Marquette is a city in the
U.S. stateA U.S. state is any one of 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government . Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile...
of
MichiganMichigan is a Midwestern state of the United States of America. It was named after Lake Michigan, whose name is a French adaptation of the Ojibwe term mishigama, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
and the
county seatA county seat is a term for an administrative center for a county or civil parish, primarily used in the United States. In the Northeast United States, the statutory term often is shire town, but colloquially county seat is the term in use there...
of
Marquette CountyMarquette County is a county in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the population was 64,634. The county seat is Marquette. Marquette County is the largest county in land area in Michigan, and the most populous county in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.-Geography:The Huron...
. The population was 19,661 at the 2000 census. Marquette is a major port on
Lake SuperiorLake Superior is the largest of the five Great Lakes of North America. It is bounded to the north by Ontario, Canada and Minnesota, United States, and to the south by the U.S. states of Wisconsin and Michigan...
, primarily for shipping
iron oreIron ores are rocks and minerals from which metallic iron can be economically extracted. The ores are usually rich in iron oxides and vary in color from dark grey, bright yellow, deep purple, to rusty red. The iron itself is usually found in the form of magnetite , hematite , goethite, limonite or...
and is the home of
Northern Michigan UniversityNorthern Michigan University is a 4 year college public university established in 1899 located in Marquette, in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. With a population of nearly 10,000 undergraduate and graduate students, Northern Michigan University is the Upper Peninsula's largest university.-History...
. It is the largest city of the Upper Peninsula. The city of Marquette averages about 141 inches of snow per year, making it the second snowiest city in the
contiguous United StatesThe term contiguous United States refers to the 48 U.S. states located on the North American continent south of the border with Canada, plus the District of Columbia....
among those cities large enough to be reported.
History
The land around Marquette was known to French missionaries of the early 17th century and the trappers of the early 19th century. Development of the area did not begin, however, until 1844, when William Burt and Jacob Houghton (the brother of geologist
Douglass HoughtonDouglass Houghton was an American geologist and physician, primarily known for his exploration of the Keweenaw Peninsula of Michigan.-Early Life and Education:...
) discovered iron deposits near Teal Lake west of Marquette. In 1845, Jackson Mining Company, the first organized mining company in the region, was formed.
The village of Marquette began on September 14, 1849, with the formation of a second iron concern, the Marquette Iron Company. Three men participated in organizing the firm: Robert J. Graveraet, who had prospected the region for ore; Edward Clark, agent for Waterman A. Fisher of
Worcester, MassachusettsWorcester is a city in the state of Massachusetts in the United States of America. Having a population of 172,648 in the 2000 census, Worcester is ranked the second or third largest city in New England. It is the county seat of Worcester County....
, who financed the company, and Amos Rogers Harlow. The village was at first called New Worcester, with Harlow as the first postmaster. On August 21, 1850, the name was changed to honor
Jacques MarquetteFather Jacques Marquette, S.J., , sometimes known as Pere Marquette, was a French Jesuit missionary who founded Michigan's first European settlement, Sault Ste. Marie, and later founded St. Ignace, Michigan...
, the French Jesuit missionary who had explored the region. A second post office, named Carp River, was opened on October 13, 1851 by Peter White, who had come there with Graveraet at age 18. Harlow closed his post office in August 1852. The Marquette Iron Company failed, while its successor, the Cleveland Iron Mining Company, flourished and had the village
platA plat consists of a map, drawn to scale, showing the divisions of a piece of land. U.S. General Land Office surveyors drafted township plats of Public Lands Surveys to show the distance and bearing between section corners, sometimes including topographic or vegetation information. City, town or...
ted in 1854. The plat was recorded by Peter White. White's office was renamed as Marquette in April 1856, and the village was incorporated in 1859. It was incorporated as a city in 1871.
During the 1850s, Marquette was linked by rail to numerous mines and became the leading shipping center of the Upper Peninsula. The first
ore pocket dockAn ore dock is a large structure used for loading ore onto ships which then carry the ore to steelworks or to transshipment points. Most known ore docks were constructed near iron mines on the upper Great Lakes and served the lower Great Lakes. Ore docks still in existence are typically about ...
