Sanilac County Historic Village & Museum

06/13/2026

VOLUNTEER DOCENT — SANILAC COUNTY HISTORIC VILLAGE & MUSEUM

Port Sanilac, MichiganDo you love local history and enjoy sharing it with others? The Sanilac County Historical Society is seeking volunteer docents to serve as guided tour presenters and front-of-house attendants at the Sanilac County Historic Village & Museum — the Greenfield Village of the Thumb of Michigan.This is a meaningful, engaging role. You will receive a full orientation and briefing so that you can present with confidence. No prior expertise required — just genuine enthusiasm for Sanilac County's story.What you will do:

Welcome visitors to the museum campus
Conduct guided tours of the Loop-Harrison Mansion and/or the historic Village buildings
Answer visitor questions using a provided FAQ guide
Support by-appointment tour bookings arranged by museum staff
Represent the warmth and mission of the Historical Society
Tour commitment:

Guided tours run Wednesday–Sunday, 12:00–3:00pm during the regular season (Memorial Day Weekend through Labor Day Weekend). By-appointment tours are arranged around your availability. A single shift per week — or even per month — makes a real difference.We provide: Full docent orientation, printed reference materials, and a point of contact for any question beyond your comfort level. Tours run 60–90 minutes.To volunteer, contact Dan Finn at [email protected] or call 810.622.9946.

06/12/2026

As you walk our grounds, carefully step around our nature trails & flower gardens. Our little friends are hopping & slithering about. Snakes, toads & other critters call our 10 acres home.

The American Toad (Anaxyrus americanus) is hard to see, but is a common species in Michigan's Thumb area (and across much of the eastern/central US).

The classic features: dry, warty skin (no you can't get warts from them) with dark blotches/spots, prominent parotoid glands (the larger raised areas behind the eyes), and the overall squat, terrestrial build.

They're beneficial to have around — they eat insects like mosquitoes, beetles, and slugs.
They're harmless to touch (though they can secrete a mild irritant from their skin if stressed — just wash your hands after). Common in gardens, woods, and damp areas like our nature trail.

Up in the canopy we have a wide variety of feathered friends. Download the Merlin bird identification app from you favorite download host. More info... https://pg.allaboutbirds.org/
See how many birds you can identify around where you live or at the Museum.

06/09/2026

06/09/2026

OFFICIAL 2026 TRAIL DATE ANNOUNCEMENT & MAP REGISTRATION IS OPEN!

It’s official, Sailors! We have been working behind the scenes with municipalities, tourism bureaus, and community leaders all along the shoreline, and the dates for the 2026 Blue Water Area Antique Yard Sale Trail are officially locked in:

FRIDAY, AUGUST 7th – SUNDAY, AUGUST 9th, 2026

We know there has been a little bit of "confusion" floating around out there regarding which weekend is technically the "second weekend" since August 1st falls on a Saturday this year.

To keep the entire 150+ miles synchronized from the southern gateway up to the tip of the Thumb, the trail event is officially on August 7th–9th. Major destinations including New Baltimore, Algonac, Marine City, Port Huron, Lakeport, Port Sanilac, Harbor Beach, Port Austin and Caseville are already synced and promoting this exact weekend. We want to make sure none of our incredible antique dealers or residents miss out on the massive wave of foot traffic!

06/08/2026

You answered the call!
Thank you to everyone who came out to help with putting up the event tent on such short notice!

We also have several picnic tables built and replacing the old rotting wooden ones. Happy to have assets that will live a solid 20years of operation this reducing maintenance on our limited resources caring for this nonprofit campus.

06/08/2026

🎉 The Echoes of Sanilac Traveling Exhibit Has Officially Launched!
Echoes of Sanilac: Exploring the History of Michigan's Thumb — the Sanilac County Historical Society's America250MI traveling exhibit — is now on display at the Brown City District Library, 4222 Main Street, Brown City!

📅 On display now through Saturday, June 13 — coinciding with Brown City Days — this is a perfect opportunity to explore 20 panels of Thumb region history, from the Original Occupants of the land to the Great Storm of 1913 and beyond.

🕐 Library Hours (June 8–13):
Monday – Friday: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Saturday, June 13: 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM

A visitor feedback survey is also available on-site — we'd love to hear your thoughts!

This exhibit will travel across Sanilac, Huron, Tuscola, and Lapeer Counties through September 2026. Stay tuned for upcoming stop announcements.

The Echoes of Sanilac exhibit has been made possible in whole or in part by a major grant from America250MI.

🏛️ Sanilac County Historic Village & Museum |

06/07/2026

🙌 Volunteer Help Needed — Tomorrow, June 8th!
We're rallying a team at the Sanilac County Historic Village & Museum and could use your hands!

📦 Morning: Picnic Table Assembly
Help us assemble 6 brand-new Polly fiber picnic tables for the museum grounds — a generous gift from a very special couple!

⛺ 2:30 PM: Event Tent Setup
We already have 4 people lined up — the more the merrier! This tent needs to be up and ready for a wedding this Wednesday.

🧹 Throughout the Day: Grounds & Museum Tidying
A little sprucing goes a long way. Help us make the place shine!

Why does it all matter? This bride and groom are dear friends of the museum family — and they've already given back in a big way, donating the funds for those 7 beautiful new picnic tables you'll soon see on the village grounds. Let's return the love. 💛

Many hands make light work. Drop a comment, send us a message, or just show up at 228 S. Ridge St., Port Sanilac tomorrow!