Virtual Exhibits

Welcome to the Historical Museum's virtual exhibits! The visual platform allows visitors to explore topics and Museum exhibits relating to Bay County and its history from your desktop or smart phone. Additional exhibits will continue to be added. To open, click on the photo with each exhibit.

Bay County, Michigan's Black History

The Bay County Historical Museum is proud to release our latest virtual exhibit in honor of Black history. This exhibit will showcase the Black community throughout Bay County’s past and present. It is an ongoing exhibit and will be updated continuously, as new information becomes available. If any of our Black community members have anything they would like to contribute, please contact the museum.

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Les Staudacher

Based in Kawkawlin, Les Staudacher was an internationally known thunderboat builder with a need for speed on the water. This virtual exhibit will showcase photos, videos, and informative texts about Staudacher and his thunderboats.

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Map of Bay County Townships

Click on the links on the right to learn more about the history of the various townships and communities of Bay County.

The Chanticleer

Hull # 404, the M/V Chanticleer, registration number 251878, was the first of six Defoe “Cruisemaster” class yachts launched in 1947 and 1948. This class is an updated version of the Harry J. Defoe designed Blue Boat built in 1938.

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The 1914 Ambulance

The 2nd Michigan Ambulance Company was formed in 1904. By 1910, they were stationed in this very building which served as the Bay City National Guard Armory between that year and 1986. In those early days, the Bay City troops trained in the summers at Camp Grayling. 5 ambulances of this type were used by the company, along with a few motorcycles and 12 mule-drawn ambulances.

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Bay County Cities & Townships:

Kawkawlin & Kawkawlin Township