Archives

2202
The collection is mostly documents. To view everything in the Archive Catalog use "All Items."

Art

432
Artworks with an emphasis on works by local artists or works that illustrate local places

Burr Tillstrom Collection

79
A collection of articles, photographs, sketches, letters, puppets and other artifacts from Burr Tillstrom, puppeteer. Burr Tillstrom (1917-1985) was the first puppeteer to reach millions of American television viewers with shows that were witty, charming, and yet sophisticated enough to appeal to adults as well as children He is most well known for the Kukla, Fran, and Ollie show . Burr's hand puppets were always simple and his sets and props were minimal.

Camp Gray

64
Camp Gray Presbyterian Camp A wooden model of the building called Swift Villa, one of the early buildings at Camp Gray. It was built by Bill Lankton donated in April 2014 when the camp was being demolished

Curator’s Choice Exhibit

29
The “Curator’s Choice” exhibit spotlights 30 works of painting, sculpture, ceramics, glass, and metal from the Saugatuck Douglas History Center’s permanent Collection. The exhibit opened November 2021.

Early American logging and woodworking tools ca. 1850-1900

25
Tools from a beginner collection of early logging/ lumberjack tools as were used in the formative days of Saugatuck, Singapore and Pier Cove. (1850-1900)

Fishing, Commercial

92
Commercial Fishing in Saugatuck-Douglas, circa 1860 to 1970

Library

287
A reference collection of approximately 300 books dealing with the history of the Saugatuck-Douglas and surrounding area from the earliest recorded times to the present. The collection includes works by local authors like May Heath, Henry Hudson Hutchins, James Sheridan, Kit Lane, Dr. James Schmiechen, Jack Sheridan, Nancy J. Budd, Sally Winthers, Judy Anthrop and Rob Carey.

Maps

112
A collection of maps of the Saugatuck-Douglas area at the mouth of the Kalamazoo River. Included in the collection are both reference maps and thematic maps covering the extent of western Allegan County. This includes government surveys, fire insurance maps, advertisements, drawings, aerial photographs, housing development plans, and other spatial renderings of the Saugatuck-Douglas area.

Mt. Baldhead Radar Station

23

Objects

748

Photos

1554

Postcards

237

Rediscovering a Michigan Painter: Robert “Harry” Fort Exhibition -Fall/Winter 2020

12
A Public exhibit showcasing the Saugatuck artwork of Robert “Harry”Fort (1875-1954) Titled “Re-discovering a Michigan Painter.” The exhibit includes 15 paintings combining new acquisitions by the Saugatuck Douglas History Center with several pieces on loan from other collections.

Simmons @ Midcentury

206
Photos taken from 1941 to 1961 by William "Bill" Simmons

Singapore, Michigan

74
Singapore was a lumbering town near the mouth of the Kalamazoo River in Michigan. It was founded in 1836 and once bustled with two active mill, a harbor full of boats, a store, and a bank which printed its own currency. When the lumber boon ended, gradually, Singapore was carted away. What little was left has been covered by the blowing sand.

All Items

5399
View all of the entries in the Saugatuck-Douglas History Center collection.

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