Iron Industry Museum to host snowshoe-making workshop

Courtesy:  Michigan DNR

NEGAUNEE TOWNSHIP — The Michigan Iron Industry Museum will offer participants in its snowshoe-making workshop Saturday, Dec. 6, the chance to lace their own pair of traditional snowshoes to give as a gift or to enjoy for personal use. The all-day workshop (9 a.m. to 5 p.m.) will give participants the opportunity to choose from two snowshoe styles:

• Green Mountain Bearpaw, which is 36 inches long by 10 inches wide, with no tail (and recommended for those with a weight under 200 pounds).
• Ojibwa, which is 54 inches long by 11 inches wide.

“Snowshoeing has a long history as a mode of transportation in the snowy Upper Peninsula,” said Michigan Iron Industry Museum historian Troy Henderson. “This workshop celebrates that history and encourages participants to explore our winter landscape.”

Henderson said that while participants are making their shoes, they’ll learn about the history of snowshoes and why they are a popular pastime in Michigan.

The Iron Industry Museum now is open year-round and features a new network of trails on the museum grounds.

Space for this workshop is limited and reservations are required. It is not recommended for children under 13. The workshop fee of $175 per person includes all materials and a $25 nonrefundable reservation fee. The registration deadline is Friday, Nov. 21; the registration form can be found online at www.michigan.gov/ironindustrymuseum (click on Events and then on December in the calendar options). For more information about the class or reservations, contact Troy Henderson at 906-475-7857 or hendersont7@michigan.gov.

The museum entrance is located on U.S. 41E, 1 mile west of Junction M-35, in Negaunee Township. Admission is free, but donations are encouraged.

The Michigan Iron Industry Museum is one of 11 nationally accredited museums administered by the Michigan Historical Center, an agency within the Department of Natural Resources. It overlooks the site of the Carp River Forge, a pioneer industrial site listed on the National Register of Historic Places. During the winter months the museum is open Monday through Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. and the first Saturday of each month. For more information call 906-475-7857 or visit online at www.michigan.gov/ironindustrymuseum.

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources is committed to the conservation, protection, management, use and enjoyment of the state’s natural and cultural resources for current and future generations. For more information, go to www.michigan.gov/dnr.