Start Your Arenac County Research at ACHS
Arenac County Historical Society strives to preserve Arenac County’s history for the public and researchers. The Arenac County Historical Museum houses exhibits, artifacts, documents, and memorabilia dating from Arenac’s first settlements to the current time. Its preservation project, Ye Olde Courthouse Masonic Hall Museum, is home to memorabilia and sources for the county’s first courthouse, and the former Masonic Lodge, Northeast Michigan Baseball League, “Settlement of Arenac,” and Arenac Eastern School District. Open summer hours and visits by appointment available.
Summertime fun on the Drive Arenac 250 Tour Road Trip
PICK UP A PAMPHLET & MAP — EXPLORE ARENAC CO HISTORY
Discover hidden gems tucked in Arenac County’s countryside and Lake Huron/Saginaw Bay shoreline. Learn a little bit about the county and its contributions to the progress of Michigan and America through agriculture, oil, lumber, fish, and wildlife.
Arenac County Historical Society (ACHS) and the Au Gres Area Chamber of Commerce are sponsoring a Drive Arenac 250 Tour and contest starting July 1. The self-guided road trip takes participants to historical sites throughout Arenac County in celebration of America’s 250th Anniversary. Details of the event plus a map are in the Drive Arenac 250 Tour pamphlets distributed throughout Arenac County. Download a tour pamphlet today.
Hours
– OPEN the 2nd & 4th Saturday from 1:00pm to 4:00pm during June, July & August. During the rest of the year, call 989-876-6399 for an appointment. For more information call 989-876-6399. Please leave your name, phone number and a brief message.
– ACHS MEETINGS 3rd Thursdays, 7:00PM in Au Gres at Museum (Arp-Oct) or Jimco (Nov-Mar). Both locations are in Au Gres.
– Ye Old Courthouse MEETINGS 2nd Fridays, 9:30AM at YOC in Omer.
– GENEALOGY & HISTORY HELP at Ye Olde Courthouse in Omer. Call Phyllis at 810-938-6991 or Brenda at 989-233-1428.
Contact ACHS
Arenac County Historical Society
304 East Michigan Avenue
PO Box 272
Au Gres, Michigan 48703-0272
(989) 876-6399
Ye Olde Courthouse
120 Center Street
PO Box 84
Omer, MI 48749-0084
810-938-6991 or 989-653-2762
- Museum & archives questions: achs@centurytel.net
- Website problems & questions: webtechachs@gmail.com
Events
- Jul 1 thru Sep 8, 2026: Download details & map for Drive Arenac 250 Tour & contest. Self-guided road trip takes participants to historical sites throughout Arenac Co in celebration of America’s 250.
- Jul 16, 2026 @ 7:00 pm: “The Man Behind Sims Ranch: Edwin Walter Sims”, presented by family historian Gail Sims. Especially in the 1930s through the 1950s, the sprawling compound, farm & and acreage of the Sims Ranch served as a major agricultural, economic, and social hub that provided local food and jobs.
- Aug 18, 2026 @ 7:00 pm: “The Legend of Fingerless Will Nixon” presented by fiction writer Rich Nixon & Jean Nixon of Au Gres. Richard Nixon, a storyteller with a passion for unconventional tales, offers insight into his book about the 1508-09 Scottish borderlands and the story of how Will Nixon, sadly but courageously, became fingerless.
News & Notes
- 7/1-9/8/2026: Download details & map for Drive Arenac 250 Tour & contest. Self-guided road trip takes participants to historical sites throughout Arenac Co in celebration of America’s 250.
- 6/28/2026: added Index to Omer History Vol 3 [1880-1984]
- 6/22/2026: Drive Arenac 250 Tour announced
- 5/8/2026: Added History of Omer Vol 2 of 6 (1868-1925)
- 5/4/2026: Added Arenac Co Obituaries 2025
- 4/7/2026: 1st Arenac Co Fair 1885 booklet redirected to correct index; added index to Omer History Vol 1; associated years to the early Arenac Co Independent obit scrapbooks
- 4/6/2026: Added index to Arenac County Obits 2018