What Is the Calumet Fire Station?
Today, this is the Upper Peninsula Firefighters Memorial Museum!
What Makes It Historical?
In 1870, a brush fire destroyed two thirds of the entire village of Red Jacket, causing local officials to start brainstorming ways for this to not happen again! Over the next 18 years, Red Jacket adopted an all-volunteer Protection Fire Company Number One, then Eureka Fire Company Number One, and at last, in 1894, the Red Jacket Fire Department, no longer voluntary but on municipal payroll! To house them, the village brought in architect, Charles K. Shand, who constructed a two-story, Richardsonian Romanesque fire station from Jacobsville sandstone, with a unique pyramid-shaped bell tower! Firefighters lived on the top floor, horses lived on the ground floor, and the six pumper trucks were kept in the basement! Completed in 1899, this fire station served Red Jacket, later Calumet, all the way until 1964!
How Can I #HelpTheHelpers?
- Pay the entrance fee to help maintain trails, signs, structures, and other visitor services!
- Volunteer at Keweenaw National Historical Park!
- Donate to the Isle Royale & Keweenaw Parks Association!
- Be a responsible visitor! Please respect the signs and pathways, and treat all structures and artifacts with respect. They’ve endured a lot to survive into the present. They’ll need our help to make it into the future!
How Do I Get There?
327 6th St
Calumet, MI 49913
(Take Me There!)
When Should I Visit?
The museum is open Monday through Saturday from 1:00 PM to 4:30 PM, mid-June through September!