TOGETHER WE CAN

BUILD A NEW STATE-OF-THE-ART HISTORY EXHIBIT!

CURRENT EXHIBIT - BUILT IN 1971

PROPOSED EXHIBIT - TO BE BUILT IN 2024

DISCOVER NORTHEAST MICHIGAN HISTORY

at the
Besser Museum for Northeast Michigan
 OUR MISSION
The mission of Besser Museum for Northeast Michigan is to collect, preserve, interpret, and exhibit
authentic articles and artifacts of art, history, and science to inspire curiosity, foster community pride
for all ages and abilities, and cultivate a personal legacy.

OUR VISION
The Besser Museum for Northeast Michigan Board of Trustees
recently approved a 1.5-million-dollar capital improvement project
that will transform 3000 square feet of exhibit space into a
contemporary, interactive, premiere history exhibit integrating
modern technology. This display has remained unchanged for
fifty-one years; thus its renovation ranks as a priority.
Modern audiences seek unique, immersive experiences the entire
family can enjoy. The Discover Northeast Michigan History
Exhibit will provide family-friendly experiences using 21st century
museum design and technology while chronicling eleven unique
time periods which celebrate Northeast Michigan’s heritage. This
aligns with Besser Museum’s mission to inspire curiosity, foster
community pride, and cultivate personal legacy.
To better serve our visitors’ wide range of ages, interests, and abilities, this exhibit will be designed
with multiple levels of engagement in the shared space. The contemporary display will provide
something for everyone, appealing to our youngest students as well as our life-long learners. As such,
the museum will help foster a deeper understanding and appreciation for Northeast Michigan’s
heritage. Additionally, adults will feel confident knowing they can enjoy learning while their children
are invited to fully engage with hands-on, interactive exhibit components. Interpretive labels will
prompt adults to read aloud thought-provoking questions to their children and help guide them
toward discovery in turn strengthening social relationships, developing language skills, and
promoting critical thinking skills for young and old alike.
Once completed, the new Discover Northeast Michigan History Exhibit will showcase the best of
Northeast Michigan, displaying an accurate historical interpretation conveyed through modern
technology, hands-on components, and immersive displays. Each will foster a deeper understanding
and appreciation for the connection between our natural resources and the historic events that shaped
Northeast Michigan communities. Moreover, the new exhibit will encourage further discovery of the
region by encouraging visits to relevant locations throughout Northeast Michigan. Connecting
citizens to local history, amenities, and natural assets will aid in creating a sense of place and
belonging and enhance quality of life.
Together, our community has an opportunity to build a significant cultural experience inside the
Besser Museum that will yield long-lasting benefits for citizens of all ages.
Your support will inspire curiosity, foster community pride, and cultivate a personal legacy.
Christine Witulski
Executive Director
EXHIBIT SCHEMATIC FLOOR PLAN
Project
Timeline
January 2023
Dismantle Current Gallery

February 2023
Schematic Exhibit Design
Phase 1

February 2023
Construction
Gallery Build Out

March 2023
Schematic Exhibit Design
Phase 2

June 2023
Design Development
Phase 1

October 2023
Design Development
Phase 2

January 2024
Pre-Production of Exhibit
Components

2024 TBD
Production of Exhibit
Components

2024 TBD
Installation of Exhibit

2024 TBD
Grand Opening
Celebration
 Together We Can
“The stories that these enhanced exhibits will capture is
so central to the message being sustained and conveyed
to new generations with relevance and purpose and from
a 21st century lens. The message and aesthetics are
critical to keeping the narrative interesting and relevant.”
Timothy Kuehnlein, Instructor
Alpena Community College

“As an educational organization, we relate to and

fully understand the need to keep your exhibits
engaging and contemporary. Thus, renovating
the 51-year-old exhibit gallery and creating a
new state-of-the-art, multi-themed history exhibit
is essential to engaging 21st century audiences.”
David Rabbideau
Superintendent
Alpena Public Schools

Inspire Curiosity
“At Alcona community schools, we strive to
connect students to their community through
place-based stewardship projects involving
our natural resources and heritage. Partners
like Besser Museum are integral to high
quality programming for our schools and
communities.”
Jenny Schroeder
Alcona Community Schools, Teacher

“As a fourth-grade teacher, I am so grateful

that I have had the opportunity to coordinate
taking our students to the museum for the
past seven years. The museum has been one
of the highlights for our students and we
look forward to all the new adventures
taking place at Besser Museum in the
future.”
Kristy Bergquist
Oscoda Schools, Teacher
 Foster Community Pride
“We eagerly anticipate the day we can inform
our 1400 Great Start Collaborative families that
the new Discover Northeast Michigan History
exhibit is opened and ready for visitors.”
Angela Bruning
AMA ESD, Great Start Collaborative Coordinator

