The Village of Empire

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Townships and Villages>Incorporated Villages>Empire Village>Empire Area Museum Center

Empire Area Museum Center

Empire Area Musuem [Click here to view full size picture]

In 1972 the Empire Heritage Group was founded in order to preserve the Empire area's past. This has been accomplished with the aid of a large, dedicated volunteer staff and generous support of the local area residents and visitors alike. What began as a one-room display of memorabilia has grown to a complex of four buildings, unique to northern Michigan's network of museums. We hope you enjoy the more than 100 years of history they portray.

MUSEUM HOURS
Weekends from Memorial Day until July 1st. (1 pm-4 pm)
Open daily July and August (1 pm-4 pm Closed Wednesday)
Weekends from Labor Day through Heritage Day(Early Oct.)( 1 pm-4 pm).
Groups by appointment call (231)326-5568 or (231)326-5519.
We are a non-profit organization. Donations are tax deductible.

Main Museum
The Old School House
1911 Hose House (Fire House)
Billy Beeman Barn
Taghon's Corner Museum (Gas Station)
Historic Empire
Museum Store
Yearly Membership

Main Museum

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The main floor features the Roen Saloon from the turn of the century,the Dorsey Parlor, many items from the ghost town of Norway Town and many displays depicting Empire's past. The lower level features a blacksmith's shop, woodworking shop, railroad and shipping displays, the Empire Lumber Company display, a covered wagon,buggies and sleighs.

Roen Saloon [Click here to view full size picture]

The Old School House

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Nestled in the woods behind the main building, you'll find a unique one-room schoolhouse with such features as a water pump, an outhouse and wood burning stove. The building also serves as an audio/visual center.

Inside the Old School House [Click here to view full size picture]

1911 Hose House (Fire House)

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Formerly situated on "downtown" Empire's Front Street, this building features a room with hand-pulled fire equipment used in the Village from 1898 'til 1949. The Diane E. Fischer Center is housed here.

1911 Hose House (Inside theFire House) [Click here to view full size picture]

Billy Beeman Barn

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Behind the school house, you'll find the Billy Beeman Barn with it's horse-drawn equipment, including a stagecoach, a hearse, buckboard, sleigh and much more.

Billy Beeman Barn [Click here to view full size picture]

Taghon's Corner Museum (Gas Station)

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This gas station was located inside Taghon's Corner Amoco Food Shop. The project depicts the station owned by Charles and Louise Taghon, and operated by their son, Fred. Two corners and buildings later, the Amoco Food Shop was operated by Dave and Diane Taghon and their son, Roy-representing four generatios of service to the motoring public since 1924.
Currently owned by Blarney Castle Oil Co. at the corner of M-72 & M-22, Empire MI 49630. 1923 Ford Model "T" in front of 1924 Empire Village Gas Station.
231-326-5181.

This display donated to The Empire Museum in 2002.

Taghon's Corner Museum (gas station) [Click here to view full size picture]

Historic Empire

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Empire was first settled in the mid 1850's by John LaRue. The village is believed to have been named after the schooner Empire which went aground here in 1865 and served as the village school that winter.
In December 1887 the T. Wilce Company formed the Empier Lumber Company to provide hardwood for their flooring company in Chicago. About 1890 the lumber company expanded into one of the largest hardwood mills in the state turning Empire into a booming lumber town with the population reaching 1,000 people around 1900. The last mill burned in 1917 and ended the Empire Lumbering Era.

Museum Store

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A fine selection of 40 local history books is available for purchase at the museum store. Among them are Remembering Empire Through Pictures, Remembering Empire with Recipes Another Visit, Some Other Day (Remembering Empire),colorful picture books, cook books, the Biozard Letters and many other publications covering the unique history of the Empire area.