Mason County Historical Society

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Mason County Historical Society Mason County Historical Society is dedicated to preserving the local history of Mason County, Michigan. The society is a private non-profit.

The society runs Historic White Pine Village, Port of Ludington Maritime Museum and the Mason County Emporium. The Society's Mission and Purpose Is:

1. To foster a deeper understanding of and appreciation for Mason County history.

2. To collect, preserve, and present for viewing historically important artifacts, archives, and buildings of the inhabitants of Mason County.

3. To stimulate and en

courage the interpretation of Mason County's past through publications, educational programs, and related historical activities.

4. To cooperate with appropriate individuals, organizations, and institutions on the local and state level in projects and activities which promote and sustain a general interest in history and preservation. The Mason County Historical Society:

1. Operates Historic White Pine Village.
2. Operates the Port of Ludington Maritime Museum
3. Hosts the Mason County Sports Hall of Fame
4. Operates the Mason County Research Center

Your visit starts before you arrive! 🤩Purchase your museum tickets online and save $3 on admission. It's the easiest way...
24/08/2026

Your visit starts before you arrive! 🤩

Purchase your museum tickets online and save $3 on admission. It's the easiest way to get the best value for your day of exploring!

Get your tickets today: masoncountymihistory.org/tickets/

From the 1910s and the 1940s the W. R. Roach canning plant was a major Scottville employer. The facility became part of...
23/08/2026

From the 1910s and the 1940s the W. R. Roach canning plant was a major Scottville employer. The facility became part of Stokely-Van Camp in the mid-1940s. Submitted by Society member Bruce Eddy.

History is worth celebrating, and we're making this one special!On September 26, the Mason County Historical Society Gal...
22/08/2026

History is worth celebrating, and we're making this one special!

On September 26, the Mason County Historical Society Gala will celebrate 50 years of Historic White Pine Village and the incredible history, stories, and traditions preserved for generations.

Your evening will include great food, silent-auction items, Mason County trivia, music, dancing, and lots more fun.

Grab your tickets and celebrate 50 years of Historic White Pine Village with us!

Purchase your tickets at: tickettailor.com/events/masoncountyhistoricalsociety/2161889?date=2026-09-26

Freighter Friday Feature: The Age of Steam ⚓As Mason County's lumber industry grew, so did the need for faster, more pow...
21/08/2026

Freighter Friday Feature: The Age of Steam ⚓

As Mason County's lumber industry grew, so did the need for faster, more powerful ways to move goods and people across the Great Lakes. Steam power changed everything, transforming small wooden vessels into the mighty steamships and car ferries that would define an era.

This Freighter Friday, we're featuring The Age of Steam exhibit at the Port of Ludington Maritime Museum. Discover how the shift from sail to steam reshaped shipping on Lake Michigan and helped establish Ludington as a major port town.

The exhibit brings this transformation to life through historic photographs, models, and artifacts that trace the rise of steam-powered vessels and the industry that depended on them.

Visit the Port of Ludington Maritime Museum this Friday and save $5 on regular admission as part of America's 250th Celebration.

📅 Every Friday through Labor Day Weekend
🎟️ Save $5 on Regular Admission Fridays only
*Museum Discovery Passes are excluded from this promotion.

20/08/2026

Almost time for our Time Travelers Picnic event, this Saturday, August 22nd!

50 Years of Historic White Pine Village and one unforgettable evening!Join the Mason County Historical Society on Saturd...
19/08/2026

50 Years of Historic White Pine Village and one unforgettable evening!

Join the Mason County Historical Society on Saturday, September 26, for our annual Gala at the historic Stearns Hotel Ballroom.

This year’s Gala celebrates 50 years of Historic White Pine Village with an evening of great food, Mason County trivia, live and silent auctions, games, historical costumes, music, dancing, and plenty of fun.

Tickets are $75 per person and include dinner and one entry into our Mystery Cultural Attraction Door Prize drawing.

Gather your friends and join us for a night worth celebrating!
Buy your tickets here: tickettailor.com/events/masoncountyhistoricalsociety/2161889?date=2026-09-26

Way Back Wednesday Feature: White Pine Chapel ⛪For early Mason County families, the local chapel was more than a place o...
19/08/2026

Way Back Wednesday Feature: White Pine Chapel ⛪

For early Mason County families, the local chapel was more than a place of worship; it was the heart of the community. Weddings, funerals, and Sunday services all took place within its walls, bringing neighbors together through life's most important moments.

Step inside the White Pine Chapel at Historic White Pine Village and experience the quiet charm. From the simple wooden pews to the timeless architecture, this exhibit reflects the faith and fellowship that helped hold early communities together.

This Way Back Wednesday, take a step back in time and experience the traditions that brought Mason County families together.

🏡 Save $5 on regular admission every Wednesday through Labor Day Weekend as part of our America 250 Celebration.
🎟️ Save $5 on Regular Admission on Wednesdays only
*Museum Discovery Passes are excluded from this promotion.

Save before you visit! 🙌Purchase your museum tickets online and save $3 per ticket. Buying ahead is the easiest way to s...
17/08/2026

Save before you visit! 🙌

Purchase your museum tickets online and save $3 per ticket. Buying ahead is the easiest way to start your visit and enjoy the best available pricing.

Get your tickets today: masoncountymihistory.org/tickets/

Only for a brief period of time (after the 1911 construction of the Peoples State Bank of Scottville until the destructi...
16/08/2026

Only for a brief period of time (after the 1911 construction of the Peoples State Bank of Scottville until the destruction of the Ludington State Bank offices in a 1913 fire) did the main corners of Mason County's two largest communities host on opposite sides of their main downtown intersections the largest financial competitors in the two communities. Seen in the first image are Scottville's State & Main intersection with the State Savings Bank on the southwest corner and the Peoples State Bank on the northwest corner. In the second photo of the Ludington & James intersection, the National Bank is on the southeast corner and the State Bank is on the southwest corner. Submitted by Society member Bruce Eddy.

Freighter Friday Feature: Lumbering Days on Pere Marquette Lake 🪵Long before the car ferries and steel freighters, Pere ...
14/08/2026

Freighter Friday Feature: Lumbering Days on Pere Marquette Lake 🪵

Long before the car ferries and steel freighters, Pere Marquette Lake was the beating heart of Mason County's lumber industry. Sawmills lined the shore, schooners hauled timber across the water, and the lake itself became a highway for the wood that built a growing nation.

This Freighter Friday, we're featuring the Lumbering Days on Pere Marquette Lake exhibit at the Port of Ludington Maritime Museum. Step into the story of the mills, the ships, and the workers who turned Mason County into a lumbering powerhouse in the 1800s.

The exhibit offers a look at the tools, photographs, and artifacts that capture a booming era when the lake was crowded with sails and the shoreline echoed with the sound of sawmills.

Visit the Port of Ludington Maritime Museum this Friday and save $5 on regular admission as part of America's 250th Celebration.

📅 Every Friday through Labor Day Weekend
🎟️ Save $5 on Regular Admission Fridays only
*Museum Discovery Passes are excluded from this promotion.

Address

130 E Ludington Avenue
MI
49431

Opening Hours

Tuesday 10:00 - 16:00
Wednesday 10:00 - 16:00
Thursday 10:00 - 16:00
Friday 10:00 - 16:00
Saturday 10:00 - 18:00

Telephone

+12318434808

Website

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