Visit Michigan's Thumb

Museums of Michigan's Thumb Area

Port Hope

Pointe Aux Barques Lighthouse Museum
Pointe Aux Barques Lighthouse Society
8114 Rubicon Road
Port Hope, MI 48468-9759
Telephone: (989) 428-2010
www.pointeauxbarqueslighthouse.org

The Jewel of Huron County, Pointe aux Barques Lighthouse stands 6 miles north of Port Hope, MI in Lighthouse County Park on the Shores of Lake Huron.  The entrance to Lighthouse County Park is off M-25 on Lighthouse Road.  A sign clearly marking the park is at the junction of M-25 and Lighthouse Road.  If traveling north and you reach Grindstone City you have traveled to far, come back, you do not want to miss us.

Tourists can examine antique items and photographs of old shipwrecks.  A gift store is located in the museum.  The museum is open Saturday and Sunday from 10:00 a.m.  to 6:00 p.m.  plus holidays, Memorial Day to Labor Day.  Donations are accepted.  The museum is located 6 miles North of Port Hope off M-25.  

Stafford Park Historical Chimney
4451 W.  Huron St.
Port Hope, MI 48468
989.428.4882

The saw mill chimney was constructed in 1858 by John Geltz, a stone brick mason.  It is all that remains of the lumber mill established that year by William R.  Stafford.  The chimney is 80 feet tall and still stands in perfect condition today.  It is noted as one of Port Hope’s historical landmarks and the site of a Michigan Historical Marker.  The chimney is located in Stafford Park east of M-25 at the end of State Street.  Ample parking nearby.  

The chimney has ground dimensions of nine by ten feet.  The lower twenty feet is built of sandstone and contains an open hearth eighteen by twenty-three inches in size on its southeast side.  The upper portion of the stack is built of red brick and rises in gradually tapering form about another sixty feet.  The Stafford dock, which extended into the lake from near the saw mill's east and, was a structure of timber cribs filled with stone.  The dock was apparently largely destroyed in a storm in 1913, and the remnants are now for the most part buried beneath a newer breakwater at the same spot.

Sebewaing

Luckhard Museum
590 E.  Bay Rd.
Sebewaing, MI 48759
989.883.2539

The Luckhard Museum is a mission that was built for teaching the gospel to the American Indians in 1845.  It houses pioneer & Indian relics.  Open Sunday 2:00-4:00 p.m.  June through September.  It is also open at various times during the Sugar Festival.  Group.  Tours can be arranged.  

Bad Axe

Bad Axe Museums and Log Cabins
210 S.  Hanselman
St.  Bad Axe, MI 48413
989.269.8325

This historic village is the largest collection of authentically restored pioneer log buildings in Michigan.  The six individual museums include a pioneer home, general store, school, chapel, barn, and a blacksmith shop.  They were originally built between 1875 and 1900 and moved to this site from elsewhere around Huron County, Michigan, in the 1980’s.  Each contain period artifacts and antiques that let the visitor step back in time and look into this area’s past.  The chapel is available for weddings.

Open to the public free of charge from 2:00-5:00 p.m.  on Sundays during summer.  The museum is located in the Bad Axe City Park.  Special tours available by appointment.

Bay Port

Bay Port Fish Company
1008 First St.
Bay Port, MI
48720 989.656.2121

In the early 1900’s commercial fisherman shipped tons of perch, walleye, herring, whitefish, and carp to New York and Chicago in refrigerated boxcars.  Most of the work done there today is done in similar fashion.  The company is located on 1st Street in Bay Port.  Free guided tours are available on the shores of Lake Huron.  

Elkton

Log Cabin Museum
989.375.4387

Located in Elkton, this museum is open the last Sunday in June from 1:00-5:00 p.m.  for the Annual Log Cabin Day in Michigan.  Also open during the Elkton Aumtumnfest.  No admission fee.  For an appointment call Leonard Bumhoffer at 989.375.4387

Harbor Beach

Grice House Museum
989.479.3363

The old prism light from the Harbor Beach lighthouse and machinery showing antique appliances and tools are highlights in this museum.  Open to the public Tuesday through Sunday - 1:00 p.m.  to 4:00 p.m.   Grice house is located North of Harbor Beach along M-25.  Admission is $1.00 and children under 12 are free.   See the website for more information.

