Beaver Island Historical Society Welcomes You to Our Past
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
2019 Schedule and Brochure
Museum Hours
June 17, 2019, through September 1, 2019
Sunday 1-4
Monday - Saturday 11-5
Before and after Season hours:
Weekends only 1-4 PM Memorial Day through Father's Day and Labor Day through Bite of Beaver (Oct. 5).
View Brochure for complete schedule
Please call 231.448.2254 for more information.
Self Guided Walking Tour
Construction Update
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.
Architectural services are being provided pro-bono by Ebersoldt + Associates Architects, and its owner, Vince Ebersoldt, a long-time Island visitor, Island property owner and benefactor, as well as a BIHS Trustee. The Board of Trustees are extremely grateful to Vince and his team for the work they are doing on behalf of the Society, helping to keep Island History Alive!
Read more...
From Our Facebook Page
View the most recent updates at https://www.facebook.com/BeaverIslandHistoricalSociety/
Charlevoixan Suzanne LeBlanc visited the Print Shop Museum with her family today, posing with a portrait of her Beaver Island ancestor, Hannah Malloy Boyle - wife of William 'Whiskey' Boyle. Suzanne is the niece of the late 'Bid' and Joe 'Mafro' Sendenberg, who lived in what is now 'The Fisherman's House' on the harbor. She remembers visiting the island on the old ferry boat the 'Mary Margaret, and reminisced that it's arrival with freight, mail, and passengers was a big event for the community, sometimes including a local music band performing on the dock to greet visitors and returning islanders.
Sue is my mom’s cousin. How Wonderful to see a picture of her ❤️
very cool!! we used to go and visit there - I remember as a young kid sitting on that porch!!
The Mary Margaret is still running in Wisconsin, so I hear
Which house is The Fisherman's House, please? I remember the hoopla as the ferry arrived -- I've been on both sides of it -- but it was on the old North Shore.
I once was told to go to joe Mafros house and ask him for a jumbo being a teenager and quite gullible I did it he ran me off the porch with a cane Erne and Emmet got a real good laugh
If you attended the Fish Tasting Event or the Sepeshy Event during Museum Week would be so kind to complete a survey for BIHS and the Michigan Humanities? Thank you.
Michigan Humanities Event Survey
Your input helps us make our events and programs even better! Thank you for taking a moment to complete this short survey.The late Frank Nackerman, Beaver Island Postmaster from 1939-73, raising a toast - circa 1980. (Photo courtesy of Patrick Nackerman)
Great picture..
So great. One of my favorite things about Beaver Island culture: even though I never met him, I still get to hear a new story about him each time I visit. Oral history alive and well!
He and his wife were so adorable especially watching them dance - they were so loving!!
He was a friendly postmaster, for sure.
I remember Frank!!!
Great picture. But no cigar. Lol
Love it!
"I Approve That" !
SharAnn Huston ChesshireKathleen Kathleen Fahey Huston Mary Muto Danny Nackerman
Pride of Baltimore II, reminds of the days gone by when tall ships arrived in droves at Paradise Bay, Beaver Island. They brought passengers and lumber, supplies and created a rich history here on the island. Pride is a replica of a ship from 1812, thus she flies the 15 star flag. Welcome!
She’s beautiful!
Saw her coming in as we were leaving. Beautiful
The Historical Society Annual Meeting will be at the St. James TWP Hall on Thursday 8/15/19 at 7 PM. The meeting is open to the public and members are eligible to vote in the election of new trustees.
BEAVER ISLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY
BOARD OF DIRECTOR’S ANNUAL MEETING
ST. JAMES TOWNSHIP HALL
Meeting Agenda
August 15, 2019 7PM
Annual Meeting
a. Sign in of members and establishment of a quorum
b. Reading and approval of minutes of prior meeting
I. August 16, 2018 (Handout)
c. Reports of Officers
I. Treasurer’s Report (Handout)
d. Nomination and election of Trustees
e. Unfinished Business
f. New Business
g. Good for the Society – All
h. Adjournment
Photography by Frank Solle / Stillpoint Photography