For St. Joseph Museum

Discover the history of Niles at the Fort St. Joseph Museum!

**Fort St. Joseph Museum will be closed on Saturday, September 30.**

Current Fort St. Joseph Museum Hours:
Thursday 10am-4pm
Friday 10am-4pm
Saturday 10am-3pm
Admission is free!

The Niles History Center Roof Rehabilitation Project has begun!

Mihm Enterprises is onsite working to repair the slate roof, gutters and upper fascia of both the Chapin Mansion and Fort St. Joseph Museum.

Visitors can park in the lot closer to the library as the Museum lot is being used for staging.

Because the project includes both the Chapin Mansion and Fort St. Joseph Museum, museum hours may vary throughout the next few months. We will post any changes to our regular operating hours. The Chapin Mansion is currently closed for tours. We expect to offer tours later this fall. Please visit our website or Facebook page for updates.
 
Many thanks to the Michigan State Historic Preservation Office and National Park Service for their funding assistance through their Certified Local Government Program.


The Fort St. Joseph Museum is located at 508 E. Main Street in the former carriage house of the Historic Chapin Mansion and features exhibits that tell the story of Niles from the prehistoric era through the 17th century founding of Fort St. Joseph to the modern business and industrial era.   

FSJ Museum - 2022

The Fort St. Joseph Museum also offers educational programs for all ages, including field trips, group tours, family programs, walking tours of the city's downtown historic district, plus more! 

Field trip fur trade

Check out the Programs and Events page for more information on exciting upcoming events! 

We are in the process of updating our exhibits and invite you to visit while we carry out renovations.  Our first floor will focus on discoveries made through the Fort St. Joseph Archaeological Project, which is literally rewriting our history! 

20230817_145824 (1)

Interactive fur trading post at the Fort St. Joseph Museum.

Railroad exhibit at the Fort St. Joseph Museum




Additional museum exhibits feature: 

  • Hands-on fur trading fort 
  • Ice Age Fossils and Prehistoric People of Niles 
  • Underground Railroad Connections
  • Pictographs Drawn by Chief Sitting Bull
  • Railroads, Business and Industry
  • Civil War and Military Service
For more information please contact: 

Christina Arseneau, Director
Niles History Center
508 E Main St. Niles, MI 49120
269-845-4054, x 4010
HCdirector@nilesmi.org

Mollie Kruck Watson, Assistant Director
Niles History Center
508 E Main St. Niles, MI 49120
269-845-4054 ext. 4013
mwatson@nilesmi.org

userway