Shiawassee County: Railroad History, Culture and Discovery

Shiawassee County is best explored through its railroad history, museums and events. Its diverse attractions include a station with a museum, library and archive, historic homes, arts offerings and a regionally connected State Trail. When planning your trip, it’s worth considering whether you’d rather focus on technology and regional history, performances and exhibitions, or time on trails and in parks.

Railroad History and Trails

Durand Union Station offers several ways to explore railroad history: its museum, library and archive feature photographs, books, technical information about railroads, and records from railroad unions. The station is an ADA-compliant facility and offers travelers free overnight parking. Those interested in the economic importance of railroads can visit the Michigan Railroad History Museum, which features exhibits on their contributions to the timber industry, mining, agriculture and manufacturing.

The Steam Railroading Institute also offers a variety of events and excursions throughout the year, including the North Pole Express during the Christmas season. The Express is a seasonal attraction, while the institute’s events and excursions take place throughout the year. Another option is the Fred Meijer Clinton Ionia Shiawassee State Trail: it runs from Owosso in Shiawassee County to Ionia and connects with other trails to form a regional network spanning 125 miles.

From Curwood Castle to Regional Collections

Curwood Castle was built between 1922 and 1923 as a writing and nature conservation studio for James Oliver Curwood. The castle has set visiting hours: from April 1 through December 31, it is open Tuesday through Sunday from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. The Curwood Collection in Curwood Castle Park also includes the Comstock Pioneer Cabin and the Woodard Paymaster Building.

Another preserved 19th-century residence is the Amos Gould Historic Home Museum & Event Venue, built in 1860. It offers regular tours and educational programs about regional history. The Corunna Historical Village depicts life before electricity, running water and automobiles through its restored historic buildings. These different approaches—a historic home, restored buildings and guided tours—each offer a distinct setting for exploring regional history.

The Perry Historical Society Museum / Calkins-MacQueen House presents the history of the region around Perry, Morrice and Shaftsburg. Exhibits include mastodon bones found in Perry Township in 2001. The Shiawassee County Historical Museum focuses on the history of the county area, with written historical records and artifacts. The DeVries Historic Carriage and Sleigh Museum preserves a different collection, comprising more than 27 vehicles.

Events, Arts and Parks

The Shiawassee County Fair offers a clearly defined opportunity for trip planning: this annual event takes place during the first full week of August. It showcases the talents of young people from the region through educational activities, exhibits and entertainment, as well as competitions featuring livestock and other projects. The Shiawassee County Fairgrounds is a 127-acre venue with a climate-controlled event hall and event offerings available year-round.

Other performing arts and cultural offerings follow a different schedule. The Owosso Community Players stage four productions each year during their nine-month season. The Shiawassee Arts Center has nine galleries with changing exhibits and offers art classes for children and adults. When choosing your travel dates, you can therefore consider an annual fair, a season with several productions, or changing art exhibitions.

For outdoor activities, the park system maintained by the county and municipalities includes areas with grills, restrooms, improved trails, playgrounds and sports fields. Together with the regional trail, these parks offer different ways to incorporate nature and outdoor recreation into your stay. Choose your vacation rental based on what you want your trip to focus on: railroad history and museums, events and arts, or trails and parks. That way, you can start your search with the experience you want, without letting a single attraction determine your entire stay.

Explore More Destinations

Explore more destinations: Byron, Durand, Otsego, Iron County, Bay, Mecosta County, Benzie County, Kalkaska County.

For the overview of the wider region, visit: Michigan.