Dexter Area Historical Society

10/01/2026

See you on Friday and Saturday October 2nd & 3rd 9:30am to 5:30pm at the Dexter Area Museum, 3443 Inverness, Dexter, MI 48130!

Please help support the Dexter Area Museum! Check out our Rummage Sale on October 2nd & 3rd from 9:30am to 5:30pm both days.

09/29/2026

WE NEED YOUR HELP - We are accepting donations for our rummage sale (no clothing, please). September 30th from 12–3:30 and October 1st from 9:30–3:30. Please drop off good items you would like to get out of your way to help us support the museum! Bring your items to the museum at 3443 Inverness, Dexter, MI 48130!

09/29/2026

Please help support the Dexter Area Museum! Check out our Rummage Sale on October 2nd & 3rd from 9:30am to 5:30pm both days.

09/15/2026

Only a few days left to sign up for the 2026 Forest Lawn Cemetery Tour. There are 3 different times so that everyone doesn't come at once and you have to wait your turn! Choose a time, wear comfortable shoes and come prepared for a great tour.

The 2025 Fall Forest Lawn Cemetery Tour
the Dexter Area Historical Society will again team up with the Dexter District Library and Forest Lawn Cemetery to repeat last spring’s cemetery tour The fall event will be on Sunday September 21st from 2 to 4pm. This will be a walking tour of the historic cemetery on Grand Street. The free tours will include the graves of prominent Dexter residents. Groups will be walking over uneven grounds to various grave sites. Group size will be limited to facilitate interaction with the characters.. Go to https://dexter.lib.mi.us/ to register or call the Library at: 734-426-4477.

09/15/2026

A great way to get to know about the people who helped form Dexter! Sign up now and bring your friends and/or family.

🍁 Forest Lawn Cemetery Tours 🍂
Sunday, September 20
Registration required for one of three start times: 2:00 pm, 2:30 pm, or 3:00 pm.

On Sunday, September 20, 2026, the Dexter District Library, the Dexter Area Historical Society and Forest Lawn Cemetery of Dexter will be offering a walking tour of the historic Forest Lawn Cemetery which is located on Grand Street. This tour will focus on different gravesites than previous tours. The free tours will include the graves of various Dexter residents. Come learn about the first blacksmith in Dexter, a Civil War soldier, Dexter’s coffin builder, how Bates School got its name, the history of Forest Lawn cemetery, and more!

To fully enjoy the cemetery tour, you will need to do a lot of walking over uneven ground. We will limit the size of each group so that you will be able to interact with the characters who will be portraying the featured Dexter residents buried at Forest Lawn. The tour takes approximately 1 hour.

Registration is mandatory. Space is limited. Participants will be in small groups. A guide will be with you for the tour. Scroll down to register for the 2:00 p.m. tour or call 734-426-4477 (ext. 120).

(Note: when registering online, select only 1 registration time: 2:00 p.m., 2:30 p.m. or 3:00 p.m.)

This cemetery tour is free. Donations will be accepted for the Forest Lawn Cemetery Tree Fund for those that wish to contribute.

For 2:00 pm: https://dexter.lib.mi.us/events/forest-lawn-cemetery-tour-prominent-dexter-residents-200-p-m-time-slot/

For 2:30 pm: https://dexter.lib.mi.us/events/forest-lawn-cemetery-tour-prominent-dexter-residents-230-p-m-time-slot/

For 3:00 pm: https://dexter.lib.mi.us/events/forest-lawn-cemetery-tour-300-p-m-time-slot/

09/09/2026

Toys Made in Michigan
2-4pm September 27, 2026
Dexter Area Museum
3443 Inverness in Dexter

Places like Detroit, Ludington, and Walled Lake in Michigan played a major role in 20th century toy manufacturing. Tim VanAken will talk about the companies and the toys they made, and share some examples from his extensive collection of antique toys. Tim’s talk will begin after a brief Annual Meeting of the Dexter Area Historical Society. Light refreshments will be served and the display area of the Museum will be open. There is no charge for this event and everyone is welcome! For questions, email [email protected].
Location: Dexter Area Museum, 3443 Inverness in Dexter. www.dexterhistory.org

08/12/2026

Forest Lawn Cemetery's 2026 Tour will be held on Sunday, September 20th from 2 to 4pm beginning at the Broad Street entrance to the cemetery which is located on Grand Street.
Reservations can be made online or by calling The Dexter District Library at https://dexter.lib.mi.us/events/ or call 734-426-4477.
Presented by The Dexter Area Historical Society, The Dexter District Library and Forest Lawn Cemetery, there is no charge for entry, but we do ask that you register as we would like to spread out the number coming for a better experience. Any questions: go to [email protected] or [email protected] or call the Dexter District Library at 734-426-4477.

07/21/2026

Our summer raffle is going on now! We are finding that our raffle is a great way to spread the news of Gordon Hall's restoration project plus help with our fundraiser. Historical society members are selling tickets now and our exciting fifty-fifty drawing will be held at the Summer Festival on August 8th. Get your tickets now and be part of this great event to help with the restoration.

Tickets can be purchased at the museum, from board members or even Saturdays in front of Buschs.

05/20/2026

Isn't it time to do some Spring cleaning?
The Heritage Guild Museum Garage/Yard Sale will be on May 28 and 29th from 10:00am till 5:00pm at the Dexter Area Museum, 3443 Inverness, Dexter, MI 48130. Come and support the Museum by either donating towards the sale or coming and buying at the sale! All the purchases will support the museum’s projects.
Clean and in good working order household items will be accepted on May 26th and 27th. No clothing please. All proceeds go towards up and coming Museum projects! Any questions, please call Sue B. at 734-426-4763.