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/
At this evening's Historical Society Appreciation Gathering on Donegal Bay, Director Lori Taylor-Blitz thanks the dedicated docents, volunteers and staff who keep open our two museums, Heritage Park, Protar Home, and Whiskey Point Lighthouse in the summer season. Without them, BIHS couldn't offer it's many treasures to the public. Thank you all !
We certainly have had lovely ships in the harbor this month!
Sure, there were pirates in the Caribbean, but the Great Lakes had them too
Michigan Radio's M I C urious project is a news experiment where we investigate questions submitted by the public about our state and its people. As partReminder: The Historical Society Appreciation Gathering is today from 5-7 at the Donegal Bay Pavilion. All docents, sponsors, members and volunteers are invited.
Where are the photos of Beaver Island Tall ships?
Thank for the pictures. We are considering creating a tall ship Beaver Island sightings page. Thoughts?
Love the tall ships!
Sightings page is a fine idea.
Photo by Layla Hall
michigansotherside.com/the-michigan-stonehenge-on-beaver-island/
The Michigan Stonehenge on Beaver Island?
Vikings, Phoenicians, Egyptians or the lost tribe of Israel in Michigan? What?! According to author Mark Jager and his Mystic Michigan series, Michigan may have had visits from these four cultures at some point in history. Jager wrote about a stone circle similar in nature to Stonehenge found on Lak...I need to go there the next time I visit!
The stones are on my great grandmother's land.
That date is a wee off. Fun read though. 👑
I have seen them. They look like rocks in a field, then they look like a group of rocks distinct against the terrain, then rocks in a field, then they seem put there . . . you can't really tell. It could be either.
Russians did it!!
Rees Reynolds
Madison McDonough Heath McDonough
Photography by Frank Solle / Stillpoint Photography