The Arenac County Historical Society [ACHS] was incorporated in 1970 as a non-profit educational organization to preserve history and to establish and operate a museum.
The ACHS Museum was first quartered in a rural schoolhouse and moved to its present facility in 1984, the former Au Gres Methodist Church. The building, itself, is historic [circa 1883]; many of the tools used for its construction are on exhibit in the Museum, along with other historical church documents and artifacts that have been donated by its members.
Approaching the Museum entrance a restored historic brick side walk leads you inside to find a rural schoolroom, bedroom and parlor settings, pioneer kitchen, a barber and apothecary shop, country store items and vintage apparel. A commercial fishing exhibit features a 1910 IHC stationary engine, nets and fishing equipment from long ago; the State's highest railroad bridge has been replicated in a unique scale model diorama.
New and interesting exhibits are mounted each month - Memorial Day through Labor Day. Public hours: 1:00 to 4:00 p.m., Saturday and Sunday.
The museum is open by appointment during the winter. Call the museum and leave a message (989-876-6399) and we will get back with you.
The ACHS and Museum are entirely dependent upon volunteer effort and support; donations of items, equipment or money are tax-deductible. ACHS is affiliated with the Historical Society of Michigan and the Michigan Museums Association.
Membership is open to anyone. To join, simply print out the easy to fill-out ACHS membership form and mail it in with your annual dues.
The Museum has a large collection of local civil, church and genealogical records.
Open by appointment
Programs are held the last Thursday evening of each month from May to September at 7:30 pm at the museum, 304 East Michigan Avenue in Au Gres. All are open to the general public. Please join us!
No Admission Charge
(Donations are encouraged to support museum programming)
