Jackson County
FREE MUSEUM DAY
Museums in Jackson County, Michigan welcome visitors to experience all there is to offer at their locations; featuring free admission on Saturday, May 10, 2025 from 10 am until 4 pm at each location.
Participating museums will host “open-house style” receptions and tours, alongside child-friendly activities, demonstrations and more during the event.
Intentionally planned on Mother’s Day weekend, it is a great opportunity for families to get together and experience Jackson County’s art, history, transportation and more!
Each museum will also host their own unique prize basket drawing on site. Get the details for each location below, and follow the Facebook event for additional information as they event nears. Also, you can map out your Jackson County FREE Museum Day visits through our FREE Experience Jackson app and desktop trip planner.
2025 Participating Museum Day Locations
Cambridge Junction Historic State Park and Walker Tavern Historic Site
13220 M-50, Brooklyn, MI 49230 | (517) 930-3806
Website
Enjoy a self-guided tour of the Visitor Center and Tavern. The Friends of Walker Tavern will be selling their world-famous root beer and giving out free samples. Note – This location is a state park through the DNR, and may require a recreation passport.
Ella Sharp Museum
3225 Fourth St., Jackson, MI 49203 | (517) 787-2320
Website
Enjoy the Museum’s galleries, historic Farmlane, a show in the Hurst Planetarium, as well as a Hillside Farmhouse tour. View exhibits such as the Andrews Gallery of Wildlife Art, Woman Made: Stories of Impact, Behind the Block: Piecing Together the History of Quilting, and the grand opening of Tyree Guyton: 40 Years in the Hood! Ella Sharp Museum will host face painting, free popcorn, and Jackson Reads – A program giving away free books to children (birth – 8th grade) who visit.
Ye Ole Carriage Shop Museum
3538 Henderson Rd., Spring Arbor, MI 49283 | (517) 414-1773
Website
Guided tours, coloring books activities for children, Jackson automobiles, Coca Cola Museum, classic cars, boxed toys, pedal cars, a retro kitchen, and more.
Conklin Reed Organ & History Museum and Heritage Park
121 Tefft St., Hanover, MI 49241 | (517) 563-8927
Website
Conklin Museum is host to 100 fully restored antique organs, which can be played and admired. Guided tours through the 1911 school building with exhibits showcasing a peek at the some of the unique paintings for the upcoming June event “Art and Melody”, early 1900’s classroom, a printing press, typewriters, exhibit room with the alongside a 930’s household with kitchen, living room, dining room, children’s toy room and bedroom. In the Museum yard, there will be activities for the children plus make a Mother’s Day card, alongside flower planting with the Hanover-Horton Garden Club, grab bags for the children, a food truck will be on-site. Enjoy a wagon ride to Heritage Park, see the 1860’s log cabin, Sugar Shack, and Saw mill. Great fun for the entire family.
Michigan’s Military Heritage Museum
311 N. Wisner St., Jackson, MI 49202 | (517) 926-6696
Website
During Museum Day, Michigan’s Military Heritage Museum will host a book/yards sale from 10 am – 5 pm. There will be hundreds of used books, as well as collectibles, household items, tools, furniture, and more. Proceeds benefit the museum’s operations fund.
Tompkins Historical Stewart Farm Museum
10138 Tompkins Rd., Rives Junction, MI 49277 | (517) 962-3398
Website
Museum tours, schoolhouse tours, log cabin tours and tractor pull. The Tompkins Plant Sale will also be taking place on site at the Stewart Farm Museum.
Jackson College Heritage Center (New Participant in 2025)
2111 Emmons Rd., Jackson, MI 49201 | (734) 837-4051
Enter through Potter Center doors
Website
The Heritage Center at Jackson College is a place of inspiration, dedication, and service. JC staff and students donate their time to collect and share the inspirational stories of Jacksonians whose sacrifice and courage helped shape American history – including a direct connection to one of the Tuskegee Airmen! Their many projects have won awards and captured the attention of multiple state and historical organizations with special recognition.
Grass Lake Area Historical Society & Coe House Museum
371 W. Michigan Ave., Grass Lake, MI 49240 | (517) 748-1078
Website
Tours of the Coe House Museum and grounds will be available. Come visit our historical home, archives room and vintage pictures of Grass Lake. Visit a replica of the Interurban Wait Station in the backyard of the property. Grass Lake Area Historical Society will also be conducting a pop-up fabric sale May 10 to be held at the Coe House Museum.
Lost Railway Museum
142 W. Michigan Ave., Grass Lake, MI | (517) 522-9500
Website
Self-guided tours, audio and live docent tours, and rides on the virtual Boland Express.
Waterloo Farm Museum
13493 Waterloo Munith Rd., Grass Lake, MI 49240 | (804) 596-2254
Website
Tour the Waterloo Farm Museum, Dewey School Museum, and outbuildings. Enjoy some concessions and free musical entertainment. Watch the blacksmith work in the shop. Make an arrowhead at the Flint knapping circle. Shop the Spinner’s Flock fiber market. Pick up some new greenery at the community plant sale. Purchase unique items at the gift shop.
Dewey School Museum
11501 Territorial Rd., Munith, MI 49259 | (804) 596-2254
Website
Tour the Waterloo Farm Museum, Dewey School Museum, and outbuildings. Enjoy some concessions and free musical entertainment. Watch the blacksmith work in the shop. Make an arrowhead at the Flint knapping circle. Shop the Spinner’s Flock fiber market. Pick up some new greenery at the community plant sale. Purchase unique items at the gift shop.
Hubbard Memorial Museum Foundation
317 Hanover St., Concord, MI 49237 | (517) 745-0167
Website
Museum day activities through the Hubbard Memorial Museum Foundation include three locations in proximity in Concord. There will be light refreshments and tours of the Greek Revival Paddock Hubbard House Museum, a pre-civil war (1840s) home which still has its Original Kitchen with open hearth fireplace and Dutch ovens plus many unique family heirlooms. The neighboring Riceville One Room School is circa 1850s will display historical learning setting. The First Universalist Church of Concord will host musical performances along with a tour of the building. The properties are listed in both the National and State of Michigan Registries of Historic Places.
The Mann House
205 Hanover St., Concord, MI 49237 | (517) 930-3806
Website
Guided tours of the house.
Additional Resources
Thank you to Jackson District Library and Jackson County Michigan Historical Society for providing support for Jackson County FREE Museum Day.
You can also see the Jackson County, MI Museums map to see how they are spread across the county.
