About Pickle Barrel House
The Pickle Barrel House is exactly what its name suggests: a tiny cottage built from two connected barrel-shaped sections. The larger barrel rises two stories and contains the main living space, while the smaller barrel served as a kitchen. Its exaggerated hoops and curved walls make the building look like an illustration enlarged into architecture.
The house was constructed in 1926 for William Donahey, creator of the Teenie Weenies comic characters. In Donahey’s drawings, the miniature residents lived in a world made from familiar household objects, including a pickle barrel. The unusual vacation cottage brought that playful scale reversal into the real world.
Now operated as a seasonal museum by the Grand Marais Historical Society, the house has been restored to reflect its original use. Interior access depends on volunteer availability, with the most reliable hours generally in summer. When the museum is closed, the exterior can still be viewed from public areas. Admission is free, and donations help support local preservation.