Gardner House Museum

 

Q: What historical tourism spot in Albion has a special event for each season?

A:  The Gardner House Museum, located at 509 South Superior Street, Albion, Michigan.


Q: What are the special events for each season?

A:  Click here to jump below and see pictures of each of the seasonal special events.


Q:  What historical designations does the Gardner House Museum have?

A:  The Gardner House Museum has both a Michigan Historic Marker, which is visible year round on site, and also a National Historic Designation that is listed on this page.


Q: What is unique about the architectural style of the Gardner House Museum?

A: The Gardner House is a two-story Gothic Victorian brick mansion with alternating shades of yellow brick. It has a mansard roof with shingles set in an imbricated pattern. The form and detail of the exterior porches and towers exhibit typical Gothic elements of style.


Q: Can I see more information about both of these markers online now?

A:  Yes.  Click here to jump below to links with more information.


Q: What special historical display is going to be featured on the second floor during 2019?

A:  African-American Presence in Albion – with an emphasis on the 20th century by historian Bob Wall will be open during the usual summer weekend hours at the Gardner House.  See more about this below.


Q: Where can I see the Gardner House Museum dates of special events?

A:  Visit AlbionMich.net/calendar where we have big tourism events on one calendar and also links to all other community calendars.


Q: Where can I get more official information about the Gardner House Museum?

A: albionhistoricalsociety.org


Q: Where can I preview more of Albion’s cultural destinations?

A:  Visit this link: AlbionMich.net/culture


Annual Gardner House Museum Events:

Winter: 12th Night celebration.

From the calendar on Albionmich.net website:

In 2017 the official times are Saturday, January 6, from 5:30 – 7:30, and Sunday, January 7, 2017, from 2:00 pm – 4:00 p.m.

For future events, the following information is a guideline to the times of the event.  The 12th night celebration is a repeating event hosted by the Albion Historical Society. It is traditionally held on the 12th day after Christmas, January 6th from 5:30 – 7:30. Check the Albion e-news to double check these times. This listing is an estimate only. There is also usually a Saturday or Sunday afternoon opportunity to see the decorated Gardner House and to enjoy the Yuletide caroling from 2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. the Saturday or Sunday after January 6.

For official information visit the Albion Historical Society website at: albionhistoricalsociety.org



Spring: Mother’s Day Tea

Information from past events:  The Albion Historical Society will celebrate the 200th birthday of Juliette Calhoun Blakeley at its annual Mother’s Day Tea on Saturday, before Mother’s Day.  “Juliette” will be on hand to seat guests at either 11:00 a.m. or 1:00 p.m., and reservations are required. Guests are urged to dress for high tea for this special occasion.

Also in past events, guests were allowed to dress up for a photo and were given a free photo.  This was a one-time occurrence but an example is shown. The ladies in the example are also authors of this website.

Learn more about Juliette Calhoun Blakeley – the “Mother of Mother’s Day” by clicking here: albionmich.net/mothers-day-in-albion/


Summer: Garden Party at the Gardner

Began as a perennial flower exchange but evolved into one of Albion’s top craft events along with the annual French Market in June, and the Festival of the Forks in September.  A photo tour of the garden party can be seen on this link. albionmich.net/garden-party-at-the-gardner/

 


Fall:  Festival of the Forks tours – The Festival of the Forks in Albion takes place on the 3rd full weekend that includes a Friday in September each year.  One of the favorite destinations is the Gardner House Museum.  The Museum is always free to the public but donations are gratefully accepted.


Special displays at the Gardner House – the second floor is designated for special displays.  In 2018 there was a special display to honor Albion’s veterans. See a tour of the Gardner House Museum by clicking here:  albionmich.net/tour-of-gardner-house-museum/


In 2019 there is a special display to highlight the African-American Presence in Albion with an emphasis on the 20th century.

Learn more about this photo that shows a statewide emancipation day celebration that took place in Albion in 1927 on this link: http://www.albionmich.com/history/histor_notebook/940731.shtml

Learn more about Holland Park, that is named to honor Robert Holland who was an advocate to desegregate Albion’s schools on this link:
https://albionmich.net/labor-day-albion-tour-of-history-hill/


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Historical Designations for the Gardner House Museum

National Historic Significance Designation – was given on May 6, 1971.    See this page for more information:  National Register of Historic Places listings in Calhoun County, Michigan.  Click on the name of the city tab at the top to see the Albion national designations all together at the top.

Michigan Historical Marker

Gardner House Museum as a historic marker from the State of Michigan that can be seen in the front yard of the location.  Here are the words from that marker

From the Michigan historic marker:

Augustus P. Gardner (1817-1905), a wealthy hardware merchant built this Victorian style house in 1875. A three-story, thirteen-room mansion with a mansard roof, it was Gardner’s home until his death in 1905.

In 1966, after decades of neglect, the house was purchased by the
Albion Historical Society. Restored, it houses a local museum. Five of the rooms are furnished as a nineteenth-century home and the remainder feature permanent and rotating exhibits. This house is among the last of its type in this area.

Historical tourism is becoming increasingly important to Albion as its rich cultural heritage and location near the interstate are becoming better known.


Another rare Second Empire French style structure is in nearby Marshall Michigan and was built in 1871. Learn more about the Wagner’s Block Building at 143 W. Michigan Ave., Marshall Mich on this link:
http://marshallmich.net/eastend/