Northeast Michigan History and Genealogy

10/21/2025

This old building stands north of Alpena and is surrounded by farmland. From what I found on the map I can only assume it was part of the town of Hagensville. According to records, I found the Post Office was open from 1886 to 1912 and that William Hagen was the first postmaster. He and Wilson Pines owned the local sawmill.

10/06/2025

So often, genealogists miss the tremendous research treasures in libraries and archives because they are not effective researchers. This talk focuses on (1) understanding the four major types of li…

09/04/2025

08/25/2025

Explore Lost Lake Woods Club history in Lincoln, Michigan. From timber days to black bear hunts, lodge fires, and member traditions, its legacy still thrives today.

08/14/2025

This is the last weekend to take advantage of early bird pricing for the upcoming Michigan History Conference in Alpena! The conference is perfect for history buffs who are looking for an engaging weekend of inspiring keynotes, practical workshops, breakout sessions, and more... One of our breakout sessions focuses on Temple Beth-El and the Jewish experience in Alpena.

Founded in 1891, Temple Beth-El is the second-oldest synagogue in Michigan and is the only synagogue east of I-75 from Bay City to the Upper Peninsula—an oasis of Judaism along Lake Huron. Learn more about the temple and its legacy in “Temple Beth-El: The Jewish Experience in Alpena.”

Early-bird pricing ends August 17! Take advantage of the savings and reserve your seat today at https://hsmichigan.org/form/mhc2025

08/06/2025

https://hsmichigan.org/form/mhc2025?utm_source=Historical+Society+of+Michigan&utm_campaign=e2128dab84-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2025_08_06_02_29&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_-e2128dab84-293536273 The early-bird pricing registration ends soon. Get a good deal and learn more about our Michigan history.

07/29/2025

The many shipwrecks of Thunder Bay—off the coast of Alpena, Michigan—constitute a microcosm of the Great Lakes commercial shipping industry spanning the last two hundred years. The collection reflects transitions in ship architecture and construction, from wooden schooners to early steel-hulled steamers, as well as several unusual vessel types.

Join Jeff Gray of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in his keynote presentation “Saving Shipwrecks: The Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary” at this year’s Michigan History Conference, where we will learn about the nearly 200 shipwrecks that rest within the 4,300 square miles of Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Dive into the sanctuary’s mission to protect the Great Lakes and their rich history through cutting-edge research, immersive education, innovative resource protection, and dynamic community engagement through their Great Lakes Maritime Heritage Center.

Explore the conference itinerary athttps://hsmichigan.org/sites/default/files/2025-05/CONF-CURRENT-MHC-Booklet-2025.pdf

07/21/2025

Register soon for the September conference held in Alpena!

Our state, our stories—three premiere events Interested in attending one of our annual statewide conferences? Explore our three annual conferences below and join us at our next event. And don't forget—stay in-the-know on registration, discounts, and more by signing up for our email list. Make su...

07/16/2025

It will be nice to have the conference in Alpena!

Registration is now OPEN for the 151st Annual Meeting and Michigan History Conference! Join us in Alpena on September 26-28, 2025, for a weekend chock-full of fascinating historical content, including keynote speakers, breakout sessions, historical tours, an awards banquet, and more.

We have another exciting conference planned to dive deep into the history of Northeast Michigan. Attendees can look forward to three keynote presentations including “Great Lakes Sea Lamprey: A Toothy Oral History,” “Women, Work, and Community in Northern Michigan,” and “Saving Shipwrecks: The Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary.” Breakout session topics include Temple Beth-El and the Jewish experience in Alpena, the CCC in Presque Ile County, Chief Blue Cloud, historic crimes of Alcona, the Hammond Bay Lifesaving Station, and much more! We have not one, not two, but THREE add-on historical tour options—a lighthouse tour, a maritime tour on a glass-bottom boat, and a “foundations” tour of the Concrete Technology Center—plus the annual State History Awards Banquet at Art in the Loft in downtown Alpena. We can’t wait to explore Northeastern Michigan with you!

Early-bird pricing lasts from now through August 17! Learn more about the conference at https://hsmichigan.org/programs/conferences/michigan-history-conference

07/16/2025

Looking forward to this conference held in Alpena!

Registration is now OPEN for the 151st Annual Meeting and Michigan History Conference! Join us in Alpena on September 26-28, 2025, for a weekend chock-full of fascinating historical content, including keynote speakers, breakout sessions, historical tours, an awards banquet, and more.

We have another exciting conference planned to dive deep into the history of Northeast Michigan. Attendees can look forward to three keynote presentations including “Great Lakes Sea Lamprey: A Toothy Oral History,” “Women, Work, and Community in Northern Michigan,” and “Saving Shipwrecks: The Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary.” Breakout session topics include Temple Beth-El and the Jewish experience in Alpena, the CCC in Presque Ile County, Chief Blue Cloud, historic crimes of Alcona, the Hammond Bay Lifesaving Station, and much more! We have not one, not two, but THREE add-on historical tour options—a lighthouse tour, a maritime tour on a glass-bottom boat, and a “foundations” tour of the Concrete Technology Center—plus the annual State History Awards Banquet at Art in the Loft in downtown Alpena. We can’t wait to explore Northeastern Michigan with you!

Early-bird pricing lasts from now through August 17! Learn more about the conference at https://hsmichigan.org/programs/conferences/michigan-history-conference

06/23/2025

Mio Michigan history charts a wild journey from logging boomtown to wildlife haven, conservation success, and hunting hotspot. See how it all unfolded.

02/25/2024

Here is a great shot of the vessel ALPENA sailing out of the river by the 2nd Ave Bridge near where the current Alpena Furniture store is today! No date is provided with the photo but would have been captured when ALPENA was part of the Wyandotte Transportation Company This photo comes from the Alpena Historic District Collection.

Want to see more photographs that coincide with this one? Feel free to drop by the Alpena History Room to view more!