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Come see the Yankee and learn about its restoration at a Michigan Iron Industry Museum open house on Friday, Dec. 1, from 5-8 p.m. The event is open to the public and admission is free. Light refreshments will be served.
The Yankee is one of the oldest surviving steam locomotives in the United States, one of two industrial geared vertical boiler locomotives in America, and one of three surviving Chaplin steam engines in the world. It was used at the Jackson mine in Negaunee to haul iron ore from 1868 to 1895.
The Yankee and its twin, the John Bull, signaled the first major technological change for the Upper Peninsula iron mines – the coming of steam.
The locomotive was saved from scrap and spent most of the past 100 years outside. It was in poor condition in 2020, when the Michigan History Center applied for and received an Institute of Museum and Library Services grant to help fund conservation and restoration efforts. B. R. Howard and Associates of Carlisle, Pennsylvania restored it to its original appearance. It arrived at its new home inside the museum in October 2023. A full exhibition to share its story is under development.
During the open house, visitors are also welcome to shop for unique holiday gifts in the museum store. For more information, call the museum office at 906-475-7857 or email Barry James at JamesB@Michigan.gov.
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