Teddy Roosevelt speaks during an October 1912 whistle-stop tour of the Upper Peninsula as the Progressive Party candidate for president of the United States. (Photo courtesy of Northern Michigan University)

MARQUETTE — The lives and work of the Upper Peninsula’s greatest politicians will be on display beginning Friday, Feb. 21, in the Beaumier U.P. Heritage Center’s new exhibition, “The Political Life.”

An opening reception will be held from 5-7 p.m. in the center’s Gries Hall gallery at Northern Michigan University. Admission to the reception and exhibition is free.

Ever since the Upper Peninsula became part of the state of Michigan in 1836, its history has been full of fascinating, powerful and controversial figures in state, national and international politics. These included politicians such as Chase Osborn of Sault Ste. Marie, the only Michigan governor from the U.P.; state Rep. Dominic Jacobetti from Negaunee, who dominated Lansing for several decades; Connie Binsfeld of Munising, who became Michigan’s first female lieutenant governor; the colorful and controversial Joe Mack, state senator from Ironwood; and Cora Reynolds Anderson, the first woman and Native American to be elected a state representative.

There will also be a section dedicated to the various presidents of the United States who traveled to visit the U.P. before, during and after their terms in office. Theodore Roosevelt visited the U.P. twice within one year, first to campaign for his presidential run in 1912 and then again several months later to testify in his libel suit against the Ishpeming Iron Ore editor, George Newett. Four presidents have visited the U.P. during their terms in office: William Henry Taft in 1911, George H. Bush in 1992, George W. Bush in 2004 and Barack Obama in 2011.

The exhibition will be on display through June 28. Hours are noon to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday and noon-4 p.m. Saturday.

The Beaumier U.P. Heritage Center is used as both a historical museum and educational facility. Its mission is to promote and preserve the history and culture of the Upper Peninsula through a variety of exhibitions and public programs for the whole region to observe. The center also collects and preserves artifacts related to the history of NMU, while presenting a gallery in Gries Hall and several other displays throughout campus.