Michigan Historical Museum Gallery Tour...Exiting the mining tunnel, the visitor comes upon the...

Michigan Historical Museum • Michigan Historical Center • Department of History, Arts and Libraries

Michigan Historical Museum Gallery Tour

Michigan Historical Museum

The Michigan Historical Museum opened in the Michigan Library and HistoricalCenter in March 1989. It is the fourth facility to house and exhibit the state'shistorical collections. This is the south entrance. The State Seal of Michigan isvisible over the Allegan Street entrance on the north side of the building. Thebuilding surrounds a white pine tree, the state tree of Michigan, and the GreatLakes Fountain. Between this entrance and the parking lot, visitors pass by thePolaris Ring sculpture.



From Time Immemorial

The museum’s second floorexhibits trace the state’shistory from precontact timesto around 1900. Entering theatrium, visitors see a three-story topographic map ofMichigan; panels that tell thestory of our glacial history;samples of Michigan’sgeologic elements such aslimestone, granite and oil;and three tall white pinetrees. The bright, glassenclosed atrium reminds usof Michigan’s connection withthe outdoors.



The First People

Paleo hunters on a bluffrepresent Michigan’s earliestpeople. They came into thisarea from the south to hunt,fish, and gather. They werenomads who hunted caribou,mastodon and the Jeffersonmammoth.



The First People—Archaeology

This gallery represents Michigan’s unwritten history from its earliestknown inhabitants until around 1620 when Europeans arrived.Archaeological findings and reproductions displayed here includeprojectile points, the atlatl and pottery. A time line above the casesindicates the approximate dates of the periods and civilizations.



Woodland

The Woodland Galleryfeatures a diorama of aMichigan riverbank during thelate Woodland Period. Acanoe with furs rests on theshore, and sounds of anorthern forest in October fillthe air. The reader railsprovide information aboutEuropean visitors, such asJacques Marquette and JeanNicolet, and the importanceof the fur trade during the17th century.



Two Cultures Struggle

The facade of Fort Michilimackinac provides a setting for the story ofthe struggle between the European and native cultures over furs,land and ways of life. A graphic here shows the value of furs in thebarter economy. A map illustrates the ceding of native lands.



Statehood

Michigan's first state capitolbuilding was its territorialcapitol in Detroit. Visitorsenter through the door of areproduction of that building.Inside, a portrait of territorialgovernor Lewis Cass and amannequin of first stategovernor Stevens T. Masonoversee the stories ofstatehood, surveying and theToledo War.



Settlement

Michigan's pioneers came tosettle and farm the cheapland between 1800-1835.This gallery shows howadvancements intransportation—from horsesto ships to attempts at betterroads—helped the state'srapid growth at this time.Visitors can try the “plankroad ride” to get a feel forthe long, arduous, bumpytrips the early settlersendured.



The Civil War

Although no battles were fought in Michigan, the state supplied morethan 90,000 men to the war. This gallery provides a look at uniformsand weapons from the war and at disease, a greater danger tosoldiers than injury. It also tells the stories of Sojourner Truth and theUnderground Railroad.



Entrance to Mining Galleries

A towering mining headframe of timber and amassive piece of float coppermark the entrance to theMining Galleries. An alcove tothe left features stategeologist Douglass Houghtonand the discovery of copperand William Burt, inventor ofthe solar compass, and thediscovery of iron ore.



Copper Mine

The Copper Mine Gallery includes walk-through reproductions of anearly mine drift and a mine shaft. Stop, look down the drift and up theshaft and listen to the sounds of miners discussing the dangers oftheir jobs. Items made from copper and its alloys are displayed. Achart shows the steps involved in copper processing.



Iron Mining

The Iron Mining Gallery includes two audiovisual programs: “Jobs inthe Mines” and “The Soo Locks.” Miners’ helmets, safety equipment,tools such as the one-man drill and mining scrip (money issued bythe mining companies) are displayed. A “Workforce Gallery” showsmining community life with many photographs of Upper Peninsulamining towns, schools and home life.



Lumbering in Michigan

Exiting the mining tunnel, thevisitor comes upon the “BigWheels” log hauler with its10-foot wheels. A sawmillincludes a circular saw andthe tools used in the woodsby the “shanty boys.” Thegallery includes a wall-sizedphotograph of the one of thelast remaining stands ofvirgin white pine trees.



Lumber Baron’s Mansion

The Lumber Baron's Mansion is a recreation of the façade of thehome built in Muskegon by Charles H. Hackley in 1889. The home,with its fine architectural details and stained glass, still stands inMuskegon. Inside the foyer, portraits of lumber barons tell more aboutthe era.



Lumber Baron’s Theater

The Lumber Baron's “Parlor” is a 25-seat theater with a 13-minuteaudiovisual program. It describes the life of the shanty boys and therise and fall of the white pine era in Michigan with narration, musicand photos.



Rural Michigan

Michigan in the 19th century was a rural society. Farming had takenover the tree-cleared lands. This gallery displays farm implementsand objects from home and rural community life.



Growth of Manufacturing — Transportation

Shipping, better roads and the railroad enabled the growth of Michiganprosperity in the late 19th century. Lighthouses helped provide safepassage for boats laden with copper and iron ores and other goods.Railroads carried mail, settlers, goods and tourists in the state. Betterroads enabled farmers to get their produce to town and to railroad depotsfor shipment to large cities such as Detroit and Chicago.



Growth of Manufacturing — Industries

Early industries in Michigan in the mid to late 19th century includeiron works (stoves, farm implements, railroad cars, etc.) furniture,cereal, pharmaceuticals, paper and others. Many towns had their owncigar factory and brewery. Their stories are told in this gallery.



Growth of Manufacturing — Carriage Industry

The carriage industry in Flint, Pontiac, Detroit and other Michigancities was the precursor to automobile manufacturing. This dioramaintroduces the story which continues with the “Michigan in the 20thCentury” exhibits on the building's third floor.



Special Exhibits

The first floor of the Michigan Historical Museum includes a SpecialExhibits Gallery. Exhibits in this area change from one to three timesper year.

Hometown Hoops exhibit, 2003

Michigan Historical Museum Gallery Tour...Exiting the mining tunnel, the visitor comes upon the...

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