The Jake Menghini Historical Museum
An immersive tour through Norway, Michigan history.
Whether you're interested in Upper Michigan mining heritage, local culture, or researching your family tree, there's simply no other place to learn more about Norway, Michigan's unique history than the Jake Menghini Historical Museum.
The Museum's namesake was August "Jake" Menghini, a local amateur historian who collected thousands of artifacts and donated them to the City of Norway. These donations formed the foundation of the current Museum, which consists of three buildings: the historic Odill farmhouse, Jake Menghini's original cabin, and a newer main building that hosts rotating exhibits and archival materials.
Visitors to the main building enjoy a virtual sidewalk tour of Norway as it has evolved. This tour includes exhibits featuring an early 20th-century schoolroom, a general store, a city jail, a wartime display, and a section dedicated to historic household items. Each exhibit area invites visitors to step into the past and engage with period-specific artifacts donated by residents. Additionally, the main building hosts annual and seasonal exhibits that highlight various historic themes.
The Odill Farmhouse, constructed in 1900, is one of the oldest houses still standing in Norway. Local businessman Anton Odill and his family operated a popular soda pop factory on the premises, which, at its peak, utilized water from the nearby Norway Spring. In 2012, the Museum restored the house's lower floor, which is now open to the public.
Jake Menghini's log cabin dates back to the 1800s. The Museum moved the entire building to its current site in 2018, where it serves as a regular reminder of Jake Menghini's contribution to the community. The cabin contains some of the earliest artifacts from the Native American, pioneer, and mining eras in Norway, Vulcan, and Waucedah Township that the Museum possesses.
Visitors interested in local businesses, notable individuals, family photographs, genealogy assistance, and more are welcome to use the Jake Menghini Museum's archive room. The archive is a climate-controlled, fireproof vault that houses thousands of paper records, photographs, and antique pieces.
Visit the Jake Menghini Museum at 105 Odill Drive, Norway, MI 49870. Hours of operation may vary by season, so please check www.jakemenghinimuseum.org before your visit. The Museum offers in-person tours during the summer on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays from 1 PM to 4 PM Central Time. Visitors can arrange group tours by contacting the museum office at 906-563-5586.
