Michigan Roadside Attractions on Travel the Mitten highlights our attempts to explore the many interesting things that can be found on the highways, byways and back roads of Michigan, ranging from the interesting to the unusual.

Ironwood was once a booming town in the Upper Peninsula, with workers coming from all over for jobs in the mines of the Gogebic Iron Range. The railroad was instrumental in helping this town grow, and the Chicago and Northwestern Railroad depot saw many thousands of passengers come through its doors. The ore trains and passenger trains are long gone, but the historic Ironwood Depot still stands today and is open as a museum and visitor welcome center. The park here also marks the western end of the Iron Belle Trail, a more than 2,000 mile long hiking and bicycling trail between here and Belle Isle (Detroit). When we visited the area in June of this year, our timing finally worked out where we were able to get inside and see some of the exhibits.

Most of the displays focus on the area’s railroad history and there are many historical artifacts on display.

Other displays focus on the early days of the town and the immigrants that came here in search of opportunity.

Two of our favorite things were seeing the old phone and telegram display, and the old piano.

There are more mining displays outside with some old mining cars on one end of the depot and other equipment under the awning.

There are two historical markers outside as well. One is a Michigan historic marker that used to be attached to the Ironwood City Hall, and the other tells about Italians on the Gogebic Iron Range: “The first iron mining was done on the Gogebic Range in 1884 and Italian miners soon followed first settling in neighboring Hurley, WI. The majority of Italians were from: Trentino, Piedmont, Venetia, Abruzzo-Molise, Calabria, and Sicily. By 1910 Italians comprised over 19% of the foreign-born population on the range and ranked second only to the Finns. Some of the Italian immigrants became independent businessmen. Many opened taverns which became ethnic social centers. Others operated bakeries, groceries, fruit and candy shops, while others were contractors, blacksmiths, travel and insurance agents. Women operated boarding houses and shops. Catholic Churches between Wakefield, MI and Pence, WI ministered to large Italian congregations. An Italian-language newspaper, LA NOSTRA TERRA (Our Land) began publishing from Hurley in 1913. Between 1898 and 1968 Italian communities were served by some thirty-eight mutual beneficial societies. The descendants of these hardy pioneers continue to play important roles in local communities.”

Make sure to check out the signs for the Iron Belle Trail while you’re here. We love our Michigan trails, and it was cool to be able to see both ends of this trail this summer (more coming soon about the Belle Isle end)!

The Ironwood Depot is located at 150 Lowell St. and there are many parking options here at the park. The museum is typically open 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday and there are brochures and maps of area attractions available from the Ironwood Chamber of Commerce.