Northeast Oakland Historical Museum: Full of Treasures and History

The Northeast Oakland Historical Museum in downtown Oxford, Michigan, is an unassuming building chock full of local history for the Northeast corner of Oakland County. The museum is in the old Oxford Savings Bank building. Two floors of objects, photos, and documents are artfully arranged for visitors to peruse. Being a volunteer-run museum, they have limited hours, so please check their schedule, especially around holidays.

There are so many things to look at in the museum it can be hard to know where to start. The inside of the main floor is one large open space filled with all sorts of different objects and display cases. You can wander at your leisure and check out what catches your eye. There is no right or wrong way to explore this museum. Many photos and documents show what things used to be like in the local area, as well as antique items. We began on the lower level and headed down the stairs just to the right after you enter the building.

Lower Level

Once you get to the bottom of the stairs, one of the first things you notice is the old woodwork around the door frames. It is striking how much attention to detail there is. The basement has several different rooms. There is a kitchen with sections of walls that used to be upstairs. A volunteer explained that these walls were part of the first President’s office for the bank. Another area has a selection of household items. There are a few more rooms with farm and other work implements. A narrow hallway holds an assortment of photos and documents. The items are well organized, and many are labeled.

People are a Treasure, too.

While wandering downstairs, a volunteer came down and started talking to us about the items. We all ended up at a large framed aerial photo of the Oxford area from many years ago. This gentleman had lived in Oxford all his life and had so much information to share about the picture and what was where and when. We learned so much from him, especially about the old rail lines and the gravel pits. He is one of the treasures that you will find in the building. People are as much a treasure as the objects behind glass.

Main Level

After learning so much information and finishing our look around the lower level, we headed back upstairs. We wandered around at our own pace and looked at the many interesting objects. A complete set of photos near the middle labeled “Then and Now” is an engaging display. You can flip through these to see pictures of nearby places from many years ago compared with that same area today. There were so many different things that you will indeed find something that piques your interest.

If you enjoy history, be sure to check out the Northeast Oakland Historical Museum in Downtown Oxford, Michigan. Being right in the heart of the downtown area, there are many other things to do and places to eat while you are there. We enjoyed the museum’s self-guided nature and the option to go deeper by talking with the volunteers. Whether you want to wander solo or engage with the volunteers for more in-depth information, the Northeast Oakland Historical Museum is a great place to visit.

After your visit here, don’t forget to plan a visit to the Michigan History Museum in Lansing or any of the Port Huron Museums in Port Huron. If you like ship museums, make sure to put the Huron Lightship and the USS Edson on your list.