Storytellers: Victorian Valentine's Day
Take a front-row seat on a journey through the past! This series offers new and unexpected adventures in every episode.
TCHM is throwing a party like it’s 1889! Get dressed up and come to the Tri-Cities Historical Museum to celebrate a Victorian Valentine’s Day with your favorite sweetie. Learn and play parlor games, make your own 19th-century valentines, and enjoy a Victorian-era tea-time spread. This program is family-friendly, ideal for parent and child, grandparent and grandchild, or even a gathering of your best ‘gal’-entines!
February 14, 2026 | 1 - 3 pm
14 and under are free!
Annual New Member Drive
Are you a Tri-Cities resident? Have you visited the Museum in the past but never joined? Now's the time!
Being a member of Tri-Cities Historical Museum brings you up close and personal with local history...whether you have a young a family, a local business, or are an educator or a retiree! Your member adventure can begin today! Join us!
Every Museum member receives our River Winds publication, and is invited to join our Board members, Curators, and special guests for private opening receptions of our annual Centennial Hall and Small Gallery exhibits. Members also have the opportunity to tour our Community Archive and Research Center for a fascinating look at the collection; you’ll be amazed at the stories of the Tri-Cities!
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Ice Cream Social at 1223 Engine
Happy 100th Birthday to the Coal Tipple!
August 21, 2025 6 - 8 pm
Get up close and personal with the historic 1223 Engine and celebrate the 100th birthday of the Coal Tipple. Enjoy FREE ice cream, games, and train tours. A family-friendly event for locomotive aficionados and ice cream connoisseurs!
Annual Meeting + Awards
November 18
6:00 - 6:30 pm Member Business
6:30 - 8:00 pm Annual Awards + Open House
Murder! at the Museum
October 8, 2026 6 - 9 pm
A body is discovered in the Museum...and you're on the case! Bring your team of two, four, or six friends to identify suspects, conduct interviews, and put together clues to solve the mystery!
This evening of diabolical intentions and shady backstories includes dinner, drink, and dessert, prizes for the top sleuths, and a chance to explore the Museum in a whole new way.
The stage will be set as you arrive for the wedding reception of local high-school sweethearts who have brought together family and friends to celebrate. Arrive dressed as a wedding guest, and get ready to experience the twists and turns of the evening as the drama unfolds!
Walking Tours
Register for Grand Haven tours through Loutit District Library. Register for Spring Lake tours through Spring Lake District Library.
Historic Tavern Tour
Raise a glass!
Jeanette Weiden, Head of Local History and Genealogy with Ellen Paulin, Education Curator at Tri-Cities Historical Museum
Embark on a spirited journey through time with our Historic Tavern Tour, where the echoes of laughter, clinking glasses, and the lively tales of yesteryear fill the air. Explore the charming taverns of Grand Haven that have witnessed centuries of local history. Participants will have time to purchase their beverage of choice to enjoy during the tour.
5/15/26, 7:00 PM
90
minutes
Tour Start
Brass River at Lynne Sherwood Waterfront Stadium
1 S Harbor Dr, Grand Haven, MI 49417, USA
History & Mystery
The Unsettling Details of Local History
Jeanette Weiden, Head of Local History and Genealogy, Loutit District Library
Get the inside scoop on notorious true crime cases and eerie alleged hauntings in our community.
6/4/26, 2:00 PM
90
minutes
Tour Start
Brass River at Lynne Sherwood Waterfront Stadium
1 S Harbor Dr, Grand Haven, MI 49417, USA
The Great Fire of 1893
Spring Lake's Worst Fire
Ellen Paulin, Education Curator, Tri-Cities Historical Museum
This fire spread from the Grand River on the south side of Spring Lake, and traveled north along Buchanan. This devastating fire destroyed over sixty homes, as well as churches, schools, businesses, and Spring Lake’s town hall. Join us as we follow the approximate path of the disaster, and discuss the challenges of fighting fires in the 1800s.
6/9/26, 10:00 PM
60
minutes
Tour Start
Spring Lake District Library
123 E Exchange St, Spring Lake, MI 49456, USA
Washington Avenue History 101
Walk through time along Washington Avenue
Ellen Paulin, Education Curator, Tri-Cities Historical Museum
Travel back in time and see historic photographs of downtown from the Museum’s collection.
6/18/26, 2:00 PM
60
minutes
Tour Start
Brass River at Lynne Sherwood Waterfront Stadium
1 S Harbor Dr, Grand Haven, MI 49417, USA
Grand Haven's Historic Boardwalk
Journey through Time and Tides
Jeanette Weiden, Head of Local History and Genealogy, Loutit District Library
Embark on a picturesque journey along the enchanting boardwalk of Grand Haven, where the echoes of maritime history, bustling harbor life, and lighthouse beams converge. The "Grand Haven Historic Boardwalk" tour is more than a walk; it's an immersive experience into the soul of a maritime community. Learn about our community’s connection with the U.S. Coast Guard, the construction of the pier and lighthouse and tales centered around the harbor.
7/2/26, 2:00 PM
60
minutes
Tour Start
Brass River at Lynne Sherwood Waterfront Stadium
1 S Harbor Dr, Grand Haven, MI 49417, USA
Historic Tavern Tour
Raise a glass!
Jeanette Weiden, Head of Local History and Genealogy with Ellen Paulin, Education Curator at Tri-Cities Historical Museum
Embark on a spirited journey through time with our Historic Tavern Tour, where the echoes of laughter, clinking glasses, and the lively tales of yesteryear fill the air. Explore the charming taverns of Grand Haven that have witnessed centuries of local history. Participants will have time to purchase their beverage of choice to enjoy during the tour.
