Beaver Island Historical Society Welcomes You to Our Past
In Response to the COVID-19
Sadly, the BIHS annual events that we all look forward to are cancelled this year. We anticipate a better outcome in 2021.
But, the museums will open! The Marine Museum will open on July 1 and the Print Shop will open soon after, but the actual date is still to be determined. The museums will be open Wednesday, Friday and Saturday 11-5. The Protar Home will be open on Wednesdays beginning July 1., 11-1.
All public health precautions will be observed. Members of the community can make a reservation to tour the museums outside of our regular hours by calling the Print Shop 231.448.2254. Please be patient with us as we navigate through these uncertain times and know there will be more time for fun in 2021. The safety of visitors, members, staff, and volunteers is our top priority, and we will continue to monitor new developments closely.
Sincerely,
Lori Taylor-Blitz
BIHS Executive Director
email: bihistory@tds.net
The Beaver Island Historical Society is putting together an art exhibit: June 21-September 12 focused on the Island’s unique environmental biodiversity. We are calling artists to participate in Expressions of Nature- Beaver Island. The exhibition is open to all artists – professional or amateur – who wish to submit their own original works. Entry Deadline May 1, 2020 - View Details & Entry Form
PRE-ORDER YOUR NEW EDITION OF THE BIHS COOKBOOK NOW!
The anticipated release date is May 15th.
The cost will be $20.00 plus tax and $3.50 for postal delivery.
The Beaver Island Historical Society was founded in 1957 to collect and share the fascinating history of Beaver Island. A remote island in Lake Michigan, it has witnessed many interesting and unique historical events, and has been home to various groups including Native Americans, a Mormon branch known as the Strangites, Irish immigrants, fisherman, lumberjacks, and many more.
King Strang
The Historical Society currently operates two museums on the Island, the Print Shop Museum and the Marine Museum, as well as two additional historical sites: Heritage Park and the Protar Home. We offer several resources and services to our visitors, including genealogical research, copies of archival photos, and a series of historical journals and other books for purchase. Additionally, we host many events throughout the year to promote the Island’s history.
Explore our history, find out about the king, fishing, shipwrecks, island life, natural history, our Irish heritage, and much more.
For an overview of Beaver Island History please visit: http://www.beaverisland.net/beaver-island-history
Construction Update
Please note on your donation for which project you would like to apply it to or it will be applied to the general fund. Read about our various projects below.
The Board of Trustees is pleased to announce that a legacy benefactor, George Bisbee of Jackson MI, provided the Society just over $500,000, which will be used for financing the Print Shop Addition, including some of the exhibits. The Board is also grateful to the many Island benefactors who have supported the expansion concept and contributed to the capital campaign already and to those future benefactors who will continue to support the Society in fulfilling the vision to share the unique historical stories of the Archipelago through the renovated and expanded museum.From Our Facebook Page
View the most recent updates at https://www.facebook.com/BeaverIslandHistoricalSociety/
The Marine Museum opens tomorrow and will be open through July & August on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday 11-5. The Protar Home will open tomorrow 1-3 and will be open on Wednesdays all of July & August. Please bring a mask and check us out!
The Print Shop will open on July 15 on the same days and hours as the Marine Museum. Visitors will be able to sneak a peek at the new addition interior as we finish the final details.
An update about the Beaver Island Historical Society, Museum hours and upcoming events.
E-Letter to the friends and fans of the Beaver Island Historical Society - Beaver Island
www.beaverislandforum.com
Museum Week Art Show 2020
It has been a difficult heartfelt decision to cancel the Art Show this year. I did not come by the decision easily. I researched and considered many options, but in the end, it seemed to be the prudent thing to do.
Everyone’s an Artist project was all set to go. Printing and framing were complete, just the hanging was left to do. I appreciate everyone who participated this year. There was exceptional photography entered. I will keep it all safe and the fundraiser will be held next year when we can have our regular show.
I have been involved in the Museum Week Art Show for 30+ years. I do not remember ever needing to cancel the show. I wished for the tradition to continue this year, but this is the year of tough decisions and many sacrifices. On a positive note, we will continue, again, next year.
Please, continue to create and enjoy the arts in whatever form you choose.
Wishing you a safe and healthy year.
Lois Stipp
Calstipp@yahoo.com
Comment on Facebook 188376014704029_1473797989495152
😅
Covid has altered many plans, but the health and safety of all is of utmost importance!
Summer Update:
The Beaver Island Historical Society is making plans for the museums to open in July. However in the new Post-COVID environment we must be patient and follow the Executive Orders (it could be later). We MISS greeting our visitors and look forward to the day we can enjoy their company and reveal the new museum addition. Our priority must be to protect the health of our Docents and Staff and ensure the community our facilities are a safe place to visit.
At this point, June events and museum hours are cancelled. Museum Week and our August events are not canceled. However, we may need to produce our Museum Week events digitally. The Society opted to wait until our June board meeting to make the final decision about July events and may need to decide the fate of August events in the same manner.
Lighthouse Tours have changed. Unfortunately, we will not have tours at Whiskey Point this year. However, the community and visitors will have access to the Beaver Head Lighthouse in July on the weekends. A volunteer will be on site to greet and admit visitors in the tower.
All visitors will be asked to respect social distancing, use hand sanitizer upon entrance at ALL sites and wear a mask as directed in the State of Michigan Executive Orders. The museums will open at partial capacity and we will need to limit the number of people in the museums and the Protar Home.
The museums will be open three days a week (weekends and 1 weekday) and will be thoroughly sanitized between each shift. For safety reasons: all interactive exhibits will be removed from museums this year. Visitors will be asked to refrain from touching exhibits and gift shop items. The gift shops will only display one of each inventory item and the Museum Attendant will retrieve the items for purchase.
The community will be allowed to make reservations for visiting times outside of the posted hours by calling the Print Shop Office. The office will open in mid-June.
Folks, this is a work in progress and subject to change. Any questions? Please call the Print Shop Museum @ (231) 448-2254 and leave a message. Someone will call you back 🙂
Comment on Facebook 188376014704029_1461016257439992
Great job! Thoughtful, considerate, balancing health and access. Thanks.
Just donated in memory of Rod Nackerman.
Love that you are being so cautious
Thank you!
Wanted to go.
Happy Memorial Day and thank you to all who have served our country.
Perhaps you would like to read about your island loved ones who served in the Military? The Beaver Beacon archives are available on our website for the years: 1955-1974.
www.beaverislandhistory.org
Beaver Beacon Newspapers were published monthly on Beaver Island from 1955 until 2018. Copies of the paper are available on this websitePhotography by Frank Solle / Stillpoint Photography