Museum of History

Located within the Grand Traverse Heritage Center, the Museum of History houses the former Con Foster Museum collection, which numbers over 10,000 artifacts that have been donate by the residents of Grand Traverse region since the Con Foster Museum opened in 1935.

The museum is managed by staff and volunteers of the Grand Traverse Heritage Center, formerly known as Friends of the Con Foster Museum, Inc.

Con Foster arrived in Traverse City in 1920 with his family after spending most of his life as an executive with the Ringling Bros. Barnum & Bailey Circus and a troubleshooter with the Butterfield movie theatre chain. He organized 52 men to contribute $10,000 each to purchase property on the waterfront. The property later became known as Clinch Park.

Foster believed that Traverse City would make its living on tourists and forged  ahead to construct a museum, zoo, breakwater, and aquarium on the grounds of Clinch Park. He traveled throughout the Midwest collecting artifacts for the museum. These same artifacts are now housed at the Museum of History at the Grand Traverse Heritage Center, which opened in 2002.

Today, the Museum of History joins five other partners within the beautiful structure of the Grand Traverse Heritage Center. The partners include the Traverse Area Historical Society, Maritime Heritage Alliance, Grand Traverse Area Rock & Mineral Club, Women’s History Project of Northwest Michigan, and the Railroad Historical Society of Northwest Michigan.

Membership to the Grand Traverse Heritage Center is $25 for individuals, $40 for families, $100 for Friends, $250 for Patrons and $500 for Lifetime Members. Admission to the museum is free at all levels.

(231)995-0313.

Traverse Area Historical Society - [website]

Traverse Area Historical Society is the merger of two organizations in 1982 – the Pioneer Study Center and the Historical Society.  It was designed to develop, foster, and encourage the collection of historical materials and to promote historical consciousness in the Grand Traverse region.

The Historical Society is a nonprofit organization comprised of people who have a keen interest in local history and a desire to see it preserved.

Its mission is to collect and preserve an accurate record of our past and to inform the public of the history of the Grand Traverse region.

The Historical Society dates back to 1924 when it was founded by William W. Smith and Harold Titus. Smith was a former mayor of Traverse City and Titus was a well-known local author. The Pioneer Study Group grew out of a class history project of the Pathfinder School, a local private academy. The Group collected oral histories and a large number of historical photos and documents.

The two organizations merged in 1985 combining their collections of historical photographs and information. During its existence the Historical Society has had a variety of homes. It moved to its present location in 2000.

Today, the Historical Society currently cares for more than 10,000 photographs, letters, maps, documents, and newspapers at the Heritage Center.

Archives are open to the public on Mondays from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. and on Thursdays from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m.

(231) 929 -7663

American Association of University Women – www.aauwtc.org

A local branch of the organization which, nationally, was founded in 1881.  AAUW’ s mission is advancing equity for women and girls through advocacy, education, philanthropy and research.  The branch also offer scholarships, books and historical information about women to schools and libraries, has a May book sale, volunteers for local events and supports NMC, WIAA radio and other entities.

Women’s History Project of Northwest Michigan - [website]

Founded in 2000, the Women’s History Project preserves and recognizes women’s contributions to their families and communities in northwest Michigan. The nonprofit organization acquires oral histories of women; collaborates with schools and local historical groups; preserves documents and articles; collects library/research materials; maintains exhibits on women’s history; and catalogs women’s history resources.

The purpose of the Project is to preserve and recognize the contributions of women to their families and communities in Northwest Lower Michigan.

(231) 995-0313

Railroad Historical Society of Northwest Michigan

Organized in 1985, the Railroad Historical Society of Northwest Michigan encourages and advances the knowledge of railroad history. The group does this through a display of artifacts, rolling stock, documents, safety materials, and works of historical significance to the railroad industry. The organization is restoring two pieces of rolling stock: an Ann Arbor Boxcar #1233 and a Caboose #2831 from Frankfort.

The purpose of the Railroad Historical Society of Northwest Michigan is to encourage and advance the knowledge of railroad history. The group promotes public interest in all areas of railroad history. Numerous valuable artifacts have been donated and loaned to the Society by members and other railroad enthusiasts from around the state.
A display for all to see is located at the Grand Traverse Heritage Center. The Society works in collaboration with the Northern Michigan Railroad Club to display historical documents during the popular Festival of Trains in December.

(231) 995-0313

Grand Traverse Area Rock & Mineral Club - [website]

The Grand Traverse Area Rock & Mineral Club is an educational group whose purpose is to encourage interest in collecting rocks, minerals, fossils, and making jewelry.

Membership in the Grand Traverse Area Rock & Mineral offers its members the use of equipment and instructions at the Heritage Center.

There are classes in silversmithing, and cutting and polishing rocks. Other areas of interest are gem tree making, beading, faceting, lost wax casting, lapidary, and fossil collecting. An annual Rock & Mineral Club Show attracts hundreds of participants.

The Club meets on the third Tuesday of each month at 7 p.m. at the Grand Traverse Heritage Center. A monthly newsletter updates members on the contents of upcoming programs and events.

The Grand Traverse Area Rock & Mineral Club maintains an educational display within the Museum of History at Grand Traverse Heritage Center.

The Club is among the largest in the Midwest and is affiliated with the Midwest Federation of Mineralogical and Geological Societies and the American Federation of Mineralogical Societies.

(231) 995-0313