Skiing was introduced to America in the nineteenth century by Scandinavian immigrants. In 1887, Ishpeming formed the first ski club in Michigan and one of the first in the country, and it held its first public ski meet on February 25, 1888, where the longest jump was thirty-five feet. The city later produced many famous ski jumpers who gained experience on renowned Suicide Hill. The National Ski Association was formed here on February 21, 1904, and the National Ski Hall of Fame and Ski Museum is located here because of Ishpeming’s historic role in developing skiing in America.