Chelsea Bossert/Daily Mining Gazette Participants paint stars at the Carnegie Museum of the Keweenaw Saturday. About 250 stars will be displayed throughout downtown Houghton this summer to celebrate America's 250th birthday.

The City of Houghton Beautification Committee partnered with The Carnegie Museum of the Keweenaw to host a star-decorating party this Saturday. The event was to commemorate the nations’ 250-year anniversary.

The Beautification Committee looking trying to repeat their success with last year’s “Fish” project. This year they plan to hang up 60 American flags throughout town, as well as 250 decorated star ornaments on the waterfront. The plan is to relocate the fish from last year so they can remain on display.

The co-chairs of the City of Houghton Beautification Committee, Julie Waara and Martie Leonard, spoke with The Gazette about what this means for Houghton and the country at-large. “This year we are repeating this success and we will have about 250 stars throughout town, just another thing for engaging our community,” Waara said. “It’s trying to get people together to make something bigger than ourselves.”

The fish ornaments hung up last year have been in storage and will be reinstalled in a permanent location downtown. They can be seen between City Hall and Hampton Inn starting around springtime.

The City of Houghton Beautification Committee is in its eleventh year of operation and there are no signs of slowing down. “That’s the big thing is getting people involved,” Leonard said. Punch and cookies were provided at Saturday’s event, which was hosted in the community room of the Carnegie Museum of the Keweenaw. The event drew families, kids and older generations alike to help celebrate America’s 250-year anniversary this summer.

In collaboration with the Beautification Committee, students at Houghton-Portage Township Schools will makes stars in their classrooms to be displayed downtown later this year.

Carnegie Museum of the Keweenaw Director, Elise Nelson, said the museum plays a key role in community engagement. “I think it’s an important role that the museum plays in the city,” Nelson said. “I like it as a place for the community to gather.”

More information about the museum can be found on carnegiekeweenaw.org or by calling (906) 482-7140. The beautification committee encourages residents to stay updated on events by following its Facebook page.