What day is tomorrow? It's FREE DAY. That's right, any Sanilac County resident can visit and tour the museum for free tomorrow, Sunday, June 8th, from Noon til 4 PM. All buildings will be open and volunteers will be there to answer questions.

(If you aren't from Sanilac County, tell them you're a friend of Dr. Loop, and you'll get in free too!)

2014 Calendar of Events

The Museum is now open for the season.  Hours until the end of September are Wednesday thru Sunday, 11 AM until 5 PM.  Tours may be arranged for at other times by contacting the museum.  You can find a full events calendar at our website.  

If you would like to visit the grounds when we are closed, or off season, you may download an audio walking tour in MP3 format here.

Sanilac County Historical Society

“VOLUNTEERS AREN’T PAID,

NOT BECAUSE THEY ARE WORTHLESS,

BUT BECAUSE THEY ARE PRICELESS!”

Volunteers are the lifeblood of our society.  Without them, nothing good happens.  We want to encourage more volunteers and make it a better, more meaningful experience.  The education committee has developed a series of 3 programs to assist in this by providing information as well as seeking suggestions and input in ways to do an even better job of fulfilling our mission.   Whether you’ve volunteered for years or have yet to try it, we think these programs will be well worth your time whether you attend one, two or all three.  Each session will include a general session, informational sessions on different buildings and artifacts plus lunch with questions and answers.  You’ll get a tour including places the public doesn’t see, an opportunity to ask questions and make suggestions plus socialize over lunch.  Our board feels you are so important they are providing this at no cost.  Classes are limited to 20 people each and preregistration is required.  All classes are on Saturdays from 9am to noon at the Historic Village and are open to members and non-members.  Here is the schedule.

Saturday April 26^th.  The Barn (theater),  General Store, Dairy Museum, Carriage Barn, the Nature Trail, Banner Log Cabin and Barn, Huckins One Room School and lunch with Q & A.

Saturday May 3^rd.  The Forestville Church, Hound Town Cabin, Hunting and Fishing Cabin, Lakeshore Cabin, Deckerville Train Depot, the Blacksmith Shop, Hearse Shed, Privy, a history of the village and lunch with Q & A.

Saturday May 10^th.    This session is devoted to our crown Jewel, the Loop/Harrison Mansion including information on all 3 floors, construction and architecture, current concerns, structural challenges, the grounds, information on the various displays and thousands of stored artifacts and documents.

To get more information or register, call the museum at 810 622-9946 or

Gil Orris at 810 543-1791.  We guarantee you will learn something new. 

See you there.

George Lawson and Gil Orris, Your education committee.

Civil War Days 2014

This year Civil War Days will be celebrated on Saturday, August 2nd and Sunday, August 3rd.

Our festivities take place on the grounds of the Sanilac County Historic Village & Museum, amidst vintage buildings that provide the perfect setting.

Encampments, skirmishes, artillery, notable persons -- we have it all!

We also feature music, a Grand Ball and a vintage church service.


Our full schedule of events will be posted in a future update

Make plans to join us as we continue to mark the sesquicentennial of the Civil War.



To view an article about previous Civil War Days at The Museum, complete with photo illustrations, please visit Passion for the Past.

 While visiting Port Sanilac for Civil War Days you may also wish to take in a free    musical performance at Harbor Park because The East Ports Blues Festival will be  celebrated the same weekend.  You can find more information at their event page  on Facebook.

2014 Home Dinner Series

The Sanilac Historical Society would like to announce their 2014 lineup for fund raising home dinner parties.

The theme for this years series is "Historical Eras."

The cost of dinners is $45 per person, $40 if you are a Historical Society member.  All dinners begin at 6:00 PM



April 26th The Lexington Brewery and Wine House is hosting a dinner themed, "Prohibition."

May 17th Nancy Passfield will host a dinner themed, "Flower Power."

June 14th John and Rachel Hoffmann will host a dinner themed, "New Nation."

August 23rd Utz and Shirley Schmidt will host a dinner themed, "New Millennium."

September 13th Dave and Anne Tenniswood will host a dinner themed, "Roaring Twenties."

October 11th Ronald and Ann Erickson will host a dinner themed "Wagons to the West."

Reservations are confirmed upon receipt of your check.

You may mail checks to Sanilac County Museum, PO Box 158, Port Sanilac, MI  48469

For questions you may check with the museum online using their contact form,
or phone the museum at 810-622-9946

Cadillac Phoenix Blues Band plays The Museum Church

May 18, 2014, Sunday 3:00 PM in the Museum Church

The Cadillac Phoenix Blues Band is back, also after a World North American. Michigan(?) or someplace tour, with Dale Ryeinhart on Harmonica, Terry Conklin on Drums, Clare Frederick on Bass and Gary Frederick on Guitar.  All are from the Thumb.  All are long time music veterans with long extensive backgrounds, each bringing their own style to the mix.

The Band plays a mixture of electric blues ranging from early Fleetwood Mac, Eric Clapton, ZZ Top etc.  They mix Chicago style blues with Texas blues as well as some blues rock thrown in.

The Band is playing this concert as a benefit with all proceeds going to the Museum, so your attendance will be entertaining, interesting and an extra help to the Museum.

Tickets $10, Students $5, under 12 free

Kitty Donohoe Performing at The Museum Church

April 13, 2014, Sunday 3:00 PM in the Museum Church

Based in Ann Arbor, Michigan Emmy recipient Kitty Donohoe draws from her Irish heritage as well as her American roots in her music, which is rich, earthy and compelling, making good use of her gifts for storytelling, her love of language, and her ear for melody.

“Kitty Donohoe is a true treasure – a rare songwriter with tremendous range, a beautiful voice and an ability to write haunting, melodic and literate songs. She deserves a wider audience.” All Music Guide

Rich Warren of WFMT Chicago has included Kitty on his list of the ’50 most significant songwriters in the last 50 years.’

Tickets $10, Students $5, under 12 free