Exhibits for 2026

The First People (new for 2026!)
The Early Settlers
The Agricultural Boom
Rural Education
Growth & Prosperity
Turn of the Century
Between the Wars
City Faces Challenges
Williamston Rebounds
Williamston in War 
Williamston and the Railroad

Rotating Exhibit - 100 Years of Boy Scouts in Williamston

First People's Exhibit

A large group of area residents were on hand for the ribbon cutting of our new permanent First People and their Artifacts display Sunday afternoon, April 19th, 2026. Museum board president Mitch Lutzke thanked all of those who worked over the past 18 months on this project, before he gave the scissors to fellow board member Earl Wolf, who cut the ribbon on the display, which was his in design and leadership. The display contains four pull out drawers, which display arrowheads, scrapers, points, and knives, dating back thousands of years ago. The illuminated drawers were the creation of Wolf, along with local carpenter, Merlin Hopkins. Wolf and another board member, Tim Green, worked with Lakota Electric of Williamston to light the drawers as they open.

Williamston Depot's Telegraph Station

"Williamston Depot's Telegraph Station" is the title of a permanent exhibit that recreates the railroad/Western Union telegraph station that originally was in the depot, located “by the railroad tracks.” The Depot was moved in 1979, by volunteers, to its current site. The “bay window” area was once the telegraph station. Board member Earl Wolf, who spearheaded the creation of the exhibit, states: “the board had talked about recreating a telegraph station in that spot for a long time, but we lacked many artifacts and the expertise.” Earl stumbled upon the name of Robert Hibbard, who is 92 plus and learned telegraphy after WWII. He worked as a telegrapher at nearly every train depot across lower Michigan. Mr. Hibbard volunteered to donate priceless telegraph artifacts as well as his knowledge to complete our exhibit. 

Williamston and the Railroad