The Michigan History Museum is dedicated to collecting artifacts that represent the state’s cultural history. The MHM collects objects that were made or used by the people of Michigan and/or relate to the history of the governance of the State of Michigan. The overall scope of our collecting is the broad spectrum of statewide history covering the period from European contact to the present day. The MHC no longer actively collects objects of Michigan peoples prior to European contact.

Examples of what we collect

• Items that tell stories about every Michigander’s daily life
• Michigan tourism items such as festivals and tourist attractions
• Items from all geographic areas of the state including Michigan’s Islands
• Michigan sports teams
• Local and state-wide manufacturing, technology, retail and industry items 
• Great Lakes history, except items that fall under the purview of the archaeology collection or the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act of 1990
• Communication items used/manufactured in Michigan (telephones/cellphones from various time periods)
• Michigan military history and home front during war
• Michigan Agricultural-related items

Examples of what we don’t collect

• Items not related to Michigan, its history or its peoples
• Commemorative/Recognition plaques
• Archaeological artifacts that fall under the purview of the state’s archaeology collection
• Items that fall under Native American Graves and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA)
• Two-dimensional items that fall under the purview of the Archives of Michigan
• Reproductions, fakes or forgeries EXCEPT in instances where the faked or forged nature of the artifact is central to its background history

If you have an object you'd like to donate, please complete our Artifact Donation Information form - fillable PDF, and email it to DNR-MHC-MuseumCollections@Michigan.gov.

Please do not bring or send items to the museum until instructed by a staff member to do so. 

Research Requests

We welcome researchers to our collections. Please contact the Collections Manager/Registrar at DNR-MHC-MuseumCollections@Michigan.gov in writing a minimum of two weeks in advance. MHM cannot accommodate same day requests to view/research collections.