Your Museum, Your Millage • How the Castle Museum Opens Doors for Everyone

On any given Tuesday at noon, the Morley Room inside Saginaw’s Castle Museum comes alive. A small crowd gathers with sack lunches, a few cups of coffee steam gently on the tables, and a guest speaker takes the floor. The topics? Everything from the history of tomatoes to the forgotten stories of Saginaw landmarks. The cost of admission? Absolutely nothing.

That’s the beauty of the Castle Museum of Saginaw County History. While it’s best known as the keeper of the region’s past, it is also a lively community hub—one that is open, accessible, and, most importantly, free for county residents. Thanks to the continued support of a county-wide millage, the Castle Museum has transformed into a place where history is not just preserved, but shared in ways that touch daily life.

More Than a Museum

Step inside the French chateau inspired Castle Building at 500 Federal Avenue, and you’ll find more than static displays behind glass. The Castle Museum is equal parts classroom, community center, storytelling stage, and family destination. Its team believes history belongs to everyone, and they’ve designed programs that prove it.

Every year, thousands of people—from schoolchildren to retirees—participate in free lectures, walking tours, children’s workshops, and interactive exhibits. These aren’t occasional extras; they’re at the heart of what the museum offers, and each one exists because of a small county-wide millage.

“Every time someone comes to a program, takes a tour, or even brings their kids to meet Santa at Frosty Fest, we want them to know: this is your museum, funded by your support,” says the museum’s Marketing Coordinator Katherine Ellison.

Lunch and Learn: A Community Tradition

The Lunch and Learn series is one of the museum’s longest-running traditions, and it embodies what makes the Castle Museum unique. Every second and fourth Tuesday, locals gather to explore unexpected slices of history. One week might spotlight the humble tomato through the expertise of seed saver and author Bevin Cohen. Another might dive into the restoration of Saginaw’s Wolfarth House with its dedicated owner, Kevin Rooker.

No topic is too small, too quirky, or too hyper-local. The common thread is curiosity, and the Castle provides the space for it. Coffee, water, and a sweet treat are always on hand. Guests can bring a lunch—or just bring themselves. It’s an hour of discovery tucked neatly into the middle of a Tuesday, offered free to anyone who wants to attend.

History After Hours: Stories That Stir

If midday programs aren’t your style, the Castle Museum also keeps the doors open late for History After Hours. Held every third Thursday at 5:30 p.m., these evening events dive into the more dramatic and controversial corners of the past.

Upcoming sessions include Unsolved Saginaw: The Murder of Saginaw Doe—a chilling local mystery focused on Saginaw in the 1980s—and Goessert v. Cleary: Michigan Barmaids Fight for Civil Rights, which unpacks a pivotal legal battle that shaped gender equality in the workplace.

They’re bold, sometimes gritty, and always engaging. Best of all, they’re completely free, a rare opportunity to learn, debate, and reflect in an after-dinner setting.

Walking Tours: History on the Move

Not all history happens inside the museum walls. The Castle Museum’s walking tours bring Saginaw’s stories to the streets. During summer, lunchtime tours might trace the courthouse square, pointing out the hidden details we walk past every day. In October, groups will wind through Oakwood Cemetery, exploring the lives of those who shaped the county long ago.

These tours fill up quickly, a testament to their popularity. Whether it’s the hush of a historic cemetery or the bustle of downtown, the tours remind participants that history is written not only in books but also in bricks, stones, and landscapes. And yes, like everything else, the tours are free.

Inside the Castle itself, building tours are available for groups of all sizes. Staff and trained docents guide visitors through exhibits that range from lumbering and auto manufacturing to archaeology and everyday life. Field trips for schoolchildren are a regular part of the calendar, ensuring that young learners connect with local history from an early age.

Time Machine Programs: Bringing History to Classrooms

Perhaps the museum’s most far-reaching initiative is its Time Machine program. Designed for schools across Saginaw County, these traveling lessons bring history straight into classrooms—at no cost to teachers or districts.

A professional museum educator leads sessions tailored to Michigan’s curriculum. Kindergarteners might learn about archaeology by digging for “artifacts.” Fourth graders can explore coal mining, lumbering, or the rise of the auto industry—topics that directly connect to Michigan and specifically Saginaw’s identity.

This year, the Castle Museum added something new for older students: Reading Like a Historian. This program equips grades 8–12 with the skills to analyze sources critically, ask questions about reliability, and think like actual historians. In an age of information overload, it’s a tool as relevant as it is rare.

For Families: Hands-On Fun

The Castle Museum also ensures there’s plenty for families and children to enjoy. Monthly Hands on History sessions invite kids to explore real objects from the past. Preschoolers can join Story Time, where a seasonal book and craft activity bring history down to their level.

The museum’s family events are legendary. During Frosty Fest, for example, families can enjoy free photos with Santa, crafts, cookies, cocoa, and the magical sight of the Castle decked out for the holidays. Summer programming offers more chances for fun and learning, ensuring that history feels alive year-round. These programs often involve museum partners from across the region too—the Mid-Michigan Children’s Museum, Saginaw Public Libraries, READ Program, and others—to fill out the slate.

Exhibits That Keep Changing

Of course, many visitors simply stop by to wander through the exhibits at their own pace. The museum is open seven days a week, with free admission for all Saginaw County residents. Exhibits rotate throughout the year, meaning there’s always something new to discover.

Sports enthusiasts will also find a treat inside: the Saginaw County Sports Hall of Fame, located right within the Castle Museum. Each year, new inductees and displays celebrate the county’s athletic achievements, adding yet another layer to the museum’s dynamic offerings.

The Power of the Millage

None of this would be possible without one crucial factor: the county-wide millage. It’s not just a budget line; it’s the backbone of the museum’s mission. The residents of Saginaw County have consistently voted to make history free, accessible, and engaging for everyone.

The Castle Museum staff view the millage as a contract of trust. In return for financial support, the museum gives back tenfold in programs, events, and exhibits. For families looking for affordable activities, retirees eager to keep learning, teachers searching for resources, or anyone simply curious about local history, the value is immeasurable.

“Free admission and free programs are our way of saying thank you,” Chief Historian Thomas Trombley, notes. “This is your investment, your community and your museum.”

Why It Matters

In an era when cultural institutions often struggle to remain relevant or affordable, the Castle Museum stands out. It demonstrates that history doesn’t have to be behind a paywall, reserved for special occasions, or limited to textbooks. It can be woven into everyday life—into a Tuesday lunch hour, an evening stroll, a child’s classroom, or a family holiday tradition.

Most importantly, it shows what’s possible when a community invests in itself. The Castle Museum is not just preserving the past; it is actively shaping the present and the future, one free program at a time.

A Living Legacy

The next time you walk past the stone towers of the Castle Museum, remember: it’s more than a building. It’s an open invitation to learn, connect, and celebrate the stories that make Saginaw County unique. And thanks to the millage, it belongs to everyone.

So bring your lunch, take a walk, join a discussion, or simply wander the halls. The doors are open—because you opened them.

For details on events, dates and times visit castlemuseum.org