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
Museum Hours
The Print Shop is closed until May.
The Marine Museum can be toured until Nov 15 by appointment.
In the spring: May 1 - June 20 by appointment.
Museums will open for regular hours on June 21, 2020 through September 30, 2020.
Please call 231.448.2254 for more information.
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/
Roofing installed on the Print Shop addition
Exciting!
Looks great
Yes, looking Gr8!
excited to see it!
Northern Michigan's TV 9&10 News profiles the BIHS's Mormon Print Shop addition project:
Northern Michigan in Focus: Beaver Island History - 9 & 10 News
www.9and10news.com
We all know what it’s like to run out of room in your House. But what if you had centuries of stories and artifacts and no room? Corey Adkins takes you to Beaver Island to explain in this week’s Northern Michigan in Focus. “A small town is a small town but there’s something really special he...Good story, However Strangs group was excommunicated before they left for Beaver Island. So they were not members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at anytime while on the Island.
The museum used to also focus on Strang’s efforts to bring northern Michigan into the then modern era. Hope it still does as it’s a fascinating story.
"... 1,500 shipwrecks (are) submerged in Michigan waters, making up one-quarter of the estimated 6,000 wrecks found throughout the Great Lakes.
Now, thanks to the recently launched Michigan Shipwrecks StoryMap, it’s easy to learn about the mystery and tragedy surrounding these ships...
The Michigan Shipwrecks Public Web App goes even further, offering users a closer look at shipwrecks as well as the locations of lighthouses and boating access sites. Users can search for shipwrecks by name or location or customize and print their own PDF maps."
New interactive map highlights Great Lakes shipwrecks and their lore
www.uppermichiganssource.com
The Michigan Shipwrecks Public Web App goes even further, offering users a closer look at shipwrecks as well as the locations of lighthouses and boating access sites. Users can search for shipwrecks by name or location or customize and print their own PDF maps.midnr.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=2d6d46fccdc349c197202403a476988d&utm_source...
A couple of us looked at this map yesterday and were disappointed to see that the USS Clifton was not shown. It went down in Lake Huron near Thunder Bay in 1924. She was found in 2017. Among the lost were Captain Emmett Gallagher and Anthony "Chine" McDonough". Anthony was a great-uncle to many of us. Brother to Bill "Pat"McDonough, Martin (Dave) McDonough, Mary "Pat" Gatliff, Helen "Pat" Ricksgers and Bert "Pat" McDonough. There was a song written by Islander, Frank McCauley and it is know as the "Clifton Crew" or the "Sailor's Lament".
People have no idea how dangerous that lake can be. It’s similar to sailing in the Gulf of Mexico.
Caitlyn Nicole
A photo-update on Print Shop addition progress, exterior and interior.
(Photos courtesy of BIHS Director Lori Taylor-Blitz)
Thank you again, for sharing all these wonderful pictures! NEVER can post too many! 😊❤😊
I am IMPRESSED
This is going to look so nice!!
What is the Print Shop Addition?
We wish you a Happy New Year, and give our thanks to all whose support continues to make the BIHS a thriving, vital institution of remembrance and cultural activity here on our island haven. May the best of everything come to you in the year ahead.
Great pic. Somebody went boating? Guy
Photography by Frank Solle / Stillpoint Photography