Marquette Range Iron Mining Heritage Theme Park Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
OPERATION OF AN EDUCATIONAL FACILITY/MUSEUM THAT DEMONSTRATES THE HISTORICAL HERITAGE OF THE MARQUETTE IRON RANGE OF MI THROUGH DISPLAYS, TOURS, AND PRESENTATIONS.
- Income
- $89,348
- Spending
- $92,255
- Spent on programs
- 76%
- Reserves
- 11.7 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 67%
- Employees
- 2
- Volunteers
- 24
- Highest pay
- $18,000, director/man
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Good: 76 out of 100. Higher than 52% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, under $250k).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 11.7 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
8 of 15Spending exceeded income by 3% of income.
Income trend
5 of 15Income fell 23% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1576% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Weak: 47 out of 100. Higher than 22% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, under $250k).
Independent board
25 of 2518 of 18 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
0 of 15Reports no written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
0 of 7Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
0 of 10Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
0 of 5Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Impact evidence
Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.
Programs described in its return (3)
- $70,421 spent. THIS ORGANIZATION WAS ESTABLISHED TO OPERATE AN EDUCATIONAL FACILITY/MUSEUM THAT DEMOSTRATES THE HISTORICAL HERITAGE OF THE MARQUETTE IRON RANGE OF MICHIGAN THROUGH DISPLAYS, TOURS, AND PRESENTATIONS. THE DEVELOPMENT OF IRON MINING (BOTH OPEN PIT AND UNDERGROUND) SINCE THE DISCOVERY OF THE IRON RANGE IN 1844, AND THE SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC LIFE OF THE POPULACE OVER THE YEARS AS INFLUENCED BY IRON MINING ARE PROMINENTLY DISPLAYED THROUGHOUT THE THEME PARK. THE MUSEUM IS FUNDED MOSTLY THROUGH PAID ADMISSIONS, MEMBERSHIPS, DONATIONS, GIFT SHOP SALES AND ATTRACTS OVER 3,000 VISITORS A YEAR.
- THIS ORGANIZATION WAS ESTABLISHED TO OPERATE AN EDUCATIONAL FACILITY/MUSEUM THAT DEMOSTRATES THE HISTORICAL HERITAGE OF THE MARQUETTE IRON RANGE OF MICHIGAN THROUGH DISPLAYS, TOURS, AND PRESENTATIONS. THE DEVELOPMENT OF IRON MINING (BOTH OPEN PIT AND UNDERGROUND) SINCE THE DISCOVERY OF THE IRON RANGE IN 1844, AND THE SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC LIFE OF THE POPULACE OVER THE YEARS AS INFLUENCED BY IRON MINING ARE PROMINENTLY DISPLAYED THROUGHOUT THE THEME PARK. THE MUSEUM IS FUNDED MOSTLY THROUGH PAID ADMISSIONS, MEMBERSHIPS, DONATIONS, GIFT SHOP SALES AND ATTRACTS OVER 3,000 VISITORS A YEAR.
- THIS ORGANIZATION WAS ESTABLISHED TO OPERATE AN EDUCATIONAL FACILITY/MUSEUM THAT DEMOSTRATES THE HISTORICAL HERITAGE OF THE MARQUETTE IRON RANGE OF MICHIGAN THROUGH DISPLAYS, TOURS, AND PRESENTATIONS. THE DEVELOPMENT OF IRON MINING (BOTH OPEN PIT AND UNDERGROUND) SINCE THE DISCOVERY OF THE IRON RANGE IN 1844, AND THE SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC LIFE OF THE POPULACE OVER THE YEARS AS INFLUENCED BY IRON MINING ARE PROMINENTLY DISPLAYED THROUGHOUT THE THEME PARK. THE MUSEUM IS FUNDED MOSTLY THROUGH PAID ADMISSIONS, MEMBERSHIPS, DONATIONS, GIFT SHOP SALES AND ATTRACTS OVER 3,000 VISITORS A YEAR.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.
Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.
Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.
Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated November 6, 2026.
Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.
On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.
Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since February 1998.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.
Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.
Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated November 4, 2026.
Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.