Each loan kit includes hands-on artifacts, photos, signage, video and/or audiotapes, posters, maps, etc. to enhance local historical topics. Teachers and Home School parents may check out the following kits and use them to augment local history curriculum.

 

   •  Native American

 

Youth Docent Internship - Open to students in grades 7-12, this hands-on program meets every Tuesday, September through May. Students research and create educational programs to be used in the local community to teach local history. Students also participate in events such as Cemetery Walk, Winterfest, Ice Cream Social, etc.

 

Intergenerational Story Sharing - This six-week program takes place in March and April each year. Area students are matched with senior citizens, who they interview, then, write a biography about their senior partner. Although there are no age requirements; students must be independent readers and writers.

 

What is it? Wednesday - Each Wednesday throughout the summer an artifact is placed in the window of our Ekkens’ store exhibit. Children under 16 years old are invited to guess what the artifact is. The winner receives a $5.00 gift certificate to the museum’s gift shop.

 

Tuesday’s History for Kids - This summer program is held on Tuesday’s at 10:00am. It’s a make-it-and-take-it program for children. Each week offers a different topic, a different craft to make and a bit of a history.

 

Rocks - Take a look at Michigan rocks. Learn where they are found and what we make from these minerals.

 

What’s In Great Grandmother’s Trunk - Take a look at days gone by as we open great grandmother’s trunk to see the clothes she wore and the items she saved.

 

History Through Post Cards - View historic post cards to get a glimpse of the Tri-Cities.

 

Tetonic Plates - Tsunamis and other catastrophic events such as volcanic eruptions are caused by shifting tectonic plates. Learn more by viewing this slide presentation.

 

Coast Guard City, USA - This video explains our unique relationship with the Coast Guard and why Grand Haven was named Coast Guard City, USA.

 

Pier Safety - This video portrays the fierce strength of Lake Michigan and the importance of taking precautionary measures to insure your safety when venturing out on the pier.

 

From Stump to Ship - This 1930s footage explores the entire logging process from cutting to shipping boards to consumers.

 

Old Games - We have always entertained ourselves with games. This program looks at the history of games beginning with parlor games, card games, and moving to various board games.

 

Old Games Day - Take a step back in time and play various historic games.

 

Lumbering Program - With the aid of a cross cut saw, cant hook, broad axe and log mark, you’ll learn about the logging process.

 

Historic Downtown Walk - While strolling up and down the 1st three blocks of Washington, learn about our historic buildings.

 

Maritime Walk - Walk along the boardwalk and learn about the U.S.C.G. Ship the Escanaba and its importance to the Tri-Cities.

 

Tri-Cities Resorts - Using pictures, we’ll visit some of the extraordinary resorts and hotels that once were a part of our landscape here in the Tri-Cities.

 

Creating a Birch Bark Canoe - This video offers the step-by-step process of creating a birch bark canoe.

 

Lake Michigan Lighthouses - Tour the state's lighthouses dotting Lake Michigan without leaving your seat.

 

Lighthouse History - A replica of our present day lighthouse helps us to tell the story of all of the lighthouses that have been along the shores of Lake Michigan here in Grand Haven.

 

Pioneer Farming - Using transparencies, this program takes a look at how farming was carried out prior to the invention of machinery when farm work was often done using simple machines pulled by farm animals.

 

Grand Haven Slide Program - This 17 minute slide presentation takes a look at yesterday and today in Grand Haven.

 

Snapshots of the Past - A look at our past through photographs from the turn of the 20th century.

 

The Women's Suffrage Movement in Michigan -Description

 

Lighthouse Keepers - This historic video takes a look at the lives of those that kept the light burning for the safety of mariners throughout the Great Lakes.

 

Christmas Tree Ship - The Rouse Simmons, formerly a lumber vessel owned by Hackley in Muskegon, later carried Christmas trees to Chicago. This video looks at the conditions that caused the Rouse Simmons to sink and the reaction of family and friends at the time of the incident.

 

Ludington Car Ferry - Known as the Badger, this steam vessel still plies the Great Lakes twice daily during the summer months, take a look at the beginnings of the historic vessel.

 

Akeley - Businessman, Lumberman, Ship and Girls’ School - A.C. Akeley, prominent businessman, left a lasting legacy in West Michigan. We’ll look at his business ventures, the ship he built and the school he left in memory of his daughter.

 

Ojibwa Basket Making - Native Americans have long created black ash baskets. This video chronicles harvesting of trees, stripping bark, and cutting splints to dyeing splints and weaving baskets by Upper Peninsula basket makers.

 

World War II and the Tri-Cities - Using old newspapers, we will look at the impact World War II had on this area and the sacrifices locals made for the war effort.

 

Tri-Cities and the Cold War - In the 1960s the enemy was the Soviet Union. We were involved in an arms race and a space race. What was happening in this area while these events were occurring in the world?

 

 

To schedule a program: email kgeary@tri-citiesmuseum.org or phone:616.842.0700