Our Benzonia Academy Lecture Series are very popular! Schedules can be found on our Facebook Page and via our Benzie Area Historical Society Website!

Benzie Area Historical Society and Museum, a non-profit corporation.

Our Genealogy Section is an exciting new addition to the Benzie Area Historical Museum. Volunteers are obtaining genealogical information from families who have been residents of Benzie County for at least 75 to 100 years. This information is then being entered into the museum’s computer in a genealogical format. Input includes names, birth dates, death dates, photos, newspaper articles, stories from the families, obituaries, and important documents--any information you wish to share with us. Our mission is to “preserve your family information for future generations.”

Genealogy is an on-going pursuit--it is never complete. Our team is capable of helping you put your information together and in many cases build upon it, providing you with information that will enrich your records. BAHM has a fantastic collection of obituaries and photos which have been gathered over the years. Where available, they will be integrated into your family’s genealogical record. Printouts of the information gathered and input into the museum’s computer programs will also be available to you. Cost will be $15.00 and up, depending upon the size of the file. Certificates recognizing your family’s longevity in Benzie County will also be available upon request.

Our genealogy team is receiving many requests for genealogical information. The museum genealogist’s procedure is to check the museum and computer files to fulfill the request for information. A donation to the museum is requested for this service. If you are interested in being a part of this program and sharing your family information, please contact the museum at (231) 882-5539 and leave a message. If you would like to set up an appointment, please call or leave a message with Kay at (231) 352-4170.

Access: General Public, Students, Scholars, Members

Appointment required: True

Benzie Area Historical Society currently has a strong volunteer core--but we always need more folks to help out. Consider getting actively involved! Your participation can be brief (a task group, perhaps the receptions), more involved (committees, openings available on all of them ), or tailored to your availability (docent/museum host working a few hours each week or less). Task groups tend to have short term responsibilities, usually just a single event or project. The committees, based upon responsibilities, tend to meet at least once each quarter although some do meet monthly. Individual roles are available for volunteers who can make commitments to a specific larger project by working a few hours weekly or biweekly.