7/10/26, 4:00 PM
90
minutes
Tour Start
Brass River at Lynne Sherwood Waterfront Stadium
1 S Harbor Dr, Grand Haven, MI 49417, USA
Maritime Marvels of the Tri-Cities
Stories In, On, and Around the Water
Ellen Paulin, Education Curator, Tri-Cities Historical Museum
Did you know that Grand Haven was once a popular port for shipping on the Great Lakes? Enjoy a stroll along the Grand River to learn the maritime history that has shaped the community, complete with historic images from the collection of the Tri-Cities Historical Museum.
7/16/26, 2:00 PM
60
minutes
Tour Start
Brass River at Lynne Sherwood Waterfront Stadium
1 S Harbor Dr, Grand Haven, MI 49417, USA
The Great Fire of 1893
Spring Lake's Worst Fire
Ellen Paulin, Education Curator, Tri-Cities Historical Museum
This fire spread from the Grand River on the south side of Spring Lake, and traveled north along Buchanan. This devastating fire destroyed over sixty homes, as well as churches, schools, businesses, and Spring Lake’s town hall. Join us as we follow the approximate path of the disaster, and discuss the challenges of fighting fires in the 1800s.
7/29/26, 2:00 PM
60
minutes
Tour Start
Spring Lake District Library
123 E Exchange St, Spring Lake, MI 49456, USA
Guardians of the Lakes
Grand Haven Coast Guard History
Jeanette Weiden, Head of Local History and Genealogy, Loutit District Library
Step into the shoes of the brave men and women who have served as the Guardians of the Lakes. Take a captivating walk that will explore From maritime emergencies to the rich maritime heritage, this tour is a tribute to the enduring legacy of the U.S. Coast Guard in Grand Haven's history.
8/6/26, 2:00 PM
90
minutes
Tour Start
Brass River at Lynne Sherwood Waterfront Stadium
1 S Harbor Dr, Grand Haven, MI 49417, USA
Ablaze!
How Fires Shaped Grand Haven History
Ellen Paulin, Education Curator, Tri-Cities Historical Museum
Did you know that fire has shaped much of Grand Haven’s history? It’s played a large part in how the downtown area was developed and looks today. Join Ellen Paulin from TCHM as she talks about notable Grand Haven fires throughout its history. See how firefighting has evolved, as well as the challenges that come with fighting fires in the past.
8/20/26, 2:00 PM
60
minutes
Tour Start
Brass River at Lynne Sherwood Waterfront Stadium
1 S Harbor Dr, Grand Haven, MI 49417, USA
Shadows in the Streets
Grand Haven's Darker Side
Jeanette Weiden, Head of Local History and Genealogy, Loutit District Library
Peel back the layers of history as we shine a spotlight on the dark and mysterious tales of murder, bank robbery, and theft that echo through our landscape. This immersive walking tour is a captivating blend of history and true crime.
9/3/26, 2:00 PM
60
minutes
Tour Start
Brass River at Lynne Sherwood Waterfront Stadium
1 S Harbor Dr, Grand Haven, MI 49417, USA
Historic Tavern Tour
Raise a glass!
Jeanette Weiden, Head of Local History and Genealogy with Ellen Paulin, Education Curator at Tri-Cities Historical Museum
Embark on a spirited journey through time with our Historic Tavern Tour, where the echoes of laughter, clinking glasses, and the lively tales of yesteryear fill the air. Explore the charming taverns of Grand Haven that have witnessed centuries of local history. Participants will have time to purchase their beverage of choice to enjoy during the tour.
9/11/26, 7:00 PM
90
minutes
Tour Start
Brass River at Lynne Sherwood Waterfront Stadium
1 S Harbor Dr, Grand Haven, MI 49417, USA
Downtown Odds 'n' Ends
Like a good junk drawer: full of surprises!
Ellen Paulin, Education Curator, Tri-Cities Historical Museum
We took fun stories from Grand Haven's history that didn't fit into our other walking tours and gave them a home in this one! Enjoy these random and unexpected stories that make up part of Grand Haven’s history.
9/17/26, 4:00 PM
60
minutes
Tour Start
Brass River at Lynne Sherwood Waterfront Stadium
1 S Harbor Dr, Grand Haven, MI 49417, USA
Relive Local Moments
Take a look back with us at some of our recent events! If you missed these, be sure to sign up for our Museum News to stay in the loop.
Victorian Wedding Breakfast at the Lilley Mansion
In June, the Museum partnered with the Lilley Mansion to recreate the excitement surrounding a young Victorian bride on the most important day of her life, in a home decked out for the occasion and offering the culinary delights of the era.
Events Calendar
Looking for your favorite annual event?
Haunted Museum
October 24, 2026 | 10:00 am – 2:00 pm
200 Washington Ave, Grand Haven, MI 49417
Holly Jolly Family Day
December 5, 2026 | 3:00 – 6:00 pm
200 Washington Ave, Grand Haven, MI 49417
Come on in...
Admission is free!
Regular Hours
(Labor Day to Memorial Day)
Monday:
Tuesday:
Wednesday:
Thursday:
Friday:
Saturday:
Sunday:
closed
10-5
10-5
10-5
10-5
12-5
12-5
Extended Summer Hours
(Memorial Day to Labor Day)
Monday:
Tuesday:
Wednesday:
Thursday:
Friday:
Saturday:
Sunday:
closed
10-8
10-8
10-8
10-8
12-8
12-5