Rose Hawley Archive Fund

The Rose Hawley Archives is a $1.7 million investment in the permanent preservation of our community’s historical records. We seek to raise $400,000 to complete the renovation. Your gift directly moves that number.

CAPITAL CAMPAIGN

A $1.7 Million Investment in History

Since opening in 2022, the Mason County Research Center — Home of the Rose Hawley Archives has welcomed thousands of visitors, including local school students, professional historians, and genealogy enthusiasts. This state-of-the-art facility provides unprecedented access to historical documents, photographs, and artifacts — making our extensive archives available to researchers and the general public for the first time.

The facility’s total renovation represents a $1.7 million commitment to Mason County’s future. Thanks to generous donors and grants, the project is well underway — but $400,000 remains to be raised. Every gift at any level brings us closer to fully realizing the potential of this extraordinary resource.

What the Research Center Offers

  • Behind-the-Scenes Tours — Access to the archives and collections not available elsewhere
  • Genealogical Research — Mason County family and property records dating back to the 19th century
  • Historical Programs — Lectures, workshops, and community events in Legacy Hall
  • Museum Ticket Sales — Central hub for ticketing and visitor services
  • Document & Photo Archives — Thousands of historical photographs, newspapers, and documents preserved
  • Artifact Collections — Physical artifacts from Mason County’s history, properly stored and cataloged


We gladly accept one-time gifts and offer pledge options for larger donations. A pledge allows you to commit to a larger amount paid over multiple years — making a significant gift more manageable while giving us the confidence to move forward with renovation milestones.

$1.7M Project

Total renovation investment in this historic building and its state-of-the-art archive facility

$400K Remaining

Your gift directly closes this gap — pledges and one-time gifts both welcome

Thousands Served

Researchers, students, and genealogy enthusiasts served since opening in 2022

Permanently Preserved

State-of-the-art archival storage protecting Mason County records for centuries

We gladly accept one-time gifts and offer pledge options for larger donations. A pledge allows you to commit to a larger amount paid over multiple years — making a significant gift more manageable while giving us the confidence to move forward with renovation milestones.

Rose Hawley Archives Fund

One-time gifts and multi-year pledges both accepted. Any amount.

How to Give

Donate Online

Donate Online

Fast, secure, instant. Donate by credit card through DonorPerfect.

DONATE

Mail a Check

Mail a Check

Make check payable to:

Mason County Historical Society
P.O. Box 569, Ludington, MI 49431

Contact Us

Contact Us

Executive Director Rebecca Berringer is happy to discuss your gift personally.

CALL

Help Us Reach Our Goal.

Every gift — of any size — brings the Rose Hawley Archives closer to completion and makes history more accessible to all.