Birmingham Museum Celebrates Hunter House

BIRMINGHAM, MI, November 27, 2017 —The Hunter House at the Birmingham Museum will be the scene for a special happening this year. The museum’s popular holiday model train display of years past will be revisited this December—only this time, inside the historic 1822 Hunter House.

The small frame house was built of local timber by Birmingham founder John West Hunter in the early days of the settlement that became Birmingham, and has been moved twice to save it. It has been at the Birmingham Museum site next to the Allen House since 1969 and is furnished with period antiques. This year, it will also have a few extra touches to delight visitors of all ages. The nearly 200-year old house will be decorated in traditional style, while a running model train display will add a modern atmosphere.

In the 1928 Allen House, visitors will be able to see a display of selected antique toys, sample hot chocolate, and have holiday fun with hands-on activities. During the final month of our exhibit featuring works by Birmingham artist Victor Pytko, adults and children alike may feel especially inspired to make holiday crafts or do some coloring. To give kids a chance to experience traditional fun, the museum will also be bringing out the large 100+ year old antique dollhouse built for the granddaughter of Elijah Willits.
Willits was a friend of John West Hunter and also a founder of Birmingham.

Kids 18 and under are FREE on SATURDAYS during December-but must be accompanied by an adult. Otherwise, regular admission applies: Adults, $7.00; Seniors and students $5.00; kids 5 and under and members are always free. The museum’s regular hours are Tuesday-Saturday 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. and is open until 8:00 p.m. on the second Thursday of the month. December’s Second Thursday Story Time program Dec. 14th will feature a children’s librarian from the Baldwin Public Library reading selected books on the theme of “Winter Celebrations” at 6:30 p.m. at the Hunter House. Registration for this free program is required and can be completed on the Baldwin Library’s website at https://baldwinlib.org/story-times/

To find out more, call the Birmingham Museum at 248-530-1928 or visit us online at www.bhamgov.org/museum.

The Birmingham Museum is located at 556 West Maple. Exhibit hours are Wednesday through Saturday from 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m., and until 8:00 p.m. on the secondThursday of the month. Two hours of free parking is available at the Chester Street Parking Deck; credit card required for entry and exit. For more information, call 248-530-1928 or visit www.bhamgov.org/museum . Museum admission is $7 for adults; $5 for students and seniors. Kids 5 and under and Friends of the Birmingham Museum members are free.

Photos courtesy of city of Birmingham