, designed by an early town leader, John Burt, was built by the Cleveland Iron Mining Company in 1859. By 1862, the city had a population of over 1,600 and a soaring economy.
In the late 19th century, during the height of iron mining, Marquette became nationally known as a summer haven. Visitors brought in by Great Lakes passenger steamships filled the city's hotels and resorts.
South of the city, K.I. Sawyer AFB, was an important
Air ForceThe United States Air Force is the aerial warfare branch of the U.S. armed forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on 18 September 1947 under the National Security Act of 1947 - 80 P.L....
installation during the
Cold WarThe Cold War was the continuing state of political conflict, military tension, and economic competition existing after World War II , primarily between the USSR and its satellite states, and the powers of the Western world, including the United States...
, host to B-52H bombers and KC-135 tankers of the
Strategic Air CommandThe Strategic Air Command was both a major command in the United States Air Force and a "specified command" in the United States Department of Defense. SAC was the operational establishment in charge of America's land-based strategic bomber aircraft and land-based intercontinental ballistic...
, as well as a fighter interceptor squadron. The base closed in September 1995, and is now the county's
Sawyer International AirportSawyer International Airport is a public airport located south of the central business district of Marquette, a city in Marquette County, Michigan, United States. The airport is publicly owned by Marquette County....
.
Marquette continues to be a shipping port for
hematiteHematite, also spelled as hæmatite, is the mineral form of iron oxide , one of several iron oxides. Hematite crystallizes in the rhombohedral system, and it has the same crystal structure as ilmenite and corundum...
ores and, today, enriched
iron oreIron ores are rocks and minerals from which metallic iron can be economically extracted. The ores are usually rich in iron oxides and vary in color from dark grey, bright yellow, deep purple, to rusty red. The iron itself is usually found in the form of magnetite , hematite , goethite, limonite or...
pellets, from nearby mines and pelletizing plants. About 7.9 million gross tons of pelletized iron ore passed through Marquette's Presque Isle Harbor in 2005.
The Roman Catholic Bishop
Frederic BaragaFrederic Baraga, Servant of God was a Slovene American Roman Catholic missionary, bishop, and grammarian.-Early life:...
is buried at
St. Peter's CathedralSt Peter Cathedral is a large Roman Catholic church located in Marquette, Michigan, on Baraga Street, the mother church of the Diocese of Marquette. It is also one of the most notable marks of Catholic presence in the Upper Peninsula...
, which is the center for the
Diocese of MarquetteThe Roman Catholic Diocese of Marquette is a suffragan diocese of the Roman rite, encompassing all of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, in the ecclesiastical province of the Archbishop of Detroit. It encompasses an area of 16,281 square miles .Its cathedral is St. Peter Cathedral in Marquette,...
.
Marquette is the sister city of
KajaaniKajaani is a town and municipality in Finland.It is located in the province of Oulu and is the capital of the Kainuu region. It is located southeast of Oulujärvi , which drains to the Gulf of Bothnia along the Oulujoki . There are inhabitants and city surface area is of which is water. The...
,
FinlandFinland , officially the Republic of Finland
, is a Nordic country and democracy situated in the Fennoscandian region of northern Europe. It borders Sweden on the west, Russia on the east, and Norway on the north, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland...
, and
Higashiomiis a city located in Shiga Prefecture, Japan.As of 2008, the city has an estimated population of 117,557 and the density of 303 persons per km². The total area is 388.58 km²....
(formerly Yokaichi),
Japanis an island country in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, People's Republic of China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
.
Postal and philatelic history
In addition to the Marquette #1 Post Office there is the "Northern Michigan University Bookstore Contract Station #384".
The
first day of issueThe first day of issue is the day on which a postage stamp, postal card or stamped envelope is put on sale, within the country or territory of the stamp-issuing authority. Sometimes the issue is made from a temporary or permanent foreign or overseas office...
of a postal card showing Bishop
Frederic BaragaFrederic Baraga, Servant of God was a Slovene American Roman Catholic missionary, bishop, and grammarian.-Early life:...
took place in Marquette on 29 June 1984, and that of the Wonders of America Lake Superior stamp on May 27, 2006.
Geography
According to the
United States Census BureauThe United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data. As part of the United States Department of Commerce, the Census Bureau serves as the leading source of quality data about...