“This is a legacy project in the evolution of the

museum and will elevate the experiences one can
have in our community in the process. Besser
Museum for Northeast Michigan is a primary
entity that makes Alpena a great place to live
and visit.”
Mary Beth Stutzman
President & CEO
Alpena Area Convention & Visitors Bureau

Cultivate Personal Legacy

“The Besser’s new Discover Northeast
Michigan History exhibit will answer a real
need to expand and diversify cultural
opportunities in northeast Michigan, and it is
with enthusiasm that the Sanctuary supports
this important endeavor.”
Stephanie Gandulla, M.A., R.P.A.
Research Protection Coordinator
Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary

“Documented tourism rates have steadily risen

in our region for several years, and Alpena is
once again a port of call for Great Lakes cruise
ships providing opportunity for thousands of
people from around the world to also benefit
from the Discover Northeast Michigan History
exhibit. The board and staff have my full
support, as this project will definitely be
money well spent.”
Matt Waligora
Mayor, City of Alpena
 Our Goals
 Transform 3000 square feet of outdated museum exhibit space into a state-of-the-art experiential
learning environment focused on the history of Northeast Michigan.
 Create access for all ages, interests, and abilities, from our littlest learners to our lifelong learners,
through exhibit design elements that incorporate multi-levels of engagement.
 Elevate the story of Northeast Michigan’s heritage in a dynamic, immersive exhibit chronicling
eleven unique time periods.

Exhibit Team
Christine Witulski, Executive Director
Sarah Honeycutt, Collections Manager
Johnathan Winckowski, Planetarium Coordinator
Matt Klimczak, Facility Manager
Mike Beaulac, retired Michigan Office of the Great Lakes, Besser Museum Board of Trustee
Claudia Chapman, retired Alpena Public School Teacher, Besser Museum Board of Trustee
Gary Goren, retired AMA ESD Educational Administrator, Besser Museum Board of Trustee
Janet Young, retired Alpena Public Schools Teacher, Author, Besser Museum Board of Trustee
Angela Bruning, AMA ESD Great Start Collaborator
Judy Dawley, retired Alpena Public School Teacher
Elly Diamond, retired Alpena Public Schools STEM Instructor
Marie Fielder, retired AMA ESD Educator, Member of the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians
Timothy Kuehnlein, Political Science and History Instructor, Alpena Community College
Sara Winter, retired Alpena Public School Teacher

Community Partners
Besser Museum will be working with the Alpena Community College, Alpena Public Schools, Alpena
County George N. Fletcher Library, AMA ESD Great Start Collaborative, STARBASE Alpena, Thunder Bay
National Marine Sanctuary, and the Thunder Bay River Center. The Museum will reach out to local citizens
to contribute pertinent content. Additionally, Besser Museum is also working with members of the Saginaw
Chippewa Indian Tribe, the Little Traverse Band of Odawa Indians, and the Sault Tribe of Chippewa Indians.

Besser Museum Board of Trustees

Ashley Peterson Claudia Chapman Gary Goren Jim Conboy Judy Suszek Mike Beaulac
Clarence Cross Dan Florip Janet Young Jim Johnson Michelle Miller Sue Stender

“The Board of Trustees is proud and privileged to be part of the next step in the future of Besser Museum.
This multi-dimensional, cutting-edge technology, hands-on exhibit will promote learning excitement for all.
Once completed, the Discover Northeast Michigan History exhibit will enhance the Besser Museum experience
for those who live and visit in Northeast Michigan. Please join us in making this project a reality.”
Michelle Miller
Board President

TOGETHER WE CAN
INSPIRE CURIOSITY - FOSTER COMMUNITY PRIDE - CULTIVATE PERSONAL LEGACY
 Donation
Pledge Form
The Besser Museum is providing TWO funding opportunities that allow you to leave a legacy, honor a loved one, or
demonstrate your support and commitment to the community now and for generations to come. You can do this by
choosing a NAMING OPPORTUNITY or making a contribution to the DONOR RECOGNITION WALL. Your
generous support is pivotal. Together we can inspire curiosity, foster community pride, and cultivate personal legacy
for generations to come. For more information contact Christine Witulski at cwitulski@bessermuseum.org.

