Heritage Center Holds Grand Opening

The Beaumier Upper Peninsula Heritage Center will hold a grand opening to celebrate its new location. The event is scheduled for 7 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 20, in Suite 105 Cohodas Hall. Admission is free and light refreshments will be served.

Two new exhibitions will be unveiled at the grand opening. “This Northern Century: Student Life at NMU” features artifacts, audio/video clips and photographs (a hitchhiker and the "bull-pen" registration process are shown) related to student activities over the past 100 years. It covers organizations, traditions, dorm life, politics, technology and change on campus.

“Vanishing Points—Photographs by Christine Flavin” combines traditional and digital techniques to capture surreal views of abandoned industrial landscapes of U.P. mining operations juxtaposed with photographs taken when the mines were booming. Flavin is a member of the NMU art and design faculty.

The center was established in December 2006 with a $1 million endowed gift from its namesake, NMU alumnus Dr. John Beaumier ('55).

“He became interested in Northern’s long-term desire to create a U.P. history museum and wanted to see a museum dedicated to the Upper Peninsula’s people, focusing on their ethnicities, work lives and religious practices,” said director Daniel Truckey.

Originally a small gallery in the Superior Dome, the Heritage Center will occupy the former financial services area in Cohodas Hall until a permanent home is created as part of Northern’s planned Lee Hall renovation. The Cohodas suite features display and storage space, an office and processing/research areas.  

Truckey said the Heritage Center also serves as a laboratory for students pursuing careers in museum and public history, graphic design and other relevant fields. He relies on student assistants and interns to help manage collections and research and develop exhibits. The goal is to expand public programming to include school tours, distance learning and on-campus events.

After the grand opening, Heritage Center hours will be 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. For more information, or to loan or donate items to the collection, call ext. 3242 or visit U.P. Heritage.