, the city has a total area of , of which, of it is land and of it (41.09%) is water.
The city includes several small islands (principally Middle Island, Gull Island, Lover's Island, Presque Isle Pt. Rocks, White Rocks, Ripley Rock, and Picnic Rocks) in Lake Superior. The
Marquette Underwater PreserveThe Marquette Underwater Preserve was established in 1990 to promote conservation of the submerged historical resources in Lake Superior near Marquette, Michigan. The Preserve is composed of two separate units, the Marquette Unit and the Huron Islands Unit. The Marquette Unit extends along...
lies immediately offshore.
Marquette MountainMarquette Mountain is a winter sports area for skiing and snow boarding, located a few miles south of Marquette, Michigan, the major city in the state's Upper Peninsula. In the summer, Marquette Mountain offers activities such as mountain biking, and volleyball. The base area's parking lot is...
, used for
skiingSkiing is a group of sports using skis as equipment for traveling over snow. Skis are used in conjunction with boots that connect to the ski with use of a binding....
, is located in the city, as is most of the land of
Marquette Branch PrisonThe Marquette Branch Prison is located in Marquette, Michigan on the south shore of Lake Superior. The prison, which opened in 1889, is a state facility that holds about 1,100 inmates in maximum and minimum-security housing. The inmate population consists of adult males, aged twenty-one and older...
of the
Michigan Department of CorrectionsThe Michigan Department of Corrections oversees prisons and other correctional facilities in the state of Michigan, USA. It has some 43 prison facilities, 10 camps and a Special Alternative Incarceration program, together composing approximately 50,000 inmates. Another 72,000 probationers and...
.
Trowbridge ParkTrowbridge Park is an unincorporated community in Marquette Township, Marquette County in the U.S. state of Michigan bordering on the city of Marquette. It is also a census-designated place for statistical purposes, with no legal status as an incorporated municipality...
(an unincorporated part of Marquette Township) is located to the west, and
Marquette TownshipMarquette Charter Township is a charter township of Marquette County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 3,286 at the 2000 census...
to the northwest of the city.
Demographics
At the 2000 census, there were 19,661 people, 8,071 households and 4,067 families residing in the city. The
population densityPopulation density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans. It is a key term used in geography....
was 1,723.9 per square mile (665.3/km²). There were 8,429 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 95% White, 0.8% African American, 1.7% Native American, 0.8% Asian, 0% Pacific Islander, 0.22% from
other racesRace and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the United States Census Bureau and the Federal Office of Management and Budget , are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 1.33% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.77% of the population. 15.5% were of German, 12.6%
FinnishThe terms Finns and Finnish people are used in English to mean "a native or inhabitant of Finland". They are also used to refer to the ethnic group historically associated with Finland or Fennoscandia, and they are only used in that sense here....
, 8.9%
FrenchFrench people can refer to:* The legal residents and citizens of France, regardless of ancestry. For a legal discussion, see French nationality law.* People whose ancestors lived in France or the area that later became France....
, 8.5%
EnglishThe English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity as a people is of early medieval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn....
, 8.2%
IrishThe Irish people are a Western European ethnic group who originate in Ireland, in north western Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolgs, Tuatha Dé Danann and the Milesians The Irish...
, 6.8%
ItalianThe Italian people are an ethnic group, in the sense of sharing a common Italian culture, descent, and speaking the Italian language as a mother tongue...
and 6.7%
SwedishSwedes are a Scandinavian people, mostly inhabiting Sweden and the other Nordic countries, with descendants living in a number of countries....
ancestry according to Census 2000.
There were 8,071 households of which 23.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 37.2% were
married couplesMarriage is a social union or legal contract between individuals that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged by a variety of ways, depending on the culture or demographic...
living together, 10.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 49.6% were non-families. 37.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.13 and the average family size was 2.81.
Age distribution was 16.8% under the age of 18, 25.9% from 18 to 24, 23.8% from 25 to 44, 19.7% from 45 to 64, and 13.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females there were 94.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.4 males.
