Historical Museum Guide for Michigan

Michigan History Museums

This village was built by Henry Ford and includes a sawmill.  Located on the grounds of the Michigan Technological University's Ford Center in Baraga, MI.

Operated by the Clare County Historical Museum, the primary focus is on the history of the Clare County area during a time when the land was occupied by Indians and squatters.  Historical artifacts and a research archives are housed inside the museum building.  Also on the property is the Ott Cabin where early pioneer household and outdoor skills are demonstrated and the 1876 Dover School which served the community until 1966.  Located 3 miles north of Clare on Old 27, 1 mile east on Dover Road.

Fayette Historic Townsite - Ghostown

From 1867-1891, Fayette was a bustling town, occupied by workers at the Jackson Iron Company.  Today the ghost town contains 20 historic buildings including the iron furnace complex, the company office, a town hall, hotel, and workers homes.  A museum features exhibits related to the history of Fayette, Michigan.  Located inside Fayette Historic State Park at 13700 13.25 Lane in Garden, MI.

Alfred P. Sloan Museum

Located in Flint, Michigan and part of The Flint Cultural Center, the exhibits include over 100,000 historical artifacts from prehistoric stone implements to early automobiles.  The Sloan Museum also houses the Perry Archives which offers an extensive collection of historical photos and papers documenting the early history of Flint and Genesee County, MI.

Flushing Area Historical Society and Museum

[Historical Photos]

Housed in the restored 1888 Flushing Depot, the museum features historical artifacts, documents and photographs related to the history of Flushing and the surrounding area.  Located at 431 W. Main Street in Flushing, MI.

Grand Blanc Heritage Museum

Focused on the collection, documentation, preservation and exhibition of historical artifacts and items related to the history of Grand Blanc, the museum is housed inside the 1885 Congregational Church building.  Located at 203 E. Grand Blanc Road in Grand Blanc, MI.

Linden Mills Historical Society and Museum

The museum features items and artifacts related to the early history of Linden, Michigan.  Located in the Mill building at 201 N. Main Street in Downtown Linden, MI.

Montrose Historical and Telephone Pioneer Museum

Two museums share a building built in the 1950s to house the Public Service Telephone Company of Montrose.  The telephone museum is the first of it's kind in Michigan and holds a large collection of antique wall telephones, candlestick desk phones and other authentic telephone equipment.  Next door is the Monrtose Area Historical Museum.  Located at 144 E. Hickory Street in Montrose, MI.

The Calumet Theater  [History]  [Tours]

Built in 1900 as an opera house, the theater serves the area today with the Calumet Theatre Company.  Location is 340 Sixth Street in Calumet, MI.

Coppertown  [History]

The museum features the extensive history of copper mining in Michigan, particularly on the Keweenaw Peninsula.  Located at 25815 Red Jacket Road in Calumet, MI.

Houghton County Historical Museum

Focused on the history and culture of the Copper Country of Michigan, the museum features historical artifacts and exhibits related to the history of Houghton County and the copper mining industry in this area.  Housed in the museum is Copperland Copper Art Center which offers hand crafted copper gifts and works of art.  Located at 5500 Highway M-26 in Lake Linden, MI.

Devoted to the history and culture of Michigan state, the museum  features historical artifacts, documents and a research library.  Located at 702 W. Kalamazoo Street in Lansing, MI.

Michigan Museum of Surveying

Focused on the history of surveying, the museum holds surveying implements and historical information about Michigan land surveyers and their contribution to the settlement of Michigan.  Located at 220 S. Museum Drive in Lansing, MI.

Michigan Women's Historical Center and Hall of Fame

[Members of the Women's Hall of Fame]

Housed in the 1903 Cooley-Haze house.  The museum features exhibits about the accomplishments and achievements of Michigan women throughout Michigan history.  Located at 213 W. Main Street in Lansing, MI.

R. E. Olds Transportation Museum

Home to the classic Oldsmobiles and rare vehicles like REO, Star, Durant and Viking.  The museum is focused on the history of transportation and includes buggies, bicycles, trucks and engines.  Located at 240 Museum Drive in Lansing, MI.

Telephone Pioneer Museum

The museum holds a collection of telephone memorabilia, artifacts and old photos related to the history of the telephone industry in Michigan.  Located at 221 N. Washington Square in Lansing, MI.

