The Alger County Historical Society opened the Heritage Center in 1993 in former Washington Grade School. Exhibits feature historic Grand Island and the Grand Island Recreation Area, Munising Woodenware Company, barn building, homemaking, and sauna. There are also a fur trader's cabin and blacksmith shop on site.

The society's collection is stored in the Fay Swanberg Archive Room. It includes Father Emil Beyer collection of pictures and scrapbooks,  Munising News newspapers from 1900-present, historic photos of family, businesses, organizations, government, oral history tapes, several state/county/city records, personal family holdings,  clothing, school items, paintings, and framed pictures.