History inspires our present
The Leelanau Historical Society inspires people to explore the past, understand the present, and envision the future of the diverse cultures in the Leelanau Peninsula and its islands.
The Society’s new exhibit, Life on North Manitou Island uses photos, maps, documents and oral histories to present a picture of the diverse aspects of life on the island from 1895-1930. This new exhibit will complement our shipwreck exhibit and take the viewer back to the era when North Manitou was not just a wilderness, but also a vibrant agricultural and logging community as well as a summer resort!
Our ongoing exhibit, Shipwrecks of the Manitou Passage: Loss and Legacy, brings the stories of several major shipwrecks to life and links events and circumstances that surround them to modern times. Viewers go beneath the waves to see the work of divers and archeaologists, and to share in many secrets of the past.
Our permanent Anishnabek Basket and Quillwork Room features the Society's signature collection of black ash baskets and quillwork on birch bark, primarily the work of Leelanau Peninsula's Odawa artists.
The Leelanau Historical Society Museum is located at 203 East Cedar Street in Leland, Michigan, on the banks of the Leland River, two blocks from historic Fishtown and Lake Michigan. Regular Museum Hours: Wednesday through Friday from 10am-4pm and Saturdays from 10am-2pm.
We welcome researchers to the Society's extensive archive, which includes photographs, letters, manuscripts, government documents, and newspapers. The Society also has significant collections of objects that represent the diverse cultures of Leelanau, including a comprehensive collection of Anishnabek traditional arts. Open by appointment, please call 231-256-7475.
Mailing address: PO Box 246, Leland, MI 49654