LENAWEE HISTORICAL MUSEUM
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Red, White and Blue Dinner - Saturday, June 30

5/8/2018

 

The fundraiser supports upgrades at the Lenawee Historical Museum.

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Join us for a casual evening at the museum for dinner with live entertainment, and see the new Lenawee County Underground Railroad Exhibit before it's open to the public!

Tickets are $35 per person (if purchased by June 16) and $40 per person beginning June 17. Tickets are available until June 23 and may be purchased online: click here or you may pay via check to the Lenawee County Historical Society and sent to attn: Catrina Ossmann, PO Box 1547, Adrian, MI 49221.

Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon

4/17/2018

 
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April Program: Jacktown

3/30/2018

 
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Join us for the museum's April Program, about Michigan's first state prison in Jackson, on Thursday, April 26 at 7:00 PM.

Judy Gail Krasnow will share the incredible stories of life at Jacktown, replete with sadistic wardens, crafty escapes, Prohibition's Purple Gang, a chaplain who ran a brothel and influential reformers.

​Competing with the likes of Detroit and Ann Arbor, Jackson won the battle to build Michigan's first state prison in 1838.


Krasnow is the founder and director of Jackson Historic Prison Tours, leading groups through the history and tales of Jackson's State Prison.

There is no cost to attend, and everyone is welcome!

Anti-Slavery Movement in Lenawee County

2/9/2018

 

Lenawee County Historical Society raising funding for new exhibit

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Cheese Fever: Presentation on the first commercial cheese factory in Michigan

1/22/2018

 

Join us on Saturday, March 24 at 2pm 

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Laurie Perkins will be giving a presentation at the Lenawee County Historical Museum about the first commercial cheese factory in Michigan.

Perkins is an education historian at the Michigan Historical Museum, Lansing, and also a Ph.D candidate in American Studies at Michigan State University. Her power point presentation, Cheese Fever is about the first commercial cheese factory in Michigan, located in Fairfield Township, Lenawee County. 

Built in 1866 by Rufus Baker, the Michigan Soft Cheese industry grew by 1900 to cover most of the counties of southern Michigan. This presentation examines the growth of the industry as well as the social, cultural, economic and political opportunities the industry provided to the dairy farmers of this state.

There is no cost to attend and the community is invited.

February Program: Saturday, February 24

1/5/2018

 

Journey from Marion County, Alabama 
to Lenawee County, Michigan ​

Families such as the Lewises, Trotters, Ryes, Swindles and more came from rural Marion County, Alabama with lure of high, steady wage jobs in Adrian, Michigan. The migration of those families, starting in 1938, lasted for two decades - and for many - accomplished what they set out to do: make enough money to enjoy a comfortable life. The program will include a video presentation created by Barry Battles, and based on the thesis written by the late Christopher Swindle.

Gabe Schray will also present a video report on the economic history of Adrian and Lenawee County.

Join us for these video presentations and discussion on the topic on Saturday, February 24 at 2:00 PM at the museum. There is no cost to attend, and everyone is welcome.

2017 Festival of Trees

12/1/2017

 

Now on Display

The museum is open Tuesday-Saturday, 10am-2pm. There's no cost to visit!
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Participating organizations and businesses:

Adrian Arbor #3
Adrian Dominican Sisters
Adrian Garden Club
Adrian Morning Rotary
American Legion Auxiliary, Unit 97, Adrian
Brookdale, Adrian
Care Pregnancy Center
Catherine Cobb Safe House


Chapter DK, PEO
​
Clever Ideas Marketing
GFWC Lenawee Woman's Club
Gleaners
Lenawee Christian School
Lenawee District Library
Lucy Wolcott Barnum Chapter, DAR
Maple City Men's Garden Glub
Zonta of Lenawee

We Need YOU!

12/1/2017

 
Dear Friend of the Lenawee County Historical Museum,

At the Lenawee County Historical Museum we our thankful -- to all of our donors who provide us with the fiscal means to continue to preserve Lenawee’s rich history. Thanks to your continued support we have:    
  • Made significant strides in restoration work to the exterior of the 1909 former Carnegie library including painting windows, preventative maintenance to the handicapped entrance and work on the masonry.
  • Installed UV light filtering window coverings on the second floor.
  • Acquired additional storage and shelving in the archives.
  • Developed new exhibits in the Ted Durst Special Exhibits Room like “History of Technology” and “History of Agriculture in Lenawee.”

As the year ends, and the calendar turns from 2017 to 2018, the Lenawee County Historical Society board of directors seeks to ensure that the building and collections will be viable for years to come.  This means a new roof for the facility (last done in 1993) at an estimated cost of $80,000 and work to update the public restrooms.

Updates are needed within the Museum as well.  In the first of many planned upgrades to permanent exhibits, the board is working with a design firm to create a first floor exhibit honoring the work of anti-slavery leaders in the Lenawee County community.  The newly envisioned exhibit would showcase the work (and artifacts) of Elizabeth Margaret Chandler, Laura Haviland, Asa Mahan and Fitch Reed as well as others who worked tirelessly and often at great peril to end slavery in America.  Such an exhibit would be an asset to the Museum and would complement the statue of Laura Haviland and our new “bench by the road” which was installed this October.

To make our visions for the Museum a reality, we NEED you.  You share with us the stories, donate the artifacts, and provide us the financial means to continue our operations.  The Lenawee County Historical Museum receives no governmental support.  Your donation of $25, $100 or even $500  helps us to teach our history to thousands of visitors every year and develop new exhibits like the upcoming anti-slavery exhibit.

We hope to see you soon at the Lenawee County Historical Museum!
Membership Options

New Exhibit Open House, November 16

10/26/2017

 
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33rd Annual Festival of Trees

10/23/2017

 

Businesses, groups, service clubs and individuals invited to participate

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The Lenawee County Historical Society announces the 33rd annual Festival of Trees. Businesses, groups, service clubs, families and individuals in Lenawee County are invited to participate in the event at the Lenawee County Historical Museum, 110 E. Church St. in Adrian by adding a decorated Christmas tree to the first or second floor of the museum.

A special evening setup event will be held on Thursday, November 30 at 5PM with live entertainment and refreshments.

Participants are welcome to set-up and decorate Christmas trees between Friday, November 17 and Friday, December 1 during the museum’s regular business hours - Tuesday-Saturday and 10 AM - 2PM. Additional times can be arranged for set-up by contacting the museum at 517.265.6071. 

There is no charge to display a tree.

The trees will remain on display until early January.

​Important details:
  • Trees can be live or artificial.
  • Trees, stand and decorations provided by the individual/group.
  • No lights or lit candles.
  • You are welcome to set-up the tree on the first or second floor, first come first served.
  • Trees must be taken down by January 15th.

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Lenawee Historical Society 
110 E. Church St.
Adrian, Michigan 49221
517-265-6071
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  • Anti-Slavery and Underground Railroad in Lenawee Exhibit