[Who is Ella Sharp]  [Historic Site Photos]

The museum features 5 galleries of art and local history exhibits, Located on the museum grounds are Ella Sharp's 19th century Hillside Farmhouse and the Merriman Sharp Interpretive Center.  Other historical structures include the Dibble One-Room Schoolhouse, the Eli Stilson Log House and the Merriman-Sharp Tower Barn.  Guided tours are offered.  Located at 3225 4th Street in Jackson, MI.

Mann House

Erected in 1883 by Daniel Mann, the 2 story Victorian home features period furniture pieces, restored gardens, a carriage house and exhibits related to the early days in Michigan.  Guided tours are offered.  Located at 205 Hanover in Concord, MI.

Stagecoach Stop USA 

Spend a night in a replicated western town.  Cowboy Creek Lodge features cabins and rooms decorated in old western style.  Visitors will enjoy campfires, hayrides, sing-a-longs, an antique museum and more.  Located at 7007 US 12 Irish Hills in Onsted, MI.

Walker Tavern 

[Barn Exhibit Virtual Tour]

[Walker Tavern History]

Built in 1836 and first known as Snell's Tavern, it was sold in 1843 and changed to Walker's Tavern and served as a busy stagecoach stop.  Today it serves as a museum featuring exhibits and historic artifacts related to the history of this famous crossroads stagecoach stop.  Located inside Cambridge Junction State Park at 13220 M-50 at Brooklyn, MI.

Alamo Township Museum

Housed inside the 1865 Presbyterian Church, the museum features a large collection of historical artifacts related to the history of Alamo Township.  Outside the museum, visitors will find a buggy along with farming tools and early railroad equipment.  Located at 8119 6th Street in Alamo, MI.

Vicksburg Historical Society Depot Museum

Housed inside the former train depot for the Grand Trunk & Western Railroad, the museum features over 10,000 historical artifacts and genealogical items.  Also operated by the museum on the depot grounds, is Vicksburg Historic Village, a collection of buildings from early Vicksburg and the southern Kalamazoo County area.  Historical buildings include the Oswalt Farm House, Strong Schoolhouse, Vicksburg Commercial, the Express Office Warehouse and the Vicksburg Depot.  Expansion is planned with more historical buildings being moved to the site in the near future.  Located at 300 North Richardson Street in Vicksburg, MI.

[Copper Harbor Boat Tours]

Erected in 1866, the lighthouse and the keeper's house served for many years.  Today, tours are offered.  Located at Copper Harbor, MI.

Fort Wilkins  [Walking Tour Map]

There are 15 buildings to explore at Fort Wilkins.  Visitors will discover what life was like in the mid 19th century when the fort was a U.S. Army post built on the frontier in 1844.  Located inside Fort Wilkins Historic State Park.  The park is on U.S. Hwy 41 just one mile east of Copper Harbor, MI.

[History of the Empire Area] 

The museum is a complex of historical buildings including an old school house, the 1911 Fire House, the Billy Beeman Barn, and Taghon's Corner Gas Station.  The main museum building holds artifacts from Empire's past and features the Roen Saloon along with historical items from the ghost town of Norway Town.  Take a step back into the past and discover the history of Empire and local areas.  Located at 11544 LaCore in Empire, MI.

Grand Traverse Lighthouse   [History & Photos]

Located at the tip of the Leelanau Peninsula and inside Leelanau State Park, this was a working lighthouse for nearly 150 years.  Now a museum, tours are offered along with a spectacular view of Lake Michigan from the tower.

Leelanau Historical Museum

Sleeping Bear Point Maritime Museum 

[Historical Tour of the Manitou Passage]

South Manitou Island Lighthouse

Built in 1872, this historic lighthouse is accessible by ferry from Leland.  It is part of the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore and guided tours of the tower are available to the public.

The Lenawee County Historical Society operates the museum which is housed inside the 1909 Adrian Public Library.  The primary focus of the museum is on the history of Lenawee County through historical artifacts, antiques, photographs and documents.  The museum does feature an archives which is open to the public for research.  Located at 110 E. Church Street in Adrian, MI.

