Our Harbor, Our Heritage: A Four-Part Exploration of Local History

Join curator Beth Wemigwase for a four-part journey through the history of Harbor Springs, beginning with glaciers and early communities and continuing through centuries of change and growth. These programs explore how land, people, and tradition have shaped the harbor we know today.

Guests can register for any of the four presentations seperately or register for all four sessions at a discount. All lectures will be online via Zoom at 7 pm EST and will be recorded. Guests must register to receive the Zoom link.
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Jan. 15, 2026 - 7 pm
Part 1: Formed by Ice, Shaped by Community: Little Traverse Bay’s First Stories
This program opens the series by looking at how Little Traverse Bay was shaped—first by glaciers, and later by the people who have lived along its shores for generations. We’ll explore how the Great Lakes were formed, why Petoskey stones and fossils are found here, and how the landscape influenced daily life. The program then turns to the Anishinaabek and their long connection to this place. We’ll talk about early trade networks, first encounters with the French, and life around the Straits of Mackinac, using maps, images, and artwork to bring these early stories to life.

Jan. 29, 2026 - 7 pm
Part 2: Settlement, War, and Change: Little Traverse Bay, 1742–1855
Part Two focuses on a time of challenge and change for the Odawa community at Little Traverse Bay. Beginning with the move to Middle Village (Good Hart) in 1742, the program looks at how the Odawa defended their homeland during the War of 1812 and adapted to growing American pressure. We’ll also explore the beginnings of Harbor Springs in 1829 as an Odawa settlement, the role of Catholic missions, and how treaties reshaped life in the region. The program highlights Odawa service in the Civil War, including Company K, and closes with the early days of the lumber industry, setting the stage for major changes to come.

Feb. 12, 2026 - 7 pm
Part 3: Timber, Steamships, and a Harbor Transformed
This program looks at how Harbor Springs changed after the Civil War as lumber interests, steamships, and new ideas connected the area to the rest of the country. We’ll explore how the lumber boom reshaped the landscape, affected land ownership, and brought different cultures into contact — sometimes cooperatively, sometimes contentiously. The session also tells the story of Harbor Springs becoming a resort destination, drawing early vacationers who were part of the “back to nature” movement of the Victorian era. We’ll touch on World War I and the Spanish Influenza pandemic, and consider how our residents navigated a rapidly changing town.

Feb. 26, 2026 - 7 pm
Part 4: Roaring into the 20th Century: Harbor Springs from 1920 to Today
The final program in this series brings the story into the 20th century and connects it to the Harbor Springs we know today. We’ll look at Prohibition-era nightlife, the temperance movement, and women’s suffrage, followed by the challenges of the Great Depression and the creative work supported by New Deal programs. From there, the program moves through World War II and into the postwar decades. We’ll explore the rise of ski resorts, the growth of local businesses, and the beginnings of events and traditions — like holiday celebrations and parades — that remain part of community life today.