Michigan History Center

Share and explore Michigan history through the lens of family stories! In commemoration of America’s Semiquincentennial, we are partnering with WKAR for “Our Michigan Family History,” a special event at the Michigan History Museum on Saturday, June 27, 2026.

Do you have a family heirloom or memento that tells a unique Michigan story? Share it with us! Your story could be featured at this special event. Submissions are due tomorrow, so please visit WKAR’s website at https://www.wkar.org/our-michigan-family-history.

Event schedule:
•10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Enjoy free museum admission and family friendly activities throughout the day: play with historic toys and games, complete scavenger hunts and sign your name using pen and ink.
•12-1:30 p.m.: Record a short video conversation about a family heirloom with the WKAR production team or MI Michigan Story podcast. Your story could be selected to be featured in upcoming social media or television content from WKAR. Limited opportunities for recording will be available.
•1:30 p.m.: Check out a preview of the WKAR original series Before America, presenting a reframing of Revolutionary-era history through Native perspectives.
•2 p.m.: Listen to a panel of historians and museum curators discuss featured heirlooms and Michigan history in the context of the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.

TODAY at 3 p.m.! Join us for the dedication of the Log Mark Display for the White Pine Heritage Trail in Rockford. Find more details below ⬇️

Check this out: refreshed window boxes at Fort Wilkins! The window boxes were last designed and fabricated in 1999 and our exhibits and collections teams worked together to update and refresh the displays. Be sure to visit Fort Wilkins this summer to see them!

Plan your visit at https://www.michigan.gov/mhc/museums/fwchl.

Join us on Wednesday, June 10, at 3 p.m. in Rockford for a dedication of the Log Mark Sculpture as a part of the creation of the White Pine Heritage Trail! Meet us on the trail near the parking lot behind the Rockford Housing Commission. 59 S Main St A, Rockford, MI 49341. The star on the map marks where the sculpture is. We hope you can join us!

Learn more about the Heritage Trail Program: https://www.michigan.gov/mhc/heritage-trails.

Cambridge Junction Historic State Park will be closed Friday-Sunday for the MIS races. Visit us next week or check out the Walker Tavern Farm & Craft Market next Sunday, June 14, for Flag Day!

Let's make some amazing memories! Please be aware that Cambridge Junction Historic State Park will be closed on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, June 5, 6 & 7 for the thrilling MIS race weekend. Although the Walker Tavern Farm & Craft Market won't be happening on Sunday, June 7, it's going to be a comeback like no other on Sunday, June 14 at 10am-2pm! We're gearing up to celebrate Flag Day in the most uplifting way possible! 🇺🇸 Join us for an afternoon filled with exciting trivia, delightful festive crafts, and awesome prizes! It's going to be a fantastic day at the market, see you there!
Friends of Walker Tavern

The 1903 Curved Dash Olds has a new (temporary) parking spot! While the Michigan History Museum gets new atrium windows this summer, visitors can find this car in the lobby across from the elevators.

Just like this Curved Dash Olds, other artifacts will be found in temporary homes during this construction period. Additionally, for the safety of staff, visitors and construction workers, select galleries in the museum will be inaccessible. This page, as well as our website, will be updated with gallery closures.

We appreciate your patience as we continue to improve the museum experience!

Great news! Following temporary roof repairs at the Michigan Iron Industry Museum, the museum has been cleared by the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs to open for the summer.

The museum will reopen on Tuesday, June 2, and be open through Thursday, October 15. It will operate on its normal summer schedule, Tuesday-Sunday, 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

We want to thank you for your understanding over the past few months as we navigated this situation. And we appreciate your additional patience as we plan for a permanent solution.

We have some updates coming soon to Fort Wilkins 👀 Stay tuned!

From June 15 through Sept. 7, the Michigan History Museum will be operate on its summer schedule:

•Monday: closed
•Tuesday-Saturday: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
•Sunday: 1 to 5 p.m. (free admission for all on Sundays!)

Our staff will utilize Mondays to work on exhibit maintenance and artifact inventory without disrupting the guest experience.

Plan your summer visit at https://www.michigan.gov/mhc/museums/mhm.