Mason County Emporium and Sweets Shop

02/10/2025

Get ready for Valentine's day this week with 30% off candy and 25% off sweatshirts.

Checkout our clearance section with items up to 75% off, get them before they are gone forever!🛍️

The Mason County Emporium will be open from 10-4 Monday-Friday

02/05/2025

It is likely no single individual had more impact on the development of the lumbering industry along the coast of West Michigan during the 19th century than Charles Mears (1814-1895). While he did own significant timber acreage and operated early sawmills, his greatest contribution was making the channels and harbors at the outlets of the White, Pentwater, Pere Marquette, Lincoln and Sable Rivers more navigable for the early lumbering industry. This presentation utilizes Mears’ own diaries to chronicle this important work.

Purchase your tickets here: https://masoncountymihistory.org/mch-events/
Members get in free!

02/05/2025

Recipes change throughout history due to availability of ingredients and personal preference for taste. Preserving cookbooks and recipes help record these changes over time.

What's your go-to spice when making a dish? Do you have a recipe passed down from previous generations? Share with us in the comments below!

Join us for a sample of warm soup during the Downtown Ludington Sips & Soups event on Saturday, February 8th from 12pm - 3pm.
We will be offering a delicious sample from the Archives, along with recipe cards to take home.

Share with us what your favorite recipe is, and don't miss out on our sales in the Emporium while you're visiting. See you then!

02/04/2025

SCOTTVILLE — The Mason County Historical Society is partnering with State & Main Coffee to present a pop-up exhibit featuring some historical artifacts from the Scottville Clown Band. The exhibit features a bass drum purchased by band founder Raymond Schulte in 1930, “Big George” Wilson’s ba...

02/04/2025

Capt. John Bissell served Ludington carferries for over three decades

This year marks the 150th anniversary of cross-lake service out of Ludington. The service began in 1875, a year after the completion of the Flint & Pere Marquette Railway, which terminated in Ludington. Initially, break-bulk freighters were used — a process that required freight to be unloaded at ...

02/03/2025

01/31/2025

The Great Lakes’ Largest Car Ferry Fleet: Ship Numbering

Read blog post here:

  Photo: Pere Marquette carferries 15, 17, 18, and 19 in Ludington, 1913 By Rob Alway The tradition of numbering the Ludington ferries began in 1883 when the Flint & Pere Marquette Railway debuted its first two break-bulk freighters, F&PM Nos. 1 and 2. Its…

01/30/2025

Our next Winter Speaker Series is February 13th!
Purchase your tickets here: https://masoncountymihistory.org/mch-events/

Members get in free!

01/24/2025

Did you know we have cookbooks with recipes created by local Ludington residents dating as early as 1891?

Curious to know what the recipes are?

Here's your chance to find out!

Join us for a sample of warm soup during the Downtown Ludington Sips & Soups event on Saturday, February 8th from 12pm - 3pm.
We will be offering a delicious sample from the Archives, along with recipe cards to take home.

Share with us what your favorite recipe is, and don't miss out on our sales in the Emporium while you're visiting. See you then!

01/22/2025

Due to predicted weather we will be closed on Wednesday the 22nd to ensure the safety of our staff and visitors.

Stay safe and stay warm!

01/21/2025

It is likely no single individual had more impact on the development of the lumbering industry along the coast of West Michigan during the 19th century than Charles Mears (1814-1895). While he did own significant timber acreage and operated early sawmills, his greatest contribution was making the channels and harbors at the outlets of the White, Pentwater, Pere Marquette, Lincoln and Sable Rivers more navigable for the early lumbering industry.

Purchase tickets here: https://masoncountymihistory.org/mch-events/

Members get in free

01/21/2025

Stay safe and stay warm everyone!

01/17/2025

Stop in and see us and beat those winter blahs! Monday - Friday 10 am to 4 pm.

01/17/2025

Mark your calendars! Our next Winter Speaker Series is February 13th

01/08/2025

Our Winter Speakers Series is back! Starting January 9th at 7pm with our first speaker Rob Alway on the Railroads that built Mason County.

In December 1874, the Flint & Pere Marquette Railway reached Ludington. The railroad built towns that exist to this day including Custer, Scottville, Fountain, and Free Soil. Its terminus in Ludington started cross-lake freight service to Wisconsin, which evolved into the carferry service. Rob Alway will discuss how the F&PM impacted Mason County.

Event is FREE to members
Nonmembers $10