Giving Opportunities
Option # 1 Option #2 METHODS OF
PAYMENT:
Naming Opportunity (All Naming Opportunity Donors Donor
will also be listed on the Donor Recognition Wall according to Recognition Wall You can make your
their gift level.) donation payable directly
to the Besser Museum.
Legacy Donor Level $100,000 + Gift Amount
-OR-
NAMING AREA GIFT AMOUNT STATUS
Reserved You can make your
History Gallery Main Entrance $500,000 $ ____________ donation through the
History Gallery Main Exit $400,000 Reserved Community Foundation
Anishinaabe Exhibit $200,000 Available for Northeast Michigan.
Thunder Bay River Exhibit $100,000 Available
The Besser Museum is proud
Visionary Donor Level $10,000 + Gift Amount to have the Community
NAMING AREA GIFT AMOUNT STATUS Foundation for Northeast
Michigan manage our Capital
Universe Exhibit $ 70,000 Available $ ____________ Campaign fund tax deductible
Timber Boom Exhibit $ 60,000 Available donations and pledges for
Industrial Revolution Exhibit $ 40,000 Available this project. This relationship
Fur Trading Exhibit Reserved ensures that your gift is
$ 40,000
managed with the
Great Lakes Exhibit $ 25,000 Available professionalism your
Ice Age Exhibit $ 25,000 Available partnership deserves.
Geology Exhibit $ 15,000 Reserved
Farming Exhibit $ 15,000 Available You can choose to make
Communities Exhibit $ 10,000 Available your donation payment
all at once.
Champion Donor Level $5000 + Gift Amount
-OR-
Name Recognized on Exhibit Donor Wall $ ____________ You can choose to pay
Leader Donor Level $1000 + Gift Amount your donation in annual
installments for 3 years.
Name Recognized on Exhibit Donor Wall $ ____________
Patron Donor Level $500 + Gift Amount
PLEASE use the
Name Recognized on Exhibit Donor Wall $ ____________ DONOR ENVELOPE
to specify your desired
Friend Donor Level - All Gifts Under $500 Gift Amount level of giving and
Gifts less than $500 will be presented on a temporary donor to send your gift.
recognition display in the new exhibit and on the museum $ ____________
website through 2025. Thank you!
Besser Museum is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit corporation. Gifts are tax deductible as allowed by law, acknowledged, and receipted.
 Non-Profit Org.
Besser Museum of Northeast Michigan U.S. POSTAGE

OUR HISTORY
491 Johnson Street PAID
Alpena, MI 49707 Permit No. 125
ALPENA, MI

The Besser Museum for Northeast Michigan was

established in 1966 to provide culturally enriching
educational experiences in art, history, and science
to those living in or visiting Northeast Michigan.
The counties of Alcona, Alpena, Cheboygan,
Crawford, Iosco, Montmorency, Ogemaw, Oscoda,
Otsego, Presque Isle, and Roscommon comprise
Northeast Michigan with a population of 178,692.
Besser Museum’s two-story, 31,000-square-foot
facility sits on an eight-acre campus. Museum
visitors can experience:
 State-of-the-art digital planetarium
upgraded in 2016
 Foucault pendulum
 Devonian Fossil Park where visitors can
keep all the fossils they find
 Fine art galleries with rotating exhibits
 Historic village with five original buildings over
100 years old, all from Alpena County
 Two maritime vessels—the 1928 Katherine V
commercial fish tug and the retired DNR Chinook
Research Vessel (currently being developed into
the Great Lakes Fisheries Heritage Exhibit)
 Exhibits of early industries in Northeast Michigan
 Thousands of Native American artifacts in the
Peoples of Lakes and Forest exhibit (currently being
reimagined with supervision from Tribal consultants)
 Fish and Wildlife exhibit, which includes both native
and invasive mounted fish species.
In 1962, local philanthropist, founder, and benefactor, Jesse Besser initiated the idea of building
a regional museum that would serve as the finest cultural center in Northeast Michigan.
The community has generously supported his vision for the past 60 years.
“What a great heritage Jesse Besser left us through the Besser Museum of Northeast Michigan.
Those of us who knew him are really appreciative of his original effort. He would be very
pleased that we are moving the facility to an even higher-level of excellence. So many in our
community are looking forward to this 21st century museum design that will revitalize 3000
square feet of exhibit space that has remained unchanged for the past 51 years. Together,
we are building a contemporary exhibit in the spirit of Jesse Besser’s innovative legacy.”
Jim Park, Past President, and Chairman of Besser Company

TOGETHER WE CAN
INSPIRE CURIOSITY - FOSTER COMMUNITY PRIDE - CULTIVATE PERSONAL LEGACY