This historical museum is housed in two houses that were once part of a hotel. The houses are joined. A third connecting house burned in the 1980s, and was reconstructed and dedicated in 2006. The exhibits typify the history of the area and include several collections. There is a main gallery, the original house, and a schoolroom with historical artifacts from Edwardsburg Public School alumni.
The mission of the Edwardsburg Area Historical Museum is to preserve and protect the history, heritage and ancestry of the Edwardsburg area by establishing a permanent collection of artifacts, memorabilia, heirlooms and publications for public enjoyment, information, appreciation, and education.
The museum was founded in 1998 by Jo-Ann Boepple, who served as its chairman until her death on March 9, 2017. The museum house was donated to the museum by the children of the late Charles and Vera Pabreza in 2000. It covers the area within the boundaries of the Edwardsburg Public Schools as well as all of the 49112 zip code area.
There are artifact collections for the areas of churches, clubs, schools, businesses, railroads, lakes, toys, the military, and historical furniture. the museum has a digitalized inventory of its holdings with photographs.
The museum houses several historical files for not only organizations and government, but also education, individual families, photography, and property items such as plat books, abstracts, and historical books of the area and county.
The museum volunteers annually are hosts for tours of all second grade classes in the Edwardsburg Public Schools, and welcomes classes, students, and other educators by appointment. It provides four exhibits throughout the year as well as lectures and interviews with longtime residents. Its major fundraisers are the perennial plant sale the last two weeks in May, and the U.S. 12 Garage Sale the second weekend in August.
Three connecting buildings.
The museum is a private not-for-profit (501(C)(3) organization that is governed by a 11-member Board of Directors. An annual meeting, open to the public, is held every year on the first Wednesday in December
Access: General Public, Students, Scholars, Members
Appointment required: False
Educational tours, special exhibits, speakers available for organization programs. An all-volunteer staff operates the museum, and museum members serve as docents during the museum season.