Knowlton's Ice Museum of North America — Attraction in Port Huron

An ice museum, really? My bet is that some people looking for activities in Port Huron might just skip this museum based on the name, especially on a sunny summer weekend.

Well, I ask you reconsider! This gem of a private museum is not just on ice, but the interesting, sometimes comical, many times deadly, history of ice harvesting in the Great Lakes.

Yes, before you could just walk to your refrigerator for a chill drink, people had to order ice for delivery. This museum helps preserve the area's rich history of ice harvesting and delivery. The owner is a bit of an expert-the family owns one of the largest ice manufactures in the region!

So give the museum a try, even if just early on a Saturday before you hit the beach or any of the other great attractions...

What a great experience. You really do step back in time in this extensive collection of rare artifacts. To now understand that ice harvesting was such a large industry in the United States. My family lives in Florida and we were vacationing with my son in his town of Port Huron this summer. Hidden gem in itself. The curator Vickie opened the museum special for us because she was there doing some work and knew this was a must see before we left. Thanks you so much Vickie! When we go to our freezer now to make drinks, we ask if anyone wants "artificial Ice". if you have been to the Ice Museum you know what this means. Please go check this rare piece of local and national history out. What an accomplishment of the founder Mr. Knowlton, his family, friends...

Pretty cool museum that goes into 1800s-early 1900s way of making, gathering, and using ice (or in other words how people kept things cooled and preserved before refrigeration). Includes a video, tools of the industry, a large collection of early kitchen appliances, a small collection of cars and wagons (including a Michigan license plate from every year) , and a room that is filled with dolls.. Not to bad for 5 bucks.

only question i had was.. whats the story with the Austin...