Southern Michigan Railroad Museum

[Southern Michigan Railroad History]

Dedicated to the preservation and operation of historical and antique railroad equipment and machinery, the museum is offering train excursions between Clinton and Tecumseh, Michigan.  The museum promotes awareness of the history of railroading, particularly the Palmyra and Jacksonburgh rail lines into Michigan.  For more information and train schedule, contact them at (517) 456-7677

Tecumseh Area Historical Museum

Tecumseh was one of the earliest settlements in Michigan.  The Tecumseh Area Historical Society operates the museum which features, preserves and interprets the history of communities around Tecumseh including Britton, Macon, Ridgeway and Tipton.  the museum is housed inside the 1913 "Old Stone Church" and located at 302 E. Chicago Blvd in Downtown Tecumseh, MI.

William G. Thompson House Museum

This beautiful Queen Anne home built in 1890 is exquisite and filled with antiques, art and other historical items collected by 3 generations of the Thompson family.  Be sure to see the Victorian gardens which are much the same as in the 1890s.  Located at 101 Summit Street in Hudson, MI.

Yesteryear Power and Equipment

221 Mill Street in Brooklyn, MI.

[Mission Church - Michigan's oldest surviving church.]

Arcadia Area Historical Museum

[Museum Tour]  [Arcadia Timeline] 

[Site Map & Historic Photos]

The museum is housed in a lovely Victorian house erected in 1884 by Howard Gilbert, Featuring interesting historic artifacts, antique furniture and local history the history museum is located at 3340 Lake Street in Arcadia, MI.

Manistee County Historical Museum

Housed in the 1905 A. H. Lyman Building, this history museum is focused on the history and genealogy of the early pioneers of Manistee County, Michigan.  The museum features many historical documents, the Lyman Drug Store, period rooms, antiques and photographs.  Located at 425 River Street in Manistee, MI.

Dundee Old Mill Museum

[History]  [Tour]

Originally, a grist mill constructed in 1848 by Alfred Wilkerson, the 3 story mill has served as a power plant, Ford factory and a fabricating factory over the years.  Today it has been restored and houses the local historical museum.  Focused on the history of Dundee, early Native Americans, and exhibits about Henry Ford's auto industry, the museum is located at 242 Toledo Street in Dundee, MI.

Monroe County Historical Museum

Housed in an old 1913 Post Office, the museum has a large collection of local historical artifacts along with thousands of old photographs, early manuscripts and documents in their archives.

This museum is a recreation of the original C. H. Hackley Hose Company No. 2 and serves as a living memorial to Muskegon County firefighters.

Hackley and Hume Historic Site and City Barn

Preserved by the Muskegon County Museum, you may explore two beautiful historic homes which have been restored and furnished with period pieces.

Negaunee Historical Museum  [History]  [Exhibits]

Housed in the 1905 Pellow family home, the museum features exhibits and historical artifacts related to the history of Negaunee, Michigan.  Collections include Native American items, military objects, railroad memorabilia, a 19th century living room and more.  Located at 303 E. Main Street in Negaunee, MI.

Old Victoria Restoration in Rockland

The museum houses the Earl Steiner collection of logging artifacts and the pioneer history of Ocoda County and surrounding area.  1980 Reber Road, Fairview, MI.

Historic home built in 1874.  Home to Isaac Cappon, a poor Dutch immigrant who became the Mayor of Holland.  The Victorian home contains original furnishings and has been designated as a museum.  Just 5 doors east, you will find The Settlers House which was built in 1867 and is a surviving example of the home of a working class family in the late 1800s.

Coopersville, Michigan Historical Society & Museum

Dutch Village  [History & Photos]

Recreates an historic village in the Netherlands, as it would have been over 200 years ago.

The Holland Museum

Explores the history of Holland, Michigan. 

The Posthouse Museum

Located on Windmill Island (home to a 240 year old working Dutch windmill surrounded by gardens), this museum offers a presentation about windmills, the Netherlands and the De Zwaan.

Otsego County Historical Society Museum

Housed in a 1910 cigar factory, the museum focuses on the early heritage of Otsego County.  Operated by the Otsego County Historical Society, the museum is located at 320 W. Main Street in Gaylord, MI.

