IRON MOUNTAIN — Summer is right around the corner, and with that comes travel plans to area tourist destinations.

Historical museums have long been a popular attractions with visitors and community members. Many local museums are set to reopen or switch to summer hours. They include:

∫ The IXL Historical Museum in Hermansville will open for the season Friday and continue hours through Monday for Memorial Day.

Local blacksmith Dave Hudson will offer live demonstration on Monday at the new blacksmith shop on the museum grounds.

Regular hours will be 12:30 to 4 p.m. Friday through Sunday until Labor Day weekend.

The former headquarters for the Wisconsin Land & Lumber Company, W5551 River St., that now serves as the main building for the museum has made several exhibit changes, including opening up the second floor kitchen. In addition to the main building that contains artifacts from the 19th century with minimal changes from the 20th or 21st century, visitors can tour the original “company house,” one of the oldest homes in Hermansville; carriage house; Hermansville’s original produce warehouse that contains a representation of a company store from the early 1900s; railroad depot; and now the blacksmith shop.

The museum will host its annual Fourth of July Car Show during the town’s celebration and its Vintage Day on Aug. 27.

Hudson will be at the museum to do live presentations once a month through the close of the season.

∫ The Niagara Historical Museum, 1364 River St., will start to welcome visitors for the summer season Saturday.

They will be open from 10 a.m. to noon Saturdays during the summer months or by special appointment. Those interested in a tour for family or reunions can contact Historical Society President Karen Klenke at 906-396-7499

The former old grocery store is filled with important artifacts from the Niagara area community, including many pieces from the paper mill.

The historical society is currently working on installing a metal art piece of a millworker by artist Dan Recla that will be displayed near the entrance of the old mill. The unveiling will take place in June, with details to be announced.

∫ The Harbour House Museum in Crystal Falls will host a special Memorial Day event from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday.

They encourage the community to come see the “Missing Man Table,” as well as memorabilia from veterans that includes medals, POW/MIA items and photographs.

The museum, 17 N. Fourth St. in Crystal Falls, is available to the public year-round. Hours of operation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Thursdays, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Fridays and Sundays, and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays from June through September.

To make arrangements for a special tour, contact 906-284-3405.

Upcoming special activities planned include a bride’s display for the month of June, and an “Alice in Wonderland” themed event in July that will feature a teacup contest. They plan to host monthly events throughout the year.

The second level in the 20th-century house has received a complete makeover, with plans to make other changes in the future.

The historical society is currently working on several fundraisers such as the flower plant bulb and brick sales, as well as offering gravestone cleaning services.

∫ The Alpha Museum season will kick off with its 15th annual Memorial Bake Sale from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday in the Alpha Village Hall. The museum, 303 Center Court, will also be open Monday for the Memorial Day holiday.

Regular hours will be from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays from June through August.

The non-profit will have its Fourth of July raffle tickets for sale and is also currently working on reprinting a Methodist Church Cookbook from the 1950s. A limited number of the 100-year history of the Alpha-Mastodon area are available for purchase.

All proceeds go to support the museum’s mission to preserve Alpha and Mastodon Township area history, along with maintaining the 1914 former First National Bank building, which is listed on the National Historic Register and on the Circle.

∫ The Amberg Museum opens Saturday for the holiday weekend. Regular summer hours will be from noon to 4 p.m. Saturdays through Labor Day weekend.

The museum complex at N15065 Grant St. in Amberg, Wis., includes the national landmark town hall, the museum, a restored turn-of-the-century home, the original Amberg train depot, Carriage House, Cedarville Depot, a complete full-size granite quarry derrick, and other structures related to Amberg history.

This year’s rotating display will feature the Chalk Hills Girl Scout camp.

Guided tours of the museum complex are available on request.

∫ The Amasa Museum, 208 West Pine St., will start its season with the annual Memorial Day program Monday.

Throughout the year, the museum is open by appointment only. Those interested can contact Kelly Mullinax at 906-203-1409 or Helen Hord at 906-822-7210.

The Amasa Historical Society will be open on the Fourth of July, as they will host different activities throughout the day.

The museum, which was the former township hall built in late 1800s, is filled with decades of Amasa’s history. Its many rooms contain a collection of artifacts, photographs, documents, clothing, tools, and household items. They also have an extensive collection of school items from the Amasa School.

The historical society opened the museum in 1997 and continues to work on preservation by adding new pieces to the exhibits.

