Shiawassee County: Railroad History, Museums and Culture

Shiawassee County offers several distinct themes to guide your trip planning: railroad history, historic buildings, art, theater and seasonal events. You can plan your stay around a particular exhibit, event or cultural focus.

Railroads and Regional History

The Michigan Railroad History Museum highlights the contributions of railroads in Michigan to the lumber industry, mining, agriculture and industry. Its exhibits connect railroad history with different areas of economic life. Durand Union Station complements this historical focus with its museum, library and archive. The collections include photographs, books, technical information about railroads and records of railroad unions. The station is an ADA-compliant facility and offers travelers free overnight parking.

The Owosso Community Players also offer a regular schedule: during their nine-month season, they stage four productions per year. Those more interested in visual art can find nine galleries with changing exhibitions at the Shiawassee Arts Center. Art classes for children and adults are also offered there.

Historic Homes and Collections

Curwood Castle was built between 1922 and 1923 as a writing and nature-conservation studio for James Oliver Curwood. From April 1 through December 31, the castle is open Tuesday through Sunday from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. The Curwood Collection in Curwood Castle Park includes the Comstock Pioneer Cabin and the Woodard Paymaster Building. Thus, this historic area includes two other named buildings in addition to the castle.

The Amos Gould Historic Home Museum & Event Venue is a preserved 19th-century residence built in 1860. Regular tours and educational programs focus on regional history. At Corunna Historical Village, restored historic buildings portray life before electricity, running water and automobiles. The DeVries Historic Carriage and Sleigh Museum presents a different kind of collection: it includes more than 27 vehicles.

The Perry Historical Society Museum / Calkins-MacQueen House explores the history of the area around Perry, Morrice and Shaftsburg. Mastodon bones found in Perry Township in 2001 are also on display there. The Shiawassee County Historical Museum covers the history of the area through written historical records and artifacts. These different homes and museums offer distinct points of interest, from individual finds and vehicles to documents and regional history.

Events and Timing

The annual Shiawassee County Fair takes place during the first full week of August. It showcases the abilities of young people from the region through education, exhibits and entertainment, as well as competitions featuring livestock and other projects. The Shiawassee County Fairgrounds is a 127-acre site with an air-conditioned event hall and year-round event facilities.

Events and excursions are also part of the Steam Railroading Institute’s offerings. The institute offers various ones year-round; during the Christmas season, these include the North Pole Express. For planning purposes, you can distinguish between these offerings by when they take place: the fair is tied to the first full week of August, while the North Pole Express is tied to the Christmas season. Curwood Castle, in turn, has an open season from April 1 through December 31, with set days and hours. You can choose your travel dates based on which of these offerings matters most to your stay.

Trails and Parks

The Fred Meijer Clinton Ionia Shiawassee State Trail runs from Owosso in Shiawassee County to Ionia. It connects with other trails, which together form a 125-mile regional trail system. The park system, maintained by the county and municipalities, includes areas with grills, restrooms, improved trails, playgrounds and sports fields. These details offer two different perspectives on outdoor activities: a regionally connected trail system and park areas with specific amenities.

Whether you want your trip to focus on railroad history, historic collections, an event or time outdoors, Shiawassee County offers several different themes to use as a starting point for planning. Seasonal offerings and Curwood Castle’s opening hours are especially relevant when choosing travel dates.

Discover more destinations: Byron, Durand, Gogebic County, Muskegon, St. Clair County, Berrien, Charlevoix County, Alcona County.

For the main travel overview: Michigan.