Clarkston Community Historical Society and Heritage Museum

07/17/2026

07/08/2026

Before moving vans, there were wagons. Around 1870, countless families came to Michigan in search of farmland, opportunity, and a fresh start. After arriving by ship or rail, the final miles of their journey were often made in sturdy wagons like the Harrison wagon atop this year’s Independence Day float. The wagons were loaded with furniture, tools, treasured keepsakes, and everything they needed to begin a new life.

Clarkston itself had been established decades earlier, but by the 1870s it was a thriving rural community where new families continued to put down roots. Whether their destination was Clarkston or another Michigan town, wagons like this became symbols of hope, perseverance, and the promise of a better future. Standing beside this beautifully preserved wagon today, it’s easy to imagine the excitement—and uncertainty—of those first arrivals as they looked toward the lives they hoped to build.

It’s a wonderful reminder that every Michigan community has been shaped by generations of people willing to pack up everything they owned and head toward an unknown future.

This year, their descendants—and countless others—lined the streets of the Village of Clarkston to celebrate the 250th anniversary of our Independence as a country. Members and friends of the Clarkston Historical Society walked the route greeting spectators, handing out nostalgic penny candy and “Clarkston Passports,” a big hit with kids and adults alike.

Jennifer Herrmann, Debbie DeVault and Maggie Sans pose in front of the CCHS float.

06/16/2026

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0gk-0QIWlJ8

The Clarkston Community Historical Society held a celebration event...

05/26/2026

This Thursday Evening at the Library!

04/14/2026

We need your help! We are preparing to use this photo in our next exhibit at the Clarkston Heritage Museum (more about that very soon). In the meantime, I need a car guy to give me an estimate on the year based on the auto in the photo. Anyone have a guess? Appreciate your help!
PS - Photo is of a Drum and Bugle Corps marching up Dixie Highway.