In true community spirit, the seeds of the Benzie Area Historical Society were planted in conversations led by civic volunteers with the local Kiwanis Club.  The informal organization was created in November, 1968, and five people were named to an organizational committee for the Benzie Area Historical Society (BAHS). 

On January 20, 1969, BAHS was incorporated, with 212 charter members recruited, and in May, the first meeting was held.

The Benzonia Congregational Church had recently vacated their church home, built 1884-1886, for a new building.  The last church service in the old building was held in 1968. 

The church board of trustees, being cognizant of a clause in the deed reverting the ownership of the property to the Bailey heirs, negotiated with the sole surviving heir of Charles Bailey, Dorothy Hensel.  From the beginning of the move to organize a historical society, Hensel had been one of its most ardent supporters and served on the organizational committee.  She transferred the property to the church through a quit-claim deed.  In 1969, the Congregational Church negotiated a three-year lease with BAHS for the use of the building, and the Benzie Area Historical Museum (BAHM) opened to the public on Memorial Day, 1969.  In 1971, the church trustees presented the deed to the BAHS.

Learning about local history helps people realize the grand scheme of historical change is made up of countless individuals like them who in their own ways contributed to the ongoing story of our community. The first issue of the BAHS newsletter, The Benzie Quarterly (now the Benzie Heritage) was published in 1981.  “The Benzie County Story” contains fascinating people and information, and the newsletter’s goal is to share these stories in an interesting, entertaining, and engaging manner.  

The Museum building received the State of Michigan Historic Site designation in April 1981.  BAHS also led the efforts to install historic markers or recognize important sites including three on the shores of Crystal Lake indicating the pre-1873 water level and one in Elberta commemorating Lake Michigan carferry service.  Most recently, we supported the successful application for an historical marker at the Diamond Crossing in Thompsonville, the tenth in our county.  The marker was dedicated on October 16, 2020.

In 1988, the Drake School in Platte Township was donated to BAHS, and the school building was restored to an early 1900 period rural school. A dedication ceremony was in May, 1989. “A One-Room Schoolhouse Experience” is offered to local schools for field trips, and children experience what it was like to be a student of the time and learn about the people who lived here in the early 20th century. Drake School draws many visitors in July and August.

In 1990, a time capsule was buried in Beulah’s village park to recognize and celebrate its Centennial; the capsule will be opened in 2090.

In 2019, the Benzie Area Historical Society celebrated 50 years of collecting, preserving, interpreting, and sharing our history and our community’s strong support for our mission continues today as evidenced by our robust volunteer program.   That year our volunteers logged more than 8300 hours in their roles as docents, researchers, archivists and community educators.