Delta County Historical Society President Charles Lindquist points at a picture of Escanaba from several decades ago at the museum.

ESCANABA — A place full of history and an Escanaba staple is open for the season.

The Delta County Historical Museum is once again available for residents and tourists to visit. The museum, Delta County Archives, Sand Point Lighthouse and boathouse are located at the far west end of Escanaba, where Ludington Street and Loren W. Jenkins Memorial Drive meet Water Plant Drive.

The museum and lighthouse opened for the season on Memorial Day and will run through Labor Day.

Both are open seven days a week from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The museum will also periodically open during the off-season to accommodate cruise ships and other special visitors.

Admission to the lighthouse and museum is only $3 for adults and a total of $5 for a family.

Even if you have been to the museum in the past, it’s a great idea to head over as they change certain exhibits.

“We change exhibits periodically, and we have some new things on display there,” said archivist Karen Lindquist.

In the museum, there are numerous exhibits showcasing the area’s history, including industries such as logging, shipping, and railroads.

Guests can truly step back in time as they examine personal effects and other items from the past, including clothing, tools, knives, local sports memorabilia, furniture, and more, spanning different periods throughout Escanaba’s history.

Lindquist said the lighthouse is a great place to stop and take in a view of the lake, Ludington Park and downtown Escanaba.

“They get to see an authentic lighthouse that was built in the 1860s and operated as a lighthouse until the 1930s, and it’s furnished as it would have been at the time, and the view from up in the lighthouse is beautiful,” she said.

The tours are self-guided, but there is plenty of signage around so guests can learn about the history.

Lindquist said the museum and lighthouse had a very successful past season, and she’s hopeful that this season will be a success as well.

“We haven’t worked on last year’s statistics, but the year before, we went through, and we had every state in the U.S. except Rhode Island,” she said.

Additionally, the museum welcomed international guests from countries such as Canada, Peru, Ireland, Chile, and others.

Lindquist said each year, in addition to tourists, lighthouse enthusiasts and genealogists visit the museum.

“We see a lot of genealogists in the summertime, people who are researching their family histories. And we’re not a genealogical collection, but if we have something we’re happy to share, and we do have the old newspapers and some original things,” she said.

Returning this year is the Sand Point Lighthouse scavenger hunt, where families can explore different areas of the lighthouse and check them off as they go.

The hunts range from easy to medium and difficult.

“It’s all stuff that’s in the lighthouse or on the grounds where they would scavenge,” Lindquist said.

While there may be road construction on Ludington Street, Lindquist wants the community to know the museum and lighthouse are available and open seven days a week.

To learn more about the history of the Sand Point Lighthouse, the museum, archives, and more, visit deltahistorical.org.