∫ The Jake Menghini Historical Museum Partners of Norway are gearing up for the summer season’s activities at the museum. The museum will be open from 1 to 4 p.m. Friday and Saturday, June 2-3.

For the remainder of the season, hours will be 1 to 4 p.m. Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays.

The theme for the summer is “The Romance of Wood” and focuses on renewable forest resources. Featured inside the main building will be the woodcraft of Norway’s Cecil Thomas.

The first special event is the annual Music on the Farm Concert and Ice Cream Social beginning at 6 p.m. Tuesday, July 18. They will have museum tours and ice cream sundaes.

The Romance of Wood Craft Show and Sale is planned for 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, July 29, on the museum grounds. There will be demonstrations, displays and sales of items inspired by the forests.

Saturday, Aug. 19, the museum partners will host “From the U.P. to the Yukon: The Saga of Klondike, Mike and Norway’s O’Callaghan Family,” starting at 7 p.m. in the lower chambers of Norway’s City Hall. Carol Sundstrom will give a lecture with a PowerPoint presentation. Donations will be taken for museum operations.

∫ The Cornish Pumping Engine and Mining Museum and the World War II Glider and Military Museum at 300 and 302 Kent St. opens to the public on Monday, June 5.

Both museums will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday and noon to 4 p.m. Sunday until fall hours begin in September.

The Cornish Pumping Engine and Mining Museum features the largest steam-driven pumping engine ever built in the United States. The highlight of the World War II Glider and Military Museum is a WACO CG-4A World War II Combat Glider, one of seven restored combat gliders worldwide.

The Menominee Range Historical Foundation hopes to have a special open house to preview the new Historical Museum in the Dry Building.

∫ The Iron County Historical Museum in Caspian is among the largest museum complexes in the Upper Peninsula. The museum grounds at 100 Brady Ave. have more than 20 buildings with more than 100 exhibits, as well as two art galleries.

The museum will open the first week of June and maintain hours of 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays through August. Groups and special tours are welcome by calling the museum at 906-265-2617.

History Happy Hour events include: June 30, “Shipwrecked and Rescued: Cars and Crew”; July 28, “90 Years of the CCC Camps”; Aug. 25, “Meteorites in the U.P.”; and Sept. 15, “Disappearance of Father Menard.”

New at the museum is an Iron County Time Line that begins with Nick Baumgartner winning Winter Olympic gold and takes visitors back in time to when the Europeans first began interacting with the Native Americans in what would eventually become Iron County; a Rock and Mineral Exhibit that will be completed this summer; and a superintendent of mines office. Work also has begun to completely overhaul Heritage Hall and the Native American Exhibit that should be complete in time for the 2024 season.

∫ The Florence County Historical Museum will officially open its doors on Saturday, June 10.

The museum at 201 Florence Ave. will have hours of 10 a.m. to noon Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays through Sept. 10.

The Florence County Historical Society was founded in 1980, after the Town of Florence’s and the county’s Centennial Celebration. In 2007, they were able to welcome the public thanks to the generosity of historical society vice president Rachel and Don Egelseer donating the use of the building.

Each year, they work on changing their exhibit displays, as well as adding to them.

The Florence County Historical Society has planned a walking tour of historical buildings in the downtown district starting at 10 a.m. June 22.

They will host their annual Quilt Show and Strawberry Social from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, July 15, at Maxsell’s Celebration & Suite on Central Avenue.

Local veterans will be honored at a special recognition event to take place in August. Details will be announced at a later date.

For family groups or organizations, other times can be arranged by calling Debbie DeMuri at 715-528-3597 or Karen Wertanen at 715-528-4744.

∫ The Tri-Township Preservation Group — which includes Breen, Felch and West Branch townships — opened The Archives history room in the Felch Community Center in June of last year.

The Archives is open from 10 a.m. to noon Mondays and also by request by calling Eva Carlson at 616-916-5752 or Pam Miller at 906-239-9395. They are also open during the center’s evening meal on the third Wednesday of the month.

The preservation group recently acquired copies of The Daily News from 1942-1968, a baseball shirt from 1950s, and school and other historical memorabilia.

The Archives welcome any photos, articles or memorabilia that pertain to the three townships. They are currently seeking more information on the local ambulance and fire department.

The group has been able to continue the project through the Felch Township Board allowing them space in the center.

All local museums are always seeking volunteers and encourage anyone interested to contact them.