The Historical Museum of Bay County
The Historical Museum of Bay County
4.5
Full view
Top ways to experience nearby attractions
The area
Address
Reach out directly
Best nearby
Restaurants
166 within 3 miles
Attractions
39 within 6 miles
Contribute
Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
4.5
35 reviews
Excellent
17
Very good
14
Average
4
Poor
0
Terrible
0
slrv61
Mansfield, OH250 contributions
Jul 2024 • Couples
This is a place filled with amazing local artifacts. We were especially impressed with the interactive children's activities (we did not use them, but I am a teacher) and the care for Native Cultures that we saw.
The main part of the museum is rather like a timeline that is walked with some parts of the history displayed in some way. I especially enjoyed reading about a local woman who wrote in a diary every day for like 40 years while she helped run her husband's business, had and raised 7 kids, volunteered on all sorts of civic and community committees and is an exemplary example of a burgeoning white middle class at the end of the 1800's. Her strength and attention to detail were given a good cultural placement and like other segments of the population had a respectful place in this museum. I highly recommend you spend a morning or afternoon here. We did not read and ingest all the info, and I am sure we will return more than once!
The main part of the museum is rather like a timeline that is walked with some parts of the history displayed in some way. I especially enjoyed reading about a local woman who wrote in a diary every day for like 40 years while she helped run her husband's business, had and raised 7 kids, volunteered on all sorts of civic and community committees and is an exemplary example of a burgeoning white middle class at the end of the 1800's. Her strength and attention to detail were given a good cultural placement and like other segments of the population had a respectful place in this museum. I highly recommend you spend a morning or afternoon here. We did not read and ingest all the info, and I am sure we will return more than once!
Written July 5, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Bruce014
Near Chicago, Illinois143 contributions
Jun 2019 • Friends
Seven of us are bicycling across Michigan, and visited the museum on a layover day in Bay City. Corrine, one of the museum staff, oriented us and answered many questions about the area, its history and current situation. Exhibits include Native American culture, logging, lumbering, maritime, and (news to us) salt mining and sugar beet farming in the county.
The exhibits are professional with frequent first-person accounts and appropriate artifacts.
We could have easily spent another hour absorbing all the narratives and stories.
An outstanding museum and a real gem. Don’t miss it.
The exhibits are professional with frequent first-person accounts and appropriate artifacts.
We could have easily spent another hour absorbing all the narratives and stories.
An outstanding museum and a real gem. Don’t miss it.
Written June 20, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jo G
Porto District, Portugal179 contributions
Nov 2018 • Family
A gem of a museum and a revelation (or three) The insights into the early days of the bay area in a charming, informative and well laid out display covering the region from the earliest settlements right up to today. Learn how the logging industry made way for shipping, kit homes, chemicals and the motor industry. How the native indian population gave places their names. And how time carves into the character of the land. This is not a once only visit but a constant source of information and insight.
Written February 19, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
interceptpubs
Columbus, IN974 contributions
Aug 2018 • Solo
A lot of county museums are just repositories of junk people no longer want but can't bear to through away - sadly the staff usually can't say no and has no sense of what is historically significant so what you get looks like a flea market without the little price tags. This museum isn't like that at all. The exhibits tell an interesting story of the county's past highlighted with some interesting artificants and great information panels.
The first floor starts with the pre-contact Native Americans in the area then passes through the fur trading era through logging, mining, industry, etc. There is a very interesting display on the militia in the Bay County area from the Provincials formed after the Civil War that ended up being mobilized for the Spanish-American War, the local ambulance companies that served during the First World War, and even the Michigan "polar bears" that served in the American Expeditionary Force that were sent to Russia in 1919.
However, the real gem of the museum is the maritime gallery on the second floor. This covers the various shipbuilding enterprises that called Bay City home in the 19th and 20th centuries from wooden sailing and steam ships to motor yachts and World War II and Cold War warships as well as Tugboats, navigation aids, and much, much more.