The median household income was US$29,918, and the median family income was US$48,120. Males had a median income of US$34,107 versus US$24,549 for females. The
per capita incomePer capita income means how much each individual receives, in monetary terms, of the yearly income generated in the country. This is what each citizen is to receive if the yearly national income is divided equally among everyone. Per capita income is usually reported in units of currency per year...
for the city was US$17,787. About 7.2% of families and 17.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.3% of those under age 18 and 5.1% of those age 65 or over.
Business
Along with
Northern Michigan UniversityNorthern Michigan University is a 4 year college public university established in 1899 located in Marquette, in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. With a population of nearly 10,000 undergraduate and graduate students, Northern Michigan University is the Upper Peninsula's largest university.-History...
, the largest employers in Marquette are the Marquette School System,
Marquette General HospitalMarquette General Hospital is a hospital and regional medical center located in Marquette, Michigan and serving the Upper Peninsula of Michigan....
(a regional medical center which is the only Level 2
Trauma centerA trauma center is a hospital equipped to provide comprehensive emergency medical services to patients suffering traumatic injuries. Trauma centers were established as the medical establishment realized that traumatic injuries often require complex and multi-disciplinary treatment, including...
in the Upper Peninsula), the Michigan State Prison,
Pioneer Surgical TechnologyPioneer Surgical Technology, based in Marquette, Michigan, is Michigan's largest private medical technology company. The company was founded in 1992 by Matthew Songer and its first major product was the Songer Cable, used is spine surgeries...
,
Charter CommunicationsCharter Communications is an American company providing cable television, high-speed Internet, and telephone services to more than 5.7 million customers in 29 states. It is the third-largest cable operator in the U.S., behind Comcast and Time Warner Cable...
and
The Mining JournalThe Mining Journal is the predominant daily newspaper of Marquette, Michigan and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.Like most market-dominant daily papers, the MJ is a seven-day morning paper. The Mining Journal is distributed over a wide area, in part because Marquette is the largest city for a...
.
Marquette in film and literature
Robert Traver (John Voelker) set his novels
Anatomy of a MurderAnatomy of a Murder is an American trial court drama film directed by Otto Preminger and written by Wendell Mayes based on the best-selling novel of the same name written by Michigan Supreme Court Justice John D. Voelker under the pen name Robert Traver. Traver based the novel on a 1952 murder...
(1958) and
Laughing Whitefish (1965) in Marquette. The film version of
Anatomy of a MurderAnatomy of a Murder is an American trial court drama film directed by Otto Preminger and written by Wendell Mayes based on the best-selling novel of the same name written by Michigan Supreme Court Justice John D. Voelker under the pen name Robert Traver. Traver based the novel on a 1952 murder...
, dramatizing an incident that happened in the area, was partly filmed in Marquette and
Big BayBig Bay is an unincorporated community in Marquette County of the U.S. state of Michigan. It is a census-designated place for statistical purposes and does not have any legal status as an incorporated municipality. As of the 2000 census, the CDP population was 265...
. However, much of it was filmed in the
Marquette CountyMarquette County is a county in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the population was 64,634. The county seat is Marquette. Marquette County is the largest county in land area in Michigan, and the most populous county in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.-Geography:The Huron...
Courthouse.
Danny and the Boys (1951) is a collection of short stories set in and around Marquette.
Philip CaputoPhilip Caputo is an American author and journalist. He is best-known for A Rumor of War, a best-selling memoir of his experiences during the Vietnam War....
set his novel
Indian Country-Legal meanings:Indian country is a term generally used to describe the many self-governing Native American communities throughout the United States. This usage is reflected in many places, such as in the title of the Native American newspaper Indian Country Today...
(1987) in the Upper Peninsula and several scenes depict Marquette.
Jim HarrisonJames "Jim" Harrison is an American author known for his poetry, fiction, essays, reviews, and writings about food. He has been called "a force of nature," and his work has been compared to that of Faulkner and Hemingway...
's novel
True NorthTrue north is the direction along the earth's surface towards the geographic North Pole.True north usually differs from magnetic north and grid north .The direction of true north is marked in the skies by the north celestial pole...
(2005) tells about a Marquette family whose wealth is based on exploiting Upper Peninsula timber.
A large portion of the acclaimed
graphic novelA graphic novel is a narrative work in which the story is conveyed to the reader using the comics form. The term is employed in a broad manner, encompassing non-fiction works and thematically linked short stories as well as fictional stories across a number of genres.Graphic novels are typically...
