Museum Hosts Ste. Claire Voyageurs

Sanilac County Historical Museum and Village is pleased to host the Lac Ste. Claire Voyageurs encampment the weekend of June 9-10, 2018 at the Sanilac County Historical Museum in Port Sanilac. For over 20 years, this group has learned, taught, and experienced the rich history of the French and Indian Fur Trade Era. 

Families are invited to come experience and learn about the rich history connected with the voyagers, Coureurs de Bois native Americans and early settlers of our Great Lakes. They will be dressing and practicing the lifestyles and skills of the Great Lakes. “Visitors can expect to have talks and demonstrations that include beeswax candle making, showing furs, rope making, cooking and much more,” according to voyageur Angele Micki Smith.

“The Sanilac County Historical Society will open up the village that day and have many of the museum buildings open and even staffed by docents,” says Gail Nartker, event chair and treasurer of Sanilac County Board of Directors. She continues, “We plan to have a blacksmith on site and children activities, making this a family friendly event.”

The event is free to the public, though donations are graciously accepted. The hours are from 10 AM to 4 PM, on Saturday and Sunday. On Sunday, June 10^th, at 3 PM, there will be the Port Sanilac Choral Concert in the museum church.

Ms. Smith goes on to say, “I have to tell you that every visitor who comes will just love to hear and see what we do.”

If you have any questions please feel free to contact the museum at 810-622-9946.

Voyageurs, Settlers and Natives Weekend

Our first two-day event of the 2018 season commences on June 9'th and 10'th with the Voyageurs, Settlers and Natives Weekend with special guests, the Ste. Claire Voyageurs.  Over a dozen voyageurs will portray, teach, and interact with visitors, explaining the rich history of the French and Indian Fur Trade era.  They dress in authentic 1700's clothing while demonstrating skills and accoutrements of that era.  One voyageur has many furs to display, along with handmade jewelry and other interesting items used during that period.  Another voyageur wife has articles that would be used in the home, and she will explain and demonstrate beeswax candle making.  There will also be outdoor cooking, rope making, and much, much more. The group loves what they do and are delighted to impart their knowledge to the visitors.

Polar Bear Expedition of 1918 Exhibited at Sanilac Museum

There is a unique exhibition coming to the Sanilac County Historic Museum & Village this year. The work to construct this exhibit is shaping up nicely under the supervision of Archivist (and Board Secretary) Shirley Schmidt's supervision, and with help from members Dick Parr and Bill Moskwa.  They are using maps, artifacts and photos of Sanilac County soldiers who were part of this expedition at the close of World War I.  This is what Shirley told me about the exhibit:

We are presenting a display regarding the WWI Battalion, 339th U.S. Infantry Regiment who were sent to the bitter cold of Siberia as part of the American Expeditionary Force to Siberia, Archangel Russia.  There were approximately 104 residents of Sanilac County who were part of this group who fought for 7 months after the war was over.  We are recognizing, honoring them with our exhibit this summer and plan to open the display on Sunday, June 4, with a free lecture featuring speaker Mike Grovvel who is President of "Detroit's Own" Polar Bear Memorial Association.  The lecture will begin at 3:00PM in The Museum Church. We are also asking that if you had a relative or knew of someone who served in this group of unsung heroes or have any objects, photos, or memorabilia that you would be willing to put on loan to enhance the display, please contact us at the Sanilac County Historical Society.  810-622-9946.