9 pm
DODGEVILLE ICE RINK, Hurontown-Dodgeville Road. Hours posted at rink
DOLLAR BAY- located at the end of Main Street.
LAKE LINDEN VILLAGE ICE RINK, Calumet Street at the Village Park. Tue., Fri. & Sat. 6 - 7:30 pm
LAURN GROVE ICE RINK, Emery Street, Hancock. No set hours.
WEST HOUGHTON NEIGHBORHOOD PARK RINK, Edwards Street. Hours posted at rink
SLEDDING
The Swedetown recreation center in Calumet has a groomed and lighted sledding hill that is open daily.
SNOWSHOEING
Although asked to stay off of groomed snowmobile and cross country ski trails, the Keweenaw has many areas ideally suited to the recreational snowshoer. The Michigan Nature Association has many nature sanctuaries on the peninsula & a Nature Conservancy Site is located at Horseshoe Harbor outside of Copper Harbor. All are open to snowshoers & cross country skiers in the winter. Contact us for a listing or for snowshoe rental information.
SPORTING EVENTS
Junior, high school and university level sporting events are a big part of the Keweenaw’s winter. The MTU Student Development Complex in Houghton, Dee Stadium in Houghton, the Houghton County Arena in Hancock and the Calumet Armory have hockey on a regular basis. Basketball at high school and university gyms is also popular.
PUBLIC SWIMMING
MICHIGAN TECH UNIVERSITYSTUDENT DEVELOPMENT COMPLEX, MacInnes Drive, Houghton, MI 49931, 487-2578
FINLANDIA UNIVERSITY, PAAVO NURMI CENTER, 601 Quincy St., Hancock, MI 49930, 487-7214.
THEATERS
CALUMET THEATRE, 340 Sixth Street, Calumet, MI 49913, 337-2610
ROZSA CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS, Michigan Tech University Campus, 1400 Townsend Drive, Houghton, MI 49931, 487-3200
FINNISH AMERICAN HERITAGE CENTER THEATER, Finlandia University, 601 Quincy Street, Hancock, MI 49930, 487-7437
ANNUAL EVENTS
January
Heikinpaiva Mid-Winter Festival. For information call 487-7302.
Annual Chassell Bay Ice Fishing Derby. For information call 523-4417.
Heikinpaiva Hiihto Cross Country Ski Race. For information call 487-6671.
Copper Island Classic Cross Country Ski Race. For information call 523-4884.
February
Annual Michigan Tech University Winter Carnival. For information call 487-2818.
Brockway Mountain Challenge Cross Country Ski Race. For information call 289-4637.
March
Keweenaw Ride-in Snowmobile Festival. For information call 289-4637.
Junior Bear Chase Cross Country Ski Race. For information call 482-7047.
Annual Great Bear Chase Cross Country Ski Race. For information call 337-4520.