BlanketsBlankets is a autobiographical graphic novel by Craig Thompson, published in 2003 by Top Shelf Productions. As a coming-of-age autobiography, the book tells the story of Thompson's childhood in an Evangelical Christian family, his first love, and his early adulthood...
, by
Craig ThompsonCraig Matthew Thompson is a graphic novelist best known for his 2003 work Blankets. Thompson has received four Harvey Awards, two Eisner Awards, and two Ignatz Awards...
, takes place in Marquette.
Marquette was the site of many key events in the investigation of a murder in Dave Distel's
The Sweater Letter, a true story of a murder that occurred near Ontonagan.
Parks, sports and recreation
The city of Marquette has a number of parks and recreational facilities which are used by city and county residents. Presque Isle Park is Marquette's most popular park located on the north side of the city. It includes 323 acres (131 hectares) of mostly forested land and juts out into Lake Superior. The park was designed by Fredrick Law Olmsted, the same Olmsted that designed Central Park in New York. Amenities include a wooden band shell for concerts, a park pavilion, a gazebo, a marina, a concession stand, picnic tables, barbecue pits, walking/skiing trails, playground facilities, Moosewood Nature
The city has two popular beaches, South Beach Park and McCarty's Cove. McCarty's Cove, flanked by the red U.S. Coast Guard Station lighthouse on its south shore, serves as a reprieve from hot summer days, where city and county residents alike take advantage of the cool, but tolerable, water temperatures and the cooling effects of the lake-generated
sea breezeA sea-breeze is a wind from the sea that develops over land near coasts. It is formed by increasing temperature differences between the land and water which create a pressure minimum over the land due to its relative warmth and forces higher pressure, cooler air from the sea to move inland...
. Both beaches have picnic areas, grills, children's playgrounds and lifeguard stands.
Other parks include Tourist Park, Founder's Landing, LaBonte Park, Mattson Lower Harbor Park, Park Cemetery, Shiras Park, Williams Park, Harlow Park, Pocket Park, Spring Street Park and Father Marquette Park.
There are also numerous other recreational facilities located within the city.
Lakeview ArenaLakeview Arena is a 3,100 seat multi-purpose arena located in Marquette, Michigan. It was opened in 1974, during the Marquette Iron Rangers hockey season. The team had previously played in the historic Palestra -- a building that had moved from Laurium, Michigan in 1921 and was torn down shortly...
is best known for its use as an ice hockey facility, but it also hosts a number of public events. A skateboard park is located just outside of the arena and open during the summer. Lakeview Arena is home to the
Marquette RangersThe Marquette Rangers are a Junior A ice hockey team in the North American Hockey League's north division, and play out of the 3,100-seat Lakeview Arena in Marquette, Michigan. Their inaugural season was the 2006-2007 year in which they were able to make the playoffs, but fell to the Mahoning...
, Marquette Electricians, the Marquette Redmen high school hockey teams. In 1974, the arena replaced the historic Palestra, which had been located a few blocks away.
Marquette has the largest man-made wooden dome in the world, the
Superior DomeThe Superior Dome, which opened as the world’s largest wooden dome on September 14, 1991, is a domed stadium on the campus of Northern Michigan University in Marquette, Michigan. It is home to the Northern Michigan Wildcats football team, as well as a variety of campus and community events...
- unofficially but affectionately known as the YooperDome. (The second largest, located in Japan, is just one square foot smaller.) During the football season, the Dome is used primarily for football on its newly renovated astro turf field. The turf was installed in July of 2009. Northern Michigan University holds its home football games in the Dome, as does the Michigan High School Athletic Association with the upper peninsula's High School football playoffs. The dome also hosts numerous private and public events which draw in thousands from around the region.
The Marquette Golf Club has brought international recognition to the area for its unique and dramatic Greywalls course, opened in 2005. The course features several panoramic views of Lake Superior and winds its way through rocky outcroppings, heaving fairways and a rolling valley, yet is located less than two miles from the downtown area.
Marquette also has an extensive network of biking and walking paths throughout the city. The city has been gradually expanding the paths and has been promoting itself as a walkable and livable community. Cross Country ski trails are also located at Presque Isle Park and the Fit Strip.
