If you want to understand Bay City, start at the Historical Museum of Bay County. Run by the Bay County Historical Society, it fills a former National Guard armory on Washington Avenue with galleries that trace local history from before European contact to the present, a research library and a pair of unusual halls of fame. This guide covers what you will see, what it costs and how the building itself became part of history.
Quick facts
• Address: 321 Washington Ave, Bay City, MI 48708
• Phone: 989-893-5733
• Hours: Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. (closed Sunday and Monday, major holidays and bad weather), according to the museum's website
• Admission: free for Bay County residents and Society members. Non-residents pay $2 per person or $5 per family.
• Research library: the Butterfield Memorial Research Library, open the same days and hours
• Website: bchsmuseum.org
Hours and prices change. Some directory listings show older hours, so confirm with the museum before you go.
What you will see
- Main gallery. A roughly 3,700-square-foot gallery with chronological exhibits that walk you through Bay County's history from before European contact to the present.
- Maritime gallery. A special gallery on the region's maritime history, a good companion to our guides to the Defoe shipyard and USS Edson.
- The theater. A small theater that shows local-history documentaries.
- Halls of fame. The museum houses the Michigan Rock and Roll Legends Hall of Fame and the Bay County Sports Hall of Fame. See notable people from Bay City for some of the names.
- Temporary exhibits and virtual exhibits, which change through the year.
- Museum store. Society members receive a 25% discount.
In all, the building has more than 8,000 square feet of permanent and temporary exhibit space, plus storage for a collection of over 220,000 artifacts and archives. It is climate controlled and accessible.
The building: a 1911 armory with a political past
The museum occupies the Bay City Armory, designed by local architects Pratt and Koeppe in 1910 and dedicated on September 18, 1911. (The same firm designed houses along Center Avenue; see our lumber barons guide.) It replaced an older armory on the same site that had served National Guard units since 1894. Over the years the building housed Guard ambulance and engineer units and also hosted 4-H shows, dances, concerts and lectures.
The armory also played a role in national politics. In 1912 supporters of Theodore Roosevelt and President William Howard Taft clashed there during the Republican State Convention, and Governor Chase S. Osborn called in the State Militia to keep order. Later that year Roosevelt's delegates left the national convention in Chicago and formed the "Bull Moose" Progressive Party, and the Society says the Bay City events played a role in that party's founding.
The last Guard unit left in 1986, and the Historical Society acquired the building. After renovation it opened as the Historical Museum of Bay County in 1988, and further renovations followed in 1994, 1997, 1999 and 2005. The Society says it has invested more than $3 million in the building, which is listed on the state and national historic registers.
The Bay County Historical Society
The Society traces its current form to 1919. An earlier group, the Bay County Pioneer Society, was formed more than 135 years ago but lasted less than two decades. Today the Society is a nonprofit that runs the museum and cares for the Trombley Centre House in Veterans Memorial Park. Its mission is to preserve the history of Bay County and offer programs for the community.
Trombley Centre House
The Society also cares for the Trombley/Centre House at 901 John F. Kennedy Drive in Veterans Memorial Park. It is a Greek Revival-style house described as the oldest frame house still standing in Bay County. It was moved from its original site near 24th and Water Streets to the park, and volunteers and committees continue to restore it. The house hosts a holiday open house, luncheons, educational programs and meetings, and it has a historic herb garden tended by the Olde Thyme Herb Society. Tours are available by appointment through the museum, so call 989-893-5733. The house is included on our Things to Do page.
Research and genealogy
The Butterfield Memorial Research Library holds original manuscripts, maps, diaries and genealogy resources, and the Society's site also offers cemetery records. Research questions go to the library manager through the museum's website. If you are tracing family roots, the library is a good first stop, and our Polish heritage guide and history page can add context.
Programs, membership and support
- Events: the museum maintains a calendar of events, and its education programs include scavenger hunts that families can try.
- Membership: members get free access to the exhibits and both halls of fame, a subscription to the Museum Record and a 25% museum-store discount.
- Support: the Society accepts memberships, volunteers and donations.
Planning your visit
- Allow 1 to 2 hours for the galleries, longer if you plan to use the library.
- Pair it with downtown. The museum is on Washington Avenue, close to the State Theatre and restaurants. See our State Theatre guide, the Eat page and the one-day itinerary.
- Good for a rainy day. See a kid-friendly day and the winter guide.
- Check the museum's calendar for special programs and temporary exhibits.
Sources
Information comes from the Bay County Historical Society's own website, including its history page and Trombley House page, with background from a public history directory. Some third-party listings show different hours, so we used the museum's own site. This guide is independent and is not run by the Society.