Kempf House Museum

04/20/2026

Our last Wednesday lecture for this spring! ---> April 22nd, noon to 1pm:
A conversation with John Hilton, the long-time editor of the Ann Arbor Observer monthly magazine, who has recently retired.

Admission free, donations appreciated.

04/11/2026

Our next Wednesday lecture ---> April 15th, noon to 1pm:
Margaret Leary, Librarian Emerita of the University of Michigan Law School and community volunteer, talks about William W. Cook, who provided money and architects for the Martha Cook Building and the entire Cook Law Quadrangle. He and Harry Hutchins showed that the University could not be the equal of private schools like Columbia, Yale, and Harvard without large financial support from UM’s vast alumni body.

Admission free, donations appreciated.

04/06/2026

Join us this Wednesday, April 8, for our next noon lecture!

Teacher and author Susan Nenadic will present "Crime and Punishment: Michigan’s Criminal Past". Not only was it the first state to ban the death penalty, but Michigan gained fame for its enlightened treatment of young people, first-time offenders, and women. Michigan considered punishment vs reform and chose the latter.

Admission is free, donations appreciated.

03/22/2026

Our first Wednesday Noon Lecture kicks off on April 1st with:
Fire and ice! -- Iceland is a place that George Jabol will include in his talk about how his love of travel worldwide began and how it developed into a hobby, presenting travelogues of his trips, including fabulous Iceland.
(Admission free, donations appreciated.)

Then, come back for three more Wednesdays for three more lectures at noon -- April 8th, 15th, and 22nd!

02/26/2026

Come visit us during our Open Houses on the first Sunday in March, May, and June, 1-4 pm. And we'll also be open the first Sunday in September, October, and November!

Experience a guided tour through restored rooms, including the music studio where our 1877 Steinway Concert Grand Piano remains as it has for over 100 years. Visitors will also hear about the distinguished contributions of the Kempfs to the musical culture of Ann Arbor.
Admission is free, donations appreciated.

01/05/2026

Our Victorian Valentine Tea will be February 14th and 15th from 1:30 pm - 3:30 pm!
-- An elegant traditional Tea, with sweet and savory offerings.
-- Period attire is welcome.

This popular fundraiser usually sells out well in advance.
$40 per person for members, $50 for non-members.
Reservations are required.

Kempf House members can call 734-994-4898 or email [email protected] beginning January 2nd.
Reservations will be offered to non-members beginning January 9th.
No reservations accepted after January 31st.

12/06/2025

Visit the Kempf House Museum in Ann Arbor for our German Christmas Open Houses, 1-4 p.m.
* Sunday, Dec. 7
* Sunday, Dec. 14

The 19th-century Greek Revival house will be decorated to reflect a German-American musical family’s celebration of Christmas in the late 1800’s, with a traditional feather tree. Guided tours of the house will be available, including the music studio where our 1877 Steinway concert grand piano remains as it has for over 100 years. Admission is free, donations appreciated.

10/27/2025

Our last WEDNESDAY NOON lecture for this fall is coming up on October 29:
"Victorian Christmas Cards and Celebrations"

CHRISTINE CROCKETT will help us learn about the emergence of Christmas customs and the technology that allowed them to become permanent in the 19th century -- and even now.

Admission free, donations appreciated.
312 S. Division St., near Liberty St.

10/22/2025

Noon Lecture this Wednesday:
October 22 @ 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm

== "The Fabulous 40s" ==

Stu Johnson, music history enthusiast, shows and plays a most entertaining program of music from the 1940s. Join us and experience Stu's magic mix of music and history:

The music of the early 40s was predominantly Big Bands or Swing, but there were a lot of other songs being written, sung, or played! With this presentation we'll hear a combination of both pop and swing or big band, like Glenn Miller, Tommy Dorsey, and Harry James; and vocalists like the Andrews Sisters, Eddie Arnold, and the Mills Brothers, finishing it off with the great International Sweethearts of Rhythm.

Admission free, donations appreciated.
Kempf House Museum, 312 S. Division St.

10/14/2025

Noon Lecture this Wednesday, October 15th .....

"100 Things to Do in Ann Arbor Before You Die"

Patricia Majher has enjoyed living and working in the Ann Arbor area for more than 40 years. In her writing career, she's penned travel pieces, reported on real estate, and been a feature writer for The Henry Ford among other museums. In 2009, she was named editor of Michigan History magazine. "100 Things to Do in Ann Arbor Before You Die" is Pat’s fourth book.

If you live in or near Ann Arbor, you know what an exciting and entertaining place it is. But this talk may help you appreciate the city in a new way. From ethnic food stores and French macaron shops to semi-pro soccer and FootGolf to Underground Railroad tours and a dental museum, Ann Arbor really does have it all.

Admission free, donations appreciated.

10/07/2025

Please join us this Wednesday, October 8th, for our first noon lecture of the season! "Into the Wild & Back Home Again: Park, Wildlife, and Landmark Photography in Michigan" by Corey Seeman will show you how to get amazing pictures right around the corner from where you live. A couple of key takeaways that Corey will offer are: learning about locations you can visit more frequently that are wonderful for photography in Michigan, and sharing those pictures with others.

Admission is free, donations appreciated.

09/07/2025

September is finally here, so that means our September 7th Open House is here, too. Come visit us from 1pm to 4pm on the first Sunday in September, October, and November. Learn how this charming Greek Revival house became a home for the two Kempf family music teachers, and how they contributed to the community and the musical culture of Ann Arbor.
Admission is free, donations appreciated.

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