Mining museum in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan

The Kemp Industrial Museum, located on East Water Street in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, is a fascinating museum housed in the historic Kemp Coal Dock Office. Built in 1904 by local businessman George Kemp, the building served as the office for Kemp Brothers Coal Company until 1959. In 1960, the property was given to the city and eventually transformed into the Kemp Industrial Museum in 2007. The museum showcases the history of the Sault's major industries, including Union Carbide, Northwestern Leather Company, Soo Woolen Mill, and Cadillac-Soo Lumber Company. These industries once thrived in the region due to its natural resources, transportation access, and energy availability. However, as resources dwindled and demands changed, these industries eventually closed down by the early 1960s.