There's also a theater where the view can chose amongst several videos to watch and a small gift shop with various souvenirs and history books for sale. Admission is free, and you can easily spend a couple hours here learning a lot about this areas fascinating past.
The first floor starts with the pre-contact Native Americans in the area then passes through the fur trading era through logging, mining, industry, etc. There is a very interesting display on the militia in the Bay County area from the Provincials formed after the Civil War that ended up being mobilized for the Spanish-American War, the local ambulance companies that served during the First World War, and even the Michigan "polar bears" that served in the American Expeditionary Force that were sent to Russia in 1919.
However, the real gem of the museum is the maritime gallery on the second floor. This covers the various shipbuilding enterprises that called Bay City home in the 19th and 20th centuries from wooden sailing and steam ships to motor yachts and World War II and Cold War warships as well as Tugboats, navigation aids, and much, much more.
There's also a theater where the view can chose amongst several videos to watch and a small gift shop with various souvenirs and history books for sale. Admission is free, and you can easily spend a couple hours here learning a lot about this areas fascinating past.
Written August 18, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
edq88222
Fountain Valley, CA441 contributions
Sep 2016 • Couples
We spent nearly 3 hours in this free attraction, and if we had more time, it would have been longer. The theater has over 6 hours of film on demand, with various subjects. There is a small gift shop, and two stories of exhibits, most of them fascinating. Great for history buffs, and for those interested in history, logging, lumber industry, shipping, ship building, construction, engineering, natural resources, and how technological advances affected the above. Lots of photos as well as the films, and displays of tools and artifacts.
Written September 13, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
kittykreidler
Sao Paulo, SP23 contributions
Jul 2013 • Family
This historical museum is fabulous! There were so many industries happening in the Bay City area for the last 150 years it is astounding. I kept saying to my sister "Who Knew all this was here?" I was fascinated and we spent a lot of time there in the museum and saw a lot of information on many family and friends of her husband.
Written November 10, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
seetheusainaford
Michigan352 contributions
Aug 2018 • Couples
Good museum overall. Lots of history to read about: town, indians... There were many videos you could watch but we will have to go back to check them out when we have more time. I wish there were more objects and artifacts to see - especially local items produced in Bay City.
Written August 25, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
xcheck28
Sandusky, MI420 contributions
Apr 2016
I'll be honest, I wasn't all that interested in a good amount of the exhibits in the museum (early Native Americans, shipping aren't my thing). However, I won't let my lack of topical interest cloud my review. The museum is nice - the displays are set up well, and the place is clean and welcoming. You can't really go wrong stopping here, whether for 5 minutes or 2 hours, as there is no admission charge. Certainly worth a look.
Written April 25, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Rochelle757
Norfolk, VA202 contributions
May 2015 • Friends
I have toured this museum as a child and adult but I appreciate much more as an adult since I have a greater appreciation for history now. This is a great local history museum that gives a good general overview of the town's history as well as Michigan history for that region. There is no fee to visit this museum but if you so inclined to ensure its continued availability and good quality exhibits I recommend donating what you can. The design of the museum is very nice and has a good flow that shows lumbering, naval, household and Native American history. There are other categories and exhibits as well and as is typically with a majority of museums they change out every so often. Make sure to check their website for hours and times and they are closed on Sundays. This museum is a great tribute to the Bay region and showcases Michigan history very well.
Written August 11, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
PAUL8539
Bay City, MI238 contributions
Mar 2012 • Solo
I went there to do some historical research on my ancestors. They have a nice small library of maritime books, particularly of the Great Lakes, and books the local area. Including some old books dating back to the 1920s and earlier. I even found a book that I had checked out of the local public ibrary 30 years ago that is now in this library.
The staff was very helpful.
The staff was very helpful.
Written May 10, 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hello, Maybe someone can help me I have some information about my Great Great grandfather and Great Grandfather living at :7281 Lafayette
Bay city Michigan 48706? The maps I find on line show that this is the middle of where the Lafayette bridge is? I am clueless?
Written May 28, 2016
Showing results 1-1 of 1
Is this your Tripadvisor listing?
Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.
Claim your listing