MMM Lecture Series: Iron Ore Trimmers Wars on the Upper Great Lakes
Date
June 23, 2026
Start Time
6:00 pm
End Time
7:00 pm
Event Details
Iron ore trimmers of the late 1800s worked by hand in gangs to level the cargo dumped into a vessel’s hold. It was dirty, exhausting work that depended on speed and reliability. Trimmers occupied a unique position on the docks, often fighting rival gangs and employers to keep the work in their control. The trimmers of Escanaba and Marquette fought in a series of conflicts local papers dubbed the “trimmer wars,” battling with fists, shovels, clubs and sometimes bullets.
Tickets are free for Museum members and $10 for non-members. Doors open at 6 PM. You can purchase tickets for this event online, over the phone, or in-person.
This lecture series is made possible thanks to the Nielsen-Wells Grant Fund and Mike & Susan Smith.
