Photo above: World's Largest Stormy Kromer Hat Sculpture in Ironwood, Michigan. Photo: travelthemitten.com

"The Stormy Kromer hat is an easily recognizable piece of Midwest fashion, and a roadside monument and plaque in Ironwood tells the history of the cap and its legacy," the travelthemitten.com reports.

"In the early 1900s a railroad worker named George Kromer was sick of losing his hat and he asked his wife to make him a new one with some improvements. The result was the Stormy Kromer cap, a snug, six-panel hat with an earband that pulls down. The hats were made by hand and became so popular amongst railroad workers that a factory was started is Wisconsin.

"Many years later, word got out that the company was in decline and facing closure. Jacquart Fabric Products of Ironwood was able to make a deal and move the Stormy Kromer Mercantile to Ironwood, MI. Since then, they have expanded the line with new colors and designs, shirts, bags and a line of hats for women. The large cap is located on the south side of US-2 just east of Luxmore St."

Photo above: World's Largest Stormy Kromer Hat Sculpture in Ironwood, Michigan. Photo: travelthemitten.com

"The Stormy Kromer cap is a wool hat manufactured by Stormy Kromer Mercantile. The hat is popular in the Midwest region of the United States and with hunters and outdoorsmen. It is named for George "Stormy" Kromer (1876-1970), a semi-professional baseball player who later worked as a railroad engineer.

"Kromer lost many hats to the wind while working on trains, and in 1903 he asked his wife Ida (1877-1960) to make him a warm hat that would stay on more securely. She modified a baseball cap into what became the Stormy Kromer cap by sewing on a pair of ear flaps. A summer version, made from pillow ticking, remains in use among modern American train engineers, and variants with red or blue polka dots were formerly popular in the early 20th century.



"Due to popularity with other employees of the railroad, the Kromers formed the Kromer Cap Company in 1903 to produce the caps.In 1919, due to ever increasing demand, the Kromers opened a factory in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

"George Kromer sold the company in 1965 to Richard Grossman. In 2001, the Kromer Cap Company planned to cease production of Stormy Kromer caps. The rights to the caps were purchased by Bob Jacquart, owner of Jacquart Fabric Products, and production moved to Ironwood, Michigan. Stormy Kromer Mercantile was formed, increasing production to over 50,000 caps annually from the previous 3000-6000 caps.

"The hats are unusual in that they carry a lifetime warranty against defects, and a three-year "insurance policy" for events such as loss, once the product is registered. Versions for women are available, and they are called the "Ida Kromer" or some variant of "Petal Pusher." (wikipedia)

"After the Kromer Cap Company planned to cease production of their classic hats in 2001, Jacquart Fabric Products bought the rights to the design," the Atlas Obscura reports.

"Production moved from Milwaukee to Ironwood, Michigan, where it remains today. Outside the factory stands a larger-than-life version of the iconic wool cap.



"The huge cap is out front and can be visited anytime. The factory store is open Monday - Friday from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. and Saturdays from 9 a.m. - 12 p.m. Factory Tours must be scheduled in advance, by calling or booking online."

"The red Stormy Kromer cap, a fashion badge of Michigan's Upper Peninsula, is manufactured in Ironwood. This oversized model is accompanied by a plaque explaining its history," the Roadside America reports.

"Be on the lookout for it -- the cap can be easy to miss if you're driving fast."

"The tours were not open when we were there due to covid, but that didn't stop us from taking photos with the big hat outside and going in to purchase a hat and a mask. It was fun to look through and try on their merchandise. Staff were very helpful."



"The Stormy Kromer story is wonderful both for its origins and its comeback. Starr is a great hostess when you arrive. The hats are a true icon of Up North as are their newer clothing items. They also have cool items for dogs to wear. Don’t forget to get a photo by the big hat out front."