The History Center of Traverse City is dedicated to the preservation, protection, and presentation of the historical record of Traverse City and the Grand Traverse Region. Support the mission by becoming a member! In return, you will receive regular updates through the Center’s newsletter, special invites to all of our social and educational events, and full voting privileges.

Docent-Guided Tours are available Sunday - Friday. HMC docents are trained in the history of the Holocaust and provide valuable information and insights that augment the museum's exhibits. Most tours include the opportunity to visit both the temporary and permanent exhibits and listen to a Holocaust survivor.

Our Educational Program is a fun and learning-filled program designed to teach the students about the history of the famous USCGC Cutter. We also add "stations" where we have interactive mini programs about such topics as knot-tying, communications, seamanship, fire and water safety, life aboard a ship and more. This tour is set up as a "round robin" tour where the students and chaperones are at a station for approximately 15 minutes then are rotated to another station. We also offer a general musuem tour in which docents are placed around the ship and provide information about specific areas of the ship.

The Kalamazoo Valley Museum offers Science and history permanent exhibits and programming; state-of-the-art planetarium; Challenger Learning Center (a simulated space flight program that focuses on math, science, language arts, team-work and problem-solving).History and science demonstrations and workshops. There is also a Preschool area with guided play and storytime.

Kids 'N' Stuff is appropriate for all ages, but our exhibits and programs will appeal mostly to children 18 months through second grade. We encourage family interaction, so please plan to come and play along! All children must be accompanied by adults through their entire visit.

The highlight of any visit to Kiwidinok Petting Farm is, of course, the chance to get up close and personal with their delightful residents. From fluffy bunnies to gentle ponies, there's a wide variety of animals to meet and greet. Whether you're a child or just young at heart, the joy of petting these friendly creatures is bound to put a smile on your face. Educational Opportunities Beyond the pure fun of animal interactions, Kiwidinok Petting Farm also offers educational experiences for curious minds. The knowledgeable and friendly owners are always ready to share fascinating facts about the animals, their care, and their roles in farming. It's an excellent opportunity for children to learn about the importance of animal care in a hands-on, engaging way.

The Les Cheneaux Historical Museum displays artifacts showing many details from the past: Indian crafts and tools from the logging era, a model of a lumber camp, photos from frontier lift or early settlers and the hotel and tourist periods. The O.M. Reif Boathouse (circa 1920s) is home to displays of vintage boats, marine artifacts, antique outboard motors, historic photos of area boating, a boat building workshop, and a gift shop.

The Lorenzo Cultural Center explores the influences and experiences that shape our community's heritage, examining topics from a variety of perspectives, featuring multidimensional programs related to science, history, literature, and culture through exhibits, presentations, hands-on activities, videos and more. Visitors can explore exhibits on their own, complete a scavenger hunt, take a tour, and attend presentations and performances.

The Marquette Maritime Museum offers two different tours.One is a guided tour of the Marquette Maritime Museum which focuses on Marquette Shipwrecks, Lake Superior Shipwrecks, US Life-Saving and Coast Guard History, Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald, Local Lighthouse history and a WWII Submarine Veteran’s Memorial. Classes are shown a short 8 minute introduction to Marquette’s Maritime history. After that, students are guided through the Museum and then given 15 minutes to go and look on their own. The Second tour is a fully guided tour of the Marquette Harbor Lighthouse. This includes a walk through the US Coast Guard grounds. Classes get to go inside the lighthouse and learn about shipping on Lake Superior, mining in the area, life of a lighthouse keeper and general Lake Superior and Marquette facts.

The History Center offers guided tours through the museum, including hands-on projects, live performances and activities for all ages. Call to schedule your visit today.

We can host school groups both big and small. 60 is a nice maximum group size. Many dates and times are available for your field trip. Call or email to schedule as far in advance as possible; please try to schedule at least one week in advance.

Programs designed for all age groups are available, Preschool through College age!