Camping facilities are located at Tourist Park.
Live theatrical productions are provided through Northern Michigan University's Forest Roberts Theatre and Black Box Theatre, Marquette's Graverate School Kaufman Auditorium and Lake Superior Theatre, a semi-professional summer stock theatre.
The combination of hilly terrain (a 600 foot vertical difference from top to bottom) and large area snow falls makes downhill skiing a reality on the edge of town.
Transportation
Marquette is served by
Sawyer International AirportSawyer International Airport is a public airport located south of the central business district of Marquette, a city in Marquette County, Michigan, United States. The airport is publicly owned by Marquette County....
with daily flights to Chicago, Detroit,
MilwaukeeGeneral Mitchell International Airport is a county-owned public airport located five miles south of the central business district of Milwaukee, a city in Milwaukee County, Wisconsin, United States....
and Minneapolis.
Marquette is served by a public transportation bus system called the "
MarqTranMarqTran is a public bus system operated out of Marquette, Michigan, USA. It provides basic transportation needs to people throughout Marquette County...
" that runs through the city and to nearby places such as Sawyer International Airport and
IshpemingIshpeming is a city in Marquette County in the Upper Peninsula of the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 6,686 at the 2000 census. This is down from a higher population in the 1950s and 1960s when the economically supportive iron ore mines had a much higher employment level...
.
Highways
is a major highway continuing westerly and northerly toward
HoughtonHoughton is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan's Upper Peninsula and largest city in the Copper Country on the Keweenaw Peninsula. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 7,010. It is the county seat of Houghton County...
and southerly toward
EscanabaEscanaba [es-ka-NAH-ba] is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan, located in the banana belt on the state's Upper Peninsula. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 13,140, making it the third-largest city in the Upper Peninsula after Marquette and Sault Ste. Marie...
. travels westerly to
WakefieldWakefield is a city in Gogebic County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 2,085 at the 2000 census.The city is situated within Wakefield Township, but is politically independent. It is on US 2 about ten miles east of Ironwood and the Wisconsin border...
and easterly toward Sault Ste. Marie. provides a direct connection to
Sawyer International AirportSawyer International Airport is a public airport located south of the central business district of Marquette, a city in Marquette County, Michigan, United States. The airport is publicly owned by Marquette County....
.
The city is also known for fishing for deep water lake trout, whitefish, salmon and brown trout.
Museums, galleries, lighthouses
The Marquette Maritime Museum is located along the Lake Superior shoreline near the U.S. Coast Guard Station. The museum is open during the summer season and offers an extensive collection of maritime artifacts involving the maritime history of Marquette. Tours of the historic
Marquette Harbor LightThe Marquette Harbor Light is located on Lake Superior in Marquette, Michigan, a part of the Upper Peninsula. It is an active aid to navigation.-History:...
house are also available; and just to the west of Marquette, the Big Bay Point Light is operated as a
bed and breakfastA bed and breakfast is a small lodging establishment that offers overnight accommodation and breakfast, but usually does not offer other meals...
, which offers a unique experience.
The Upper Peninsula Children's Museum is located along Baraga Avenue. Those familiar with Marquette's past will recognize the former Bunny Bread sign that is located on the outside of the building. The museum features hands-on exhibits for children to learn and have fun doing so. The museum is open year-round.
The Marquette County History Museum is located along Front Street in the downtown district. The museum features many exhibits and artifacts of Marquette County's past. The museum includes a library and gift shop and is open year-round.
The DeVos Art Museum is the art museum at Northern Michigan University.
The Oasis Gallery for Contemporary Art is an ongoing project of the Marquette Arts Council.
