Visit the Museum
The FHA offers a variety of programs and experiences for you to enjoy:
ExhibitsTake a tour of our 10 gallery museum to learn the story of Frankenmuth and explore our temporary gallery for our latest exhibit.
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Group ProgramsWe create custom programs for groups and field trips.
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ToursTake a tour of the museum with a knowledgeable guide, or go behind-the-scenes to see the inner workings of the museum.
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See more details below!
Exhibits
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PERMANENT EXHIBITS
Tour 9 permanent galleries that tell the story of Frankenmuth's "First 15" settlers who emigrated from Germany and colonized Frankenmuth in 1845. The stories of the people of Michigan's Franconian colonies are told from 1845 to present.
Relive the journey of Frankenmuth's "First 15" settlers, discover early businesses and life in the 1800s, examine how a German-American town experienced both world wars, and get insight into Frankenmuth's rich beer and brewing history! |
NEWEST EXHIBIT
Curating Community
Historic places are more than just old brick and stone. They are the physical memory of our shared humanity. When we walk their halls or stand in their shadows, the distance between centuries vanishes. We feel the echoes of those who dreamed, struggled, and built before us. In a rapidly changing world, these spaces anchor us, whispering a powerful truth: our past gives us strength for tomorrow.
Sociologist Ray Oldenburg called them “Third Places.” If your home if your first place and your workplace is your second, the third place might be the local diner, the town hall, or the corner pharmacy. These spaces are the engines of our social lives.
However, as author Robert Putnam warned in his groundbreaking book Bowling Alone, modern society has seen a sharp decline in this “social capital.” Today, we spend less time joining clubs, gathering in public, or simply conversing with our neighbors.
This exhibit explores two iconic landmarks in Frankenmuth - Satow’s Pharmacy & Diner and Fischer Hall - to remind us of the enduring power of shared physical spaces. They were not merely buildings; they were the living rooms or our community.
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Exhibit features "See You at Satow's" mural, created by local artist Stephen Hargash.
Group Programs, Field Trips, Museum Tours & More!
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We offer programs for all ages and group sizes! We have created educational programs for school field trips, scouts, social groups, senior groups, and anything in between!
Group Programs and Field Trips are available at the museum or at the historic 1850s Wolkensdoerfer Log House. Our programs are tailored for you! Ask us about how we can tailor a program to fulfill a Scout badge requirement! We take pride in offering inclusive and accessible programming, accommodating people with disabilities and can also provide sensory-friendly programs. |
A sneak peak at our Log House programs!
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GUIDED MUSEUM TOURS
GUIDED MUSEUM TOURS
30-45 minutes
$5 per adult
$1 per student
$5 per adult
$1 per student
Immerse yourself in our 10-gallery museum while learning about the earliest German settlers to Michigan. Experience their tough voyage overseas aboard the Caroline, living life in the wilderness, and the transformation of Frankenmuth to one of Michigan’s most popular tourist attractions. Our tour guides take pride in entertaining visitors and providing visitors with all the rumors and deep insights that guests would otherwise miss.
LOG HOUSE GUIDED TOURS
LOG HOUSE GUIDED TOURS
30 minutes
$3 per student
$5 per adult
$3 per student
$5 per adult
Go inside an authentic log house and experience life in the 1850s. Inside the Wolkensdoerfer Log House, an authentic Frankenmuth artifact, visitors will learn how families lived in the 1800s. Learn more about the Log House HERE.
ALL-ACCESS GUIDED TOURS
ALL-ACCESS GUIDED TOURS
60-90 minutes
$3 per student
$7 per adult
$3 per student
$7 per adult
Go where few visitors have gone before on this All Access Tour of the Frankenmuth Historical Museum! Explore behind closed doors including our exhibit windows, our research library, and into our collection of artifacts! Learn about various topics such as artifact preservation, how museums operate, and our newest discoveries!
Pioneer Living
Pioneer Living
60-75 minutes
$7 per participant
Experience life in the mid-1800s with one of our most popular programs, Pioneer Living! This hands-on program allows visitors to compare life today to life in the 1800s. Develop an appreciation for how times have changed. Program includes a tour of the Log House, tour of the outbuildings and hands-on activities like dipping a beeswax candle, making butter or tin punching!
$7 per participant
Experience life in the mid-1800s with one of our most popular programs, Pioneer Living! This hands-on program allows visitors to compare life today to life in the 1800s. Develop an appreciation for how times have changed. Program includes a tour of the Log House, tour of the outbuildings and hands-on activities like dipping a beeswax candle, making butter or tin punching!
Thematic Tours
Thematic Tours
45-60 minutes
$1 per student
$5 per adult
Experience the Frankenmuth Historical Museum in a new and deeper way! Our thematic tours take an in-depth look at just a few artifacts or stories in the museum. Our thematic tours are designed to align more specifically with State of Michigan learning outcomes and curriculum.
Teachers! Have a theme or topic you need covered? We can do that, and you might be surprised at how versatile these tours can be! Our thematic tours are highly recommended for student groups, especially those who frequently visit the museum.
$1 per student
$5 per adult
Experience the Frankenmuth Historical Museum in a new and deeper way! Our thematic tours take an in-depth look at just a few artifacts or stories in the museum. Our thematic tours are designed to align more specifically with State of Michigan learning outcomes and curriculum.
Teachers! Have a theme or topic you need covered? We can do that, and you might be surprised at how versatile these tours can be! Our thematic tours are highly recommended for student groups, especially those who frequently visit the museum.
Examples of Thematic Tours
Women in History
Identity
Heritage
Photography
Art
Service
Gender Roles
Consumer Culture
Becoming Little Bavaria
Interpreting History
People, Things, or Places of the Past
Everyday Objects
Routines & Rituals
Sensory Sensations
Immigration
Language
So You Want to be a Historian?
Food
Music
How It's Made
Signs & Symbols
Sounds
Global to Local
Faith
Women in History
Identity
Heritage
Photography
Art
Service
Gender Roles
Consumer Culture
Becoming Little Bavaria
Interpreting History
People, Things, or Places of the Past
Everyday Objects
Routines & Rituals
Sensory Sensations
Immigration
Language
So You Want to be a Historian?
Food
Music
How It's Made
Signs & Symbols
Sounds
Global to Local
Faith
Outreach Programs
Outreach Programs
Teachers, this is for you! Our outreach programs are designed to meet your curriculum needs, and we can tailor a program to your needs! Let us help you by bringing an interactive lesson into your classroom! Contact us to discuss our Outreach programs!
Booking & Resources
Please book your program at least 2 weeks in advance. Tour groups who do not arrive within 15 minutes after their scheduled time are subject to cancellation.
To book a program or event, please contact our Events and Education Coordinator
[email protected] or call 989-652-9701 ext. 4.
To book a program or event, please contact our Events and Education Coordinator
[email protected] or call 989-652-9701 ext. 4.
