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Preserving & Sharing the Story of Midland County

Discover the history of our community through events, exhibits and research with the Midland County Historical Society!

Upcoming History Events

Green Rush - Lumbering in 19th Century Mid-Michigan

Green Rush - Lumbering in 19th Century Mid-Michigan

MAR 8 - JUL 14, 2024 (Exhibit Hours)
History Exhibition in the Auditorium Lobby, Open Weekends & For Ticketholders During Auditorium Performances

In the 1800's, the largest and most profitable industry in Mid-Michigan was lumber. In 1882, the Tittabawassee Boom Company was commissioned to raft cut logs down rivers, successfully navigating and rafting over 600 million board feet of logs. This era of lumbering brought about profound changes to the landscape of our region, as vast sections of white pine forests were cleared to make way for expansive farmlands and flow patterns of local rivers were altered. Join us to delve into the world of lumbering, from the life of a lumberjack in a winter camp to the far-reaching effects of business on the region.

ALSO ON DISPLAY / Check out our latest art exhibition, Abiding Inspiration: Equine Art by Jeri Hollister, in the Little Theater Lobby during your visit.

Brunch History / Conversations with the Community

SAT, MAY 18, 2024 / 11 AM (Brunch Service Begins at 10)
Conversations with the Community: A Human Library Event

Please join us and participate in discussions with three captivating members of our local community: Smallwood Holoman, Larry Levy, and Indira Oskvarek. In this human library-style event our three storytellers are excited to share their diverse life experiences in honest and engaging conversations. Participants will be split into 3 small groups and all groups will have the opportunity to talk with and hear from each storyteller individually. We look forward to seeing you!

Click here to read the biographies of the storytellers at this event.

Brunch plated service is by pre-order only. Brunch food pre-orders available until MAY 13 at 11 PM. Click here for the pre-order menu!

Sponsored by Arbury Insurance

Brunch History / The Highgates

SAT, JUN 15, 2024 / 11 AM (Brunch Service Begins at 10)
Rescheduled From February

Join Tawny Ryan Nelb to learn about the Highgate family. Tawny loves putting together historical puzzle pieces to tell a story about our community’s heritage and will share her findings on the Aaron and Caroline Highgate Family, one of the first African-American families to come to Midland in 1882. She came upon this story in 2018 while sorting historical photos at St. John’s Episcopal Church. A single photo circa 1904 featured the church’s choir directed by Ada Highgate. After just a few hours of research, Tawny realized the family’s story had to be told. She has gathered hundreds of historical documents and photos, each a part of the puzzle, to pull together the family’s history

Brunch plated service is by pre-order only. Brunch food pre-orders available until JUN 10 at 11 PM. Click here for the pre-order menu!

Sponsored by Arbury Insurance

Podcast

Midland In Our Own Words


Tune into the Midland County Historical Society's official podcast, Midland In Our Own Words, for a collection of oral history accounts from people of Midland County, Michigan. Uncovering stories of influencers and modern explorers from those in this community.

This podcast is made possible through a partnership with Tridge Media Productions.

Historical Research

While our research library remains closed for in-person discovery, we continue to assist researchers and members of the community in conducting the research of stories here in Midland County.

If you'd like to obtain access to documents and materials in our collections, please email Crystal Laudeman or Jake Huss.