Climate
| Monthly Normal and Record High and Low Temperatures |
| Month |
Jan |
Feb |
Mar |
Apr |
May |
Jun |
Jul |
Aug |
Sep |
Oct |
Nov |
Dec |
| Rec High °F |
48 |
61 |
71 |
92 |
93 |
96 |
99 |
96 |
93 |
87 |
73 |
59 |
| Norm High °F |
19.7 |
24.2 |
33.1 |
45.8 |
61.5 |
70.3 |
75.2 |
72.6 |
63.2 |
50.9 |
35.4 |
24.1 |
| Norm Low °F |
3.3 |
5.4 |
14.3 |
26.9 |
39.1 |
48.3 |
53.5 |
52 |
43.8 |
34 |
22.4 |
10.2 |
| Rec Low °F |
-27 |
-34 |
-30 |
-9 |
17 |
28 |
36 |
34 |
24 |
14 |
-8 |
-28 |
| Precip (in) |
2.6 |
1.85 |
3.13 |
2.79 |
3.07 |
3.21 |
3.01 |
3.55 |
3.74 |
3.66 |
3.27 |
2.43 |
| Source: USTravelWeather.com |
Public schools
- Marquette Senior High School Redmen and Redettes
- Bothwell Middle School School Scots
- Graveraet Intermediate School Comets
- Cherry Creek Elementary School Panthers
- Sandy Knoll Elementary School Explorers
- Superior Hills Elementary School Huskies
- Vandenboom Elementary School Stars
- North Star Academy
- Marquette Alternative High School
Private schools
- Father Marquette Elementary School Golden Eagles
- Father Marquette Middle School Golden Eagles
- Crossroads Christian Academy
Media
Multiple media outlets provide local coverage of the Marquette area.
- Newspaper: The Mining Journal
The Mining Journal is the predominant daily newspaper of Marquette, Michigan and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.Like most market-dominant daily papers, the MJ is a seven-day morning paper. The Mining Journal is distributed over a wide area, in part because Marquette is the largest city for a...
, The Northwind, Marquette Monthly and the Iron County Reporter
- Television: WLUC-TV
WLUC-TV is the NBC-affiliated television station for the central Upper Peninsula of Michigan that is licensed to Marquette. It broadcasts a high definition digital signal on UHF channel 35 from a transmitter southeast of Republic. Owned by Barrington Broadcasting, the station has studios on U.S. 41...
, WBUP-TV, WZMQ and WNMU-TV
- Radio: WNMU-FM
WNMU-FM is a radio station in the United States, broadcasting at FM 90.1 in Marquette, Michigan. The station, owned by Northern Michigan University, is a National Public Radio member station, airing a large amount of classical and jazz music along with a variety of other local programming...
, WHWL-FM, WUPK-FMWUPK and WIMK , The Bear , are a pair of radio stations broadcasting a mainstream rock format....
, WFXD-FMWFXD is a radio station broadcasting a country music format in Marquette, Michigan.The station began broadcasting in the 1970s at 100.1 FM as WUUN, a live-assist Top 40/adult contemporary music station known as "Stereo 100." In 1985, the station moved to its current 103.3 frequency and became WRUP...
and WUPX
Suburbs of Marquette
- Harvey
Harvey is an unincorporated community, known in the early years as "Harvey Location", in Chocolay Township Marquette County in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is a census-designated place for statistical purposes and has no legal status as an incorporated municipality...
- Chocolay Township
- Trowbridge Park
Trowbridge Park is an unincorporated community in Marquette Township, Marquette County in the U.S. state of Michigan bordering on the city of Marquette. It is also a census-designated place for statistical purposes, with no legal status as an incorporated municipality...
- Marquette Township
Marquette Charter Township is a charter township of Marquette County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 3,286 at the 2000 census...
- Negaunee Township
Festivals and events
- Art on the Rocks - An art festival originally held at Presque Isle Park, but moved to the Lower Harbor Park in 2009.
- Hiawatha Music Festival
The Hiawatha Traditional Music Festival in Marquette, Michigan is held each year during the third weekend of July and features traditional, acoustic, American music. Each year's main-stage line-up can include bluegrass, old-time, Cajun, Celtic, acoustic blues, Gospel, etc. The line-up includes...
Traditional music festival at Tourist Park (30th Annual 18-20 July 2008)
- Marquette's 4th of July Celebration
- Superior Bike Fest
- Ore to Shore Mountain Bike race.
- Exchange Club International Food Fest
- Seafood Fest
- UP 200 Dog Sled Race
- Noquemanon Ski Marathon
- Marquette Area Blues Fest
- Marquette Scandinavian Midsummer Festival and Wife-Carrying
Wife carrying , is a sport in which male competitors race while each carrying a female teammate. The objective is for the male to carry the female through a special obstacle track in the fastest time...
Contest
External links