Featured Exhibits
The term “North Berrien” refers to the northern section of Berrien County, Michigan. This includes the townships of Bainbridge, Coloma, Hagar, and Watervliet, as well as the cities of Coloma and Watervliet, and the towns of Millburg, Riverside, and Lake Michigan Beach. Paw Paw Lake, southwest Michigan’s largest inland lake, is also located in North Berrien.
2022 Featured Exhibit
Each month from April through September the Museum will highlight four rural schools from the northern Berrien County region. By sharing the information that is preserved at the Museum, the staff hopes to gain additional information about each of the schools, identify more images, and learn and record your school memories!
For additional information please call (269) 468-3330.
SAVE THE DATE: July 2023 All Rural School Reunion
Main Gallery
Featuring a variety of topics, the Main Gallery covers nearly 10,000 years of local history! Topics are currently include:
Native American & Potawatomi
Early North Berrien Settlers
Rural & Public Schools
Paw Paw Lake & Resort History
Watervliet Paper Mill & Local Industries
from forest to fruit belt
The permanent exhibition “Moving from Forest to Fruit Belt” will convey how both lumbering and agriculture were closely related to transportation developments in the history of Southwest Michigan. By explicitly linking these topics, visitors will gain a dynamic appreciation for how the local environment has been shaped over time.
The Lumber Years
Pioneering Farmers
The Fruit Belt Blossoms
SW Michigan Crate, Basket, & Veneer machinery Collection
Michigan has had a stable agricultural economy for over a century. In more recent years, it has accounted for about 22% of the state’s employment and grossed $101.2 billion annually according to the Department of Agriculture & Rural Agriculture. These impressive numbers did not come over night. Many industries had to be involved and succeed in order to make Michigan into the agricultural state it is today.