Presque Isle County Historical Museum
Preserving the history of Presque Isle County, the museum is located in a sprawling craftsman style bungalow that served for many years as the home for the president of the Michigan Limestone & Chemical Co. and the Bradley Transportation Co. The first of those was Carl D. Bradley, who was also namesake of a large Great Lakes freighter. That ship sank in a violent storm on Lake Michigan on November 18, 1958. Thirty-three of thirty-five crewmembers died with their ship. The museum includes a 19th century bedroom, a native American room, children’s toy room, country store, one-room schoolhouse, Victorian music room, early 1900’s millinery shoppe, maritime room, and pioneer room. The museum also has an extensive photographic archive, including the Calcite Collection, made up of 45,000 negatives, slides, and prints documenting the history of Michigan Limestone’s Calcite Plant from 1911 until the 1980’s. The museum is open from noon until 4 p.m., Tuesdays through Saturdays, from May 1 until September 30. Phone (989) 734-4121, or email at bradleymuseum@i2k.com.
The museum is located at 176 W. Michigan Avenue in Rogers City, MI.

On January 14, 1967, the Passolt House at 1105 S. Jefferson St. became the first site of a history museum for Saginaw County. The Castle (an 1896 Post Office building) became its permanent home in 1992. The Historical Society of Saginaw County's focus changed dramatically with the addition of the responsibility for the Castle building and with the successful passage of a county millage vote. The 61,000+ sq. ft. building includes exhibit space, a multi-purpose function room, a library and archives, offices and workrooms, meeting spaces, archaeology laboratory and archaeological repository. The Society's material culture collections (that not on exhibit) are housed in a separate nearby building. The Society continues to collect, preserve and interpret the material culture of Saginaw County history but it has also moved actively into the preservation of the Castle building itself and the interpretation of its architectural and functional history. Exhibits include: Lighthouses of Michigan; The Amsterdam Collection of Bakelite; Jazz on Jefferson and more.  Located at 500 Federal Avenue & 201 S. Jefferson in Saginaw, MI.

Frankenmuth Historical Museum

A unique museum featuring historic information about Frankenmuth.  Known as "Michigan's Little Bavaria", the story of the original fifteen German settlers is related and the history of the settlement of Frankenmuth, MI.  Located at 613 S. Main Street in Frankenmuth, Michigan.

Exhibits include arts, history and marine heritage of the Port Huron area.  The following museums are part of their collection.  Be sure to check for passport prices which includes admission to ALL 5 museums.  Located at 1115 Sixth Street in Port Huron, MI.

Huron Lightship

A floating lighthouse located in Pine Grove Park.

Edison Depot Museum

Bramble - A 1944 Coast Guard Cutter.

Fort Gratiot Lighthouse

The oldest lighthouse in Michigan.  Constructed n 1829.  Tours are free.

Marysville Historical Museum

Housed in the old City Hall building, originally constructed in 1912 as the Carpenter-Cuttle House, the museum contains exhibits depicting earlier times in Marysville (also known as Bunceville and Vicksburg in earlier days).  The Old Fire Hall, located next door provides exhibits of an old fire engine and the historical archives.

Michigan Firehouse Museum

The collection includes antique fire trucks and firefighting equipment.  Located at 110 W. Cross Street in Ypsilanti, MI.

Ypsilanti Historical Museum & Archives  [Collection]   [Map]

Commandant's House

This fine old house which was built in 1880 for the Commandant of Fort Wayne has been renovated and furnished in Renaissance Revival and Eastlake styles of the late 19th century.  The National Society of The Colonial Dames of American in the State of Michigan are operating and maintaining the property.  Tours are offered with docent guides only for special occasions when Fort Wayne is open to visitors.  This house is listed in the National Register of Historic Places.  Located at 6325 W. Jefferson in Detroit, MI.

Detroit Historical Museum & Society

Featuring 3 floors of exhibits which include a 1700s fur trading post, an auto assembly line, and cobblestone streets with 19th century stores, the museum is focused on the rich history of Detroit, Michigan.  Located at 5401 Woodward Avenue in Detroit, MI.

Eloise Mental Hospital  [Tales of Eloise]

Once, the largest mental hospital in the US, it has also served patients with tuberculosis, and as a poorhouse.  Across the street is a large potter's field containing over 7000 un-named graves.  See reports of ghosts and photos.  Located at 30712 Michigan Avenue in Westland, MI and Eloise Cemetery is located on Henry Ruff Road just south of Michigan Avenue.

Fairlane - The Henry Ford Estate  [Virtual Tour]

Museum of African American History

Plymouth Historical Museum   [History]  [Archives]

The museum features changing exhibits related to the history of Plymouth, MI.  Located at 155 S. Main Street in Plymouth, MI.

Museum Index for Other States

Michigan Census Records