Frank Murphy Museum
142 S.  Huron Avenue
Harbor Beach, MI 48441
989.479.3363

Tours include the Victorian Home Law Offices and early living quarters of Michigan’s most famous statesman, and Michigan governor from 1937 to 1938.  Open summer hours only Thursday - Monday 9:00 a.m.  - 4:00 p.m.  There is a $2 admission fee for adults and $1 for children.  Prearranged tours are available.  

Parisville

St.  Mary’s Historical Museum
Parisville Rd.
Ruth, MI 48470
989.864.3523

This museum is an authentic Polish settler log cabin and is noted as the oldest in the United States.  The museum is owned by St.  Mary’s Catholic Church in Parisville and is located on Parisville Rd.  There is no admission charge, but an appointment is needed for viewing.  

Pigeon

Pigeon Historical Museum
55 S.  Main St.
Pigeon, MI 48755
989.453.3864

The old Grand Trunk-Chesapeake and Ohio train depot in the middle of downtown Pigeon has been named a historical site.  The museum contains local memorabilia and artifacts.  Open June 1 - August 31, Monday - Friday Noon to 4:00 p.m.  and Saturday 10:00 a.m.  to Noon.  Additional times available by appointment.  

Port Austin

Garfield Inn
8544 Lake St.
Port Austin, MI 48467
989.738.5254
www.thegarfieldinn.com

This landmark building on M-53 just past M- 25 in Port Austin, celebrated the dedication of a historic marker designating it as a National Historic Site in 1984.  Now a bed and breakfast and fine dining restaurant, call for reservations.  Styled in French Second Empire, dating back to the 1850's, the home is rich in both architectural detail and history.  James A.  Garfield, our 20th President, was a frequent guest of the original owners, Maria and Charles G.  Learned.

Grindstone City Years ago grindstones weighing 3 lbs.  To 6 tons were exported from here and shipped to Egypt, Russia, and other countries worldwide.  Some streets in Detroit such as Jefferson and Woodward, were made from the first stones produced in Grindstone City.  The city is located on M-25 about 5 miles East of Port Austin.  Many grindstones can still be seen throughout the area.

The Bank 1884
8646 Lake St.
Port Austin, MI 48467
989.738.5353
www.thebank1884.com

The original design of this bank was determined by the Great Fire of 1881 that swept through the Thumb, burning everything in its path.  For this reason, The Bank was built of bricks and was considered the strongest and safest building in the County.  Today the bank is an award winning restaurant.  

Huron City Museum
7995 Pioneer Drive
Port Austin, MI 48467
989.428.4123
866.284.243
www.huroncitymusems.org

Huron City Museum is a restored 1880’s lumbering town.  Huron City is located about 8 miles East of Port Austin on M-25.  The museums are open July 1 thru Labor Day open Friday and Saturday or by appointment.  Hours are from 10:00 a.m.  to 4:00 p.m.  Admission is free.  Two tours that are available.  One is of the village buildings – the log cabin, the Huron City Church, the community house/hotel, the United States Life Saving Service Station and the general store.  The other tour is the House of Seven Gables.  Each tour takes an hour, so both tours take two hours.  The House of Seven Gables was named after the book by Nathaniel Hawthorne and was built in 1883.   The furnishings are from the late 1800’s, early 1900’s.  For more information see their website.

Port Sanilac

The Sanilac County Historic Village and Museum
228 S.  Ridge Street
Port Sanilac, Michigan 48469
810-622-9946
www.sanilaccountymuseum.org

The Sanilac County Historic Village & Museum is a collection of nine historic buildings located on ten acres of the original Dr.  Joseph Loop estate in the Lake Huron harbor village of Port Sanilac.  The Sanilac County Historical Society invites you to step back in time as you wander through the beautiful gardens and the Victorian, Edwardian, and vintage buildings and exhibits that are featured on the property.  Permanent collections include marine shipwreck items, military memorabilia, and Native American artifacts.  The 1872 Loop-Harrison mansion is furnished in period; many of the accoutrements original to the family.  A functioning centennial schoolhouse gives hundreds of local elementary-age children the experience of learning in a one-room 1800's environment every year.  Our turn of the century General Store and Historic Church still fulfill their original purposes.  One of Michigan's most popular performance venues - the Barn Theatre - is housed in the Loop family's 1880's era barn on the museum property and, if you enjoy ghost stories, we have our share of those too.  You will travel to another century simply by paying us a visit.