Visitors to Ironwood in the western Upper Peninsula have the chance to see how an iconic hat is made, and learn about how it became one of the best Michigan-made success stories ever. A Stormy Kromer factory tour is offered once a day and offers the chance to hear stories about the hat’s origins, how a local company helped save it from extinction, and how dedication to quality helped cement the Stormy Kromer hat’s legacy. We had the chance to take one of these tours when we visited the Upper Peninsula in June, and it was one of the parts of our trip I had been looking forward to the most. Today we will share a little bit about our experience and let you know how to book a tour of your own.

Tours start at 10:30 a.m. (Central Time) and can accommodate up to 10 people. Our group gathered in the main room of the company store, where we soon found out our tour would be led by Stormy Kromer chairman Bob Jacquart. Mr. Jacquart did an amazing job walking us through the history of the hat, which dates back to the early 1900s when George “Stormy” Kromer, a railroad engineer and baseball player, kept losing his hat on the train. His wife Ida, added flaps to keep the hat snug and also keep his ears warm, and the legendary cap was born. The cap caught on and became a staple for hunters and outdoorsmen.

Jacquart then told us how this wool cap had a pretty successful run but almost disappeared forever. In 2001 he discovered the iconic hat was no longer going to be made by a company in Milwaukee, and he spent months trying to acquire it and bring it to Ironwood as part of his family’s business (Jacquart Fabric Products). The Stormy Kromer hat is now more popular than ever and can be found in gift shops and stores throughout the Great Lakes region and beyond. After learning the history of the hat, it was time to see how it gets made.

The tour then heads into the warehouse where all of the fabric is stored before moving into the production area.

Mr. Jacquart takes you through the step-by-step process of how fabric is cut. It was clear early on that the focus here is on quality and attention to detail rather than mass production. A dedicated staff puts the finishing touches on these hats by hand and that really shows in the finished product.

One other thing I loved hearing is that most of the employees here at Stormy Kromer have been here for quite some time. Some have even been here for 40 years, and their love of the brand and dedication to the job shows with how they managed to be friendly to a tour group while still getting their work done! It’s great to see a company take good care of their employees and retain talent!

The tour wraps up with a stop in the shipping area, where Jacquart told us about all the places the hats are sold and some of the stores where they are incredibly popular. Tour guests then have the chance to sign their name on a painted hallway wall before the tour concludes. Our group had visitors from several other states, all curious to learn about the famous “Yooper hat.” Tours typically last 45-60 minutes.

After the tour you are free to shop at the company store, which has many varieties of the iconic Stormy Kromer hat as well as other products. The store is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. to noon on Saturdays (all times are Central).

You also can’t miss the chance to get your picture taken with the giant hat out front!

You can sign up for your own free tour on the Stormy Kromer website. Most tours end up filling up, so reserve yours in advance before visiting. We had an awesome time on our tour and would definitely recommend it to anyone visiting the Ironwood area.

The Stormy Kromer Factory Store and tours are located at 1238 Wall St. In Ironwood. Once you see the giant red cap, you know you’re in the right place! Enjoy learning about this awesome made in Michigan brand and how they operate.