Email
Phone
517-522-8324
Manager
Scott Gerych
Website
Hours
Wed, Sat. and Sunday - 11:00 to 5:00.
Michigan Military Heritage Museum formed to create a museum to tell the stories of Michigan veterans through the development of dynamic and informative exhibits. We have prepared an 18th century British cannon on extended loan from the Detroit Historical Society for exhibit. Locally donated burr oak was used to build an authenically reproduced carriage for this cannon which was rescued from the Detroit River in the 1990s. Also underway is a project to replicate a World War I ambulance, using a 1917 Model T body with a wooden bed, just as those used in that war.
In November, 2016, our Michigan Military Heritage Museum (Part of the Grass Lake Historical Society) was opened in a newly erected building at 153 N. Union St, Grass Lake. Directly south on Mt. Hope Road from I-94 exit 150, this location is ideally situated for visitors seeking our new facility. By the end of 2016, we'd had over 600 visitors from over 40 cities and 14 states. Each week brings exciting changes to this fantastic new museum.
In May of 1861, just after the shelling of Fort Sumter, President Abraham Lincoln called for troops to protect Washington D.C. situated between the border and arguably pro-southern state of Maryland, and Virginia. When the first troops arrived President Lincoln was heard to exclaim “Thank God for Michigan!” For four more bloody years our troops would fight to preserve the union, even capturing confederate President Jefferson Davis. That story and many more are why we have created the Michigan Military Heritage Museum.
From the earliest settlements at Sault Ste. Marie and Detroit, our state was garrisoned by troops from France, England, and even Spain. Forts were built, ships sailed the Great Lakes and battles were fought. Later on, the call to preserve the union was answered, then General Custer, with roots in Monroe, set off to fight in the Indian Wars. All of the Michigan National Guard was called upon to serve in the Spanish-American War, then more Forts as WWI-WWII approached. We became the “arsenal of democracy” producing more then 1/3 of all war material in WWII. This was followed by Korea, Vietnam, Grenada, Panama, Desert Storm, OEF/OIF and throughout, the Cold War.
Our mission is to tell the stories of our State's service members through interpretive displays of artifacts, pictures, and written and oral histories. Michigan currently has two aviation museums, and a museum dedicated to Medal of Honor Recipients and Astronauts, but nothing for the average service member who sacrificed and endured so much for our freedoms. We will be that institution.
We chose Grass Lake as it housed more than 1000 German prisoners in WWII at Camp Waterloo. It is centrally located on the I-94 Chicago-Detroit corridor which in and of itself began as a military highway connecting Willow Run with Detroit in WWII. Michigan, as one of the new world’s oldest settlements, has a vast history, the stories are extraordinary, and sacrifices innumerable. Please take time to visit and support this effort so that those deeds will not go forgotten.
On November 4, 2016, our new museum was opened with a community preview. We now are open for visitors weekly on Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday from 11:00 to 5:00. Our location at 153 N. Union Street is convenient for all coming into the Village of Grass Lake from exit 150 on I-94. Coming south on Mt. Hope Road, you will see the new museum at the first drive on the left (east) after crossing the railroad tracks. We look forward to welcoming you!
While the Michigan Military Heritage Museum carries some W.Britain figures it does not stock an in-depth range of W.Britain, Hudson & Allen or Art of Don Troiani they are very willing to order anything you need and all profits from these sales helps fund this worthwhile non-profit.
