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Tours
The Bay County Historical Society offers a variety of guided tours offed throughout the year that highlight Bay County’s
history and community. All tours will leave from the Museum lobby. Call Sam Fitzpatrick at (989)893-5733
to reserve a ticket or purchase in the Museum store before the tour. Visit Our EVENTS page for dates and times of scheduled public tours.
 Museum Tours
Sam Fitzpatrick, Education Coordinator, will take you through
our galleries, wow you with his historic knowledge, and will answer your questions about Bay County History. Cost:
$1/ person
 City Hall Tour Tour Bay City's beautiful CITY HALL. Learn the history and climb the clock tower. Meet in the lobby
of the Bay County Historical Society's Museum.
Cost: $1/ person
 Downtown Bay City Architecture Walking Tour Today just like in Bay City's past, we have a booming
downtown. Old buildings filled with charm dot the main streets of Washington, Center and Madison Avenues. Everything that
a successful "heart'' of a city needed could be found here: drug stores, markets, clothiers, restaurants, grocers, government
offices and entertainment venues.
Local architects Pratt & Koeppe
left an architectural legacy, and were famous for constructing many of the sites to be seen on the tour. Albert Kahn of Detroit
(Fisher Building, Cadillac Place and the Belle Isle Conservatory among others) even had a hand in some designs here. Besides
beauty and splendor, the featured buildings also hold stories that shaped our city's and county's history. The tour will share
information highlighting the history and importance of these structures.
Cost: $10/person, $5 ages 12 and under
 Hell's Half Mile Walking Tour In the late 1800s at the end of the lumbering season, as many as 5000 lumberjacks (“shanty boys”)
would collect their hard-earned pay and head for a six-block strip along Bay City’s waterfront called “Hell’s
Half Mile.” There they would find a variety of gambling houses, theaters, raucous saloons and brothels, as well as tunnels
and catacombs under the city streets.
The tour will visit Water Street and the surrounding area, and explore the
history of this notorious district with stories of persons and events that helped give Hell’s Half Mile its fame.
Note: The tour will contain historical references containing graphic violence and adult subject
matter. Discretion is recommended for those taking part, particularly if children are to be included. Cost: $10/person, $5 ages 12 and under
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 Guided Bus Tour (must provide own bus)
Sam Fitzpatrick,Education
Coordinator, will accompany your bus tour and present on different historical parts of Bay City and Bay County. Cost: $15/person
 Off-Site Presentations Sam Fitzpatrick,
Education Coordinator, presents on a range of historic topics that occurred in Bay County. Pick from the list below
or contact Sam about other topics of interest. - Hell's Half Mile - Riverfront
History - Bay City's Center Avenue Cost: $100
Sign-up for the Museum's Enews! A biweekly newsletter and upcoming event notices will be sent directly to your email. Bay County Historical Society Museum
321 Washington Avenue
Bay City, MI 48708 989-893-5733
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