News Photo by Darby Hinkley Besser Museum for Northeast Michigan Executive Director Christine Witulski holds up brochure about the 151st Michigan History Conference, coming to the museum Sept. 26 through 28.

ALPENA — An opportunity to learn about Michigan history, tour local historical places, and engage with history buffs and experts is coming to Alpena this month.

The Besser Museum for Northeast Michigan is partnering with the Historical Society of Michigan to bring the 151st Michigan History Conference to Alpena on Sept. 26 through 28. Programs will be held at Alpena Community College and around the area, with multiple tours of historical places.

Museum Executive Director Christine Witulski invites the community to sign up for this opportunity, featuring open houses, workshops, keynote speakers, banquets, networking, a business meeting, and much more.

Witulski said the museum has hosted the conference once before, but it has been about 10 years, and she is excited to host it once again.

“What I love about this year’s program that they put together is all of the great workshops,” Witulski said. “One of them is featuring Janet Young and talking about all the work that she and Amy Alberts, who is a direct descendent of Whitney Alberts — Chief Blue Cloud — and the indigenous families of Northeast Michigan.”

She added that Chief Blue Cloud was a prominent figure among the Ottawa people of Northern Michigan.

“So many people are curious about the indigenous populations of Northeast Michigan,” Witulski said.

She expects that many people will find that workshop interesting and educational.

“There’s also a great lineup of local topics that people are going to want to know about and are curious about,” she said.

She said the wide variety of interesting topics really paint a picture of our local history.

“It really captures Northeast Michigan,” Witulski added.

Another notable session is about the historic Temple Beth-El in Alpena.

“It’s one of the few remaining 19th Century synagogues,” Witulski said. “It’s the second-oldest synagogue in Michigan.”

Temple Beth-El President Ken Diamond will lead that session, and a guided tour will also be offered.

Witulski added that the museum is coordinating the event, but all the programs will be held at ACC.

“There will be a lot of historical experts from our region, but also from the state,” Witulski said. “You do not need to be a member of the Michigan Historical Society to sign up and come to these events.”

The event is open to the public, but there is a registration fee. The fee varies, depending on the tours and events each person signs up for. To register online, visit hsm.pub/mhc2025 or hsmichigan.org. If you have questions, call the Historical Society of Michigan at 800-692-1828 or the Besser Museum at 989-356-2202 or visit bessermuseum.org. The museum is located at 491 Johnson St., Alpena.

There is an early bird discount by signing up before Sept. 19, and another discount for Alpena residents.

“People love history, and they want to know more about their local regional history, and this is the one time you can go to this,” Witulski said. “The lectures are amazing.”

She added that a team of local officials and historians collaborated to make this event possible, including the Community Foundation, ACC, Temple Beth-El, Downtown Development Director Anne Gentry, Thunder Bay Theatre, Mayor Cindy Johnson, Thunder Bay Marine Sanctuary, Art in the Loft, and others, whose help and collaboration is appreciated.

KEYNOTE SPEAKERS

— Cory Brant, Great Lakes Fisheries Biologist, Great Lakes Sea Lamprey: A Toothy Oral History on Saturday morning, Sept. 27.

— Michelle McClellan, Bentley Historical Library, Women, Work, and Community in Northern Michigan at lunchtime on Saturday, Sept. 27.

WORKSHOP SESSIONS

— Researching Your Historic House, Robert Myers, Historical Society of Michigan.

— Temple Beth-El: The Jewish Experience in Alpena, Ken Diamond, Temple Beth-El President.

— Saving the Past: The Women in Historic Preservation, Valerie Marvin, Michigan State Capitol Commission.

— Taking Center Stage: The Thunder Bay Theatre, Anne Gentry, Alpena Downtown Development Authority Director.

— Camp Black Lake: A CCC Camp in Presque Isle County, Mary Ann Heidemann, author.

— America’s Industrial Backbone: The Limestone Industry of Northern Michigan, Alex Czarnecki, historian.

— Chief Blue Cloud: A Family and Community Legacy, Amy Alberts, Ottawa and Chippewa Anishinabe of the Great Lakes, and author Janet Young.

— Murder and Mayhem: Alcona’s Historic Crimes, Cheryl Peterson, The Alcona County Review.

— Beyond the Beacons: Sunrise Side Lighthouses, Joni Rogers, Presque Isle Township Museum Society.

— PBB: The Poisoning of Michigan, Ed Lorenz, Reid-Knox Professor Emeritus, Alma College.

— The Latest “Dirt” on Archaeology at Michilimackinac, Lynn L.M. Evans, Mackinac State Historic Parks.

— The Carl D. Bradley: A Great Lakes Maritime Tragedy, Bruce Lynn, Great Lakes Shipwreck Society.

— Vintage Resorts: Up-North’s Pioneer Vacationers, Janet Young, author/researcher.

— On Guard for 70 Years: Wurtsmith Air Force Base, Barry Levin, Michigan Flight Museum.

— Lives, Ships, and Fish: Hammond Bay Lifesaving Station, Beach Hall, Presque Isle County historian.

OPEN HOUSE AT MUSEUM

— A free open house will be held from 9 to 11:30 a.m. on Friday, Sept. 26 at Besser Museum.

TOURS ON TAP

— Lighthouses Tour: Old Presque Isle and New Presque Isle Lighthouses.

— Maritime Tour: Glass-bottom boat tour in Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary and tour of the Great Lakes Maritime Heritage Center.

— Foundations Tour: Concrete Technology Center at ACC, followed by a visit to Dinosaur Gardens.

— Temple Beth-El: Guided tour on Sunday, Sept. 28 at 125 E. White St., Alpena.

BANQUETS

— State History Awards Banquet: An Evening at Art in the Loft, celebrating outstanding contributions by individuals and organizations across Michigan.

— Jeff Gray, Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary Superintendent, Saving Shipwrecks: The Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary on Saturday night, Sept. 27 at Art in the Loft.

Reach News Community Editor Darby Hinkley at 989-358-5691 or dhinkley@TheAlpenaNews.com.