Bringing History to Life Campaign

We Met the Goal—and the Work Continues

The campaign is complete, but ongoing support is essential to sustain our museums, exhibits, and historic buildings.

We are proud to share that the Harbor Springs Area Historical Society has successfully completed its comprehensive campaign—exceeding our goal by raising $3.4 million. This extraordinary achievement reflects 100% trustee and campaign cabinet participation and the generosity of more than 270 individual donors who believe deeply in preserving and activating Harbor Springs’ history.

These investments have already made a visible impact. We have completed critical structural and systems upgrades to the Ephraim Shay House, laying the foundation for its transformation into a dynamic educational space and museum of innovation. This work is a major step forward in establishing a connected historical corridor that strengthens our community and honors its industrial and cultural legacy.

Professional exhibit designers are now developing interpretive storylines and interactive displays that highlight the importance of **STEAM—science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics—**to economic and societal progress, both historically and today, with Harbor Springs as the lens.

While the comprehensive campaign is complete, our work is not. Continued investment is needed at the History Museum—inside and out—to develop compelling new exhibits and address ongoing preservation needs, including painting, wood siding replacement, and other essential repairs that come with stewarding historic structures.

Your support ensures that these buildings are not only preserved, but actively used as places of learning, discovery, and community connection—for today and for generations to come.

Ways to Make Your Gift

• Outright gifts of cash, securities (stocks and bonds), business interests, or property

• Multi-year pledges (email Executive Director Kristyn@HarborSpringsHistory.org, call 231-526-9771, or include your pledge schedule with your donation)

• IRA rollovers

• Estate gifts, including income-generating gifts or those realized after death

• Bequests or beneficiary designations

• Life insurance gifts (policy or beneficiary designation)

• Charitable remainder trusts

• Charitable gift annuities

Contributions to the Harbor Springs Area Historical Society, an educational nonprofit organization, are tax deductible to the extent allowed by law.