4 HSM Chronicle I n the late 19th century, the federal government instituted a policy to have the architecture of federal buildings reflect the heritage of the communities in which they were located. As a result, the United States Post Office in Saginaw was modeled after the French Renaissance Revival architecture in honor of the early French settlers of the Saginaw Valley. Dedicated on July 3, 1898, the distinctive downtown building quickly became a cherished local landmark. It was enlarged and renovated in 1937 and remained in use until the 1970s. A public outcry over its possible demolition on two separate occasions led to its transfer to the county of Saginaw, and it has served as the home of the Castle Museum of Saginaw County History since 1979. Commonly known as the Castle Museum and listed on the National Register of Historic Places, it is one of the most iconic and recognizable structures in Saginaw County. The museum— supported by a countywide millage, donations, memberships, and admission fees—employs nine full-time and five part-time employ- ees, and it plays host more than 18,000 visitors every year. In ad- dition, more than 600 individuals and families are members of the Historical Society of Saginaw County, which is the governing body for the Castle Museum of Saginaw County History. Inside, the Castle Museum boasts a variety of permanent, temporary, and traveling exhibits. Permanent exhibits include displays on lumbering, archaeology, automotive manufacturing, and model railroads. Traveling and temporary exhibitions have included Native American artifacts, oil wells, coal mining, local circus performers, and vintage wedding gowns. The Castle Museum is more than just a place where people can see old things. An on-staff archaeologist conducts archaeological excavations during the summer months and processes his discov- eries during the winter. Many of those artifacts are then put on display so people can learn about those who inhabited the land years ago. At least 100 people regularly volunteer their time and expertise to the Castle Museum and some come from as far away as Tra- verse City and Port Huron. Volunteers help with exhibits, paint walls, process artifacts, assemble shelves, staff the museum store, landscape the grounds, and much more. Besides having one of the more recognizable buildings in the county, the Castle Museum also has one of the most familiar trucks on the road. It’s called History on the Move, a mobile museum and classroom that made its debut in the spring of 2010. Targeting children in grades one through five, History on the Move was developed to take the museum experience to schools, many of which can no longer afford to take their students on The Castle Museum of Saginaw County History Member Spotlight Mission Statement: “The Historical Society of Saginaw County is committed to serve the community by telling the continuing story of the people of the Saginaw region through exploration, preservation and presentation of their historical and cultural heritage.” Constructed as a post office and dedicated in 1898, this French Renaissance Revival building has been home to the Castle Museum of Saginaw County History since 1977.
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4 HSM Chronicle
In the late 19th century, the federal government instituted a policy to have the architecture of federal buildings reflect the heritage of the communities in which they were located. As a
result, the United States Post Office in Saginaw was modeled after the French Renaissance Revival architecture in honor of the early French settlers of the Saginaw Valley.
Dedicated on July 3, 1898, the distinctive downtown building quickly became a cherished local landmark. It was enlarged and renovated in 1937 and remained in use until the 1970s. A public outcry over its possible demolition on two separate occasions led to its transfer to the county of Saginaw, and it has served as the home of the Castle Museum of Saginaw County History since 1979.
Commonly known as the Castle Museum and listed on the National Register of Historic Places, it is one of the most iconic and recognizable structures in Saginaw County. The museum— supported by a countywide millage, donations, memberships, and admission fees—employs nine full-time and five part-time employ-ees, and it plays host more than 18,000 visitors every year. In ad-dition, more than 600 individuals and families are members of the Historical Society of Saginaw County, which is the governing body for the Castle Museum of Saginaw County History.
Inside, the Castle Museum boasts a variety of permanent, temporary, and traveling exhibits. Permanent exhibits include displays on lumbering, archaeology, automotive manufacturing, and model railroads. Traveling and temporary exhibitions have
included Native American artifacts, oil wells, coal mining, local circus performers, and vintage wedding gowns.
The Castle Museum is more than just a place where people can see old things. An on-staff archaeologist conducts archaeological excavations during the summer months and processes his discov-eries during the winter. Many of those artifacts are then put on display so people can learn about those who inhabited the land years ago.
At least 100 people regularly volunteer their time and expertise to the Castle Museum and some come from as far away as Tra-verse City and Port Huron. Volunteers help with exhibits, paint walls, process artifacts, assemble shelves, staff the museum store, landscape the grounds, and much more.
Besides having one of the more recognizable buildings in the county, the Castle Museum also has one of the most familiar trucks on the road. It’s called History on the Move, a mobile museum and classroom that made its debut in the spring of 2010. Targeting children in grades one through five, History on the Move was developed to take the museum experience to schools, many of which can no longer afford to take their students on
The Castle Museum of Saginaw County HistoryMember Spotlight
Mission Statement:
“The Historical Society of Saginaw County is committed to serve the community by telling the continuing story of the people of the Saginaw region through exploration, preservation and presentation of their historical and cultural heritage.”
Constructed as a post office and dedicated in 1898, this French Renaissance Revival building has been home to the Castle Museum of Saginaw County History since 1977.
HSM Chronicle 5
field trips. The truck is scheduled, free of charge, to any school in Saginaw County that requests a visit. Upon boarding the truck, students are taught about the early lumbering days of the region. The children also engage in hands-on activities to help them gain a better understanding of this important piece of Saginaw and Michigan history. History on the Move is regularly requested to be in parades, festivals, and special events in the county, and the program was recently bestowed a State History Award by the Historical Society of Michigan.
Special programming, museum and neighborhood tours, and activities round out the agenda at the Castle Museum. The Tuesday Lunch and Learn lectures have attracted as many as 100 people who show up to hear an author, historian, or exhibit cura-tor share their knowledge.
The two most historically important artifacts at the Castle Museum are the most obvious ones: the Castle building itself and the 1914 Saginaw Cyclecar, built entirely in Saginaw and on prominent display in the lobby. It’s likely that the car had visited the museum before—way back in the days when its owner had business to conduct at the United States Post Office in Saginaw.
The Castle Museum is located at 500 Federal Avenue in Sagi-naw. To learn more about the Castle Museum of Saginaw County History, visit www.castlemuseum.org or call (989) 752-2861.
Submitted by Ken Santa.
Top: History on the Move is an award-winning mobile classroom and lumbering exhibit that visits schools throughout Saginaw County. Left: On display at the museum is a 1914 Cycle Car, which may be the only complete version of the vehicle still in existence. Bottom left: After being found in a cornfield in Northern Michigan in 2006, this Lady Justice statue—which once sat atop of the Saginaw County Courthouse— was donated to the Castle Museum in hopes of being restored. Unfortunately, the condition is too fragile to do so. Bottom right: Archaeology volunteers excavate at the Clunie Site— a Native American habitation site dating to the Late Prehistoric time period— located along the Tittabawassee River in the Shiawassee National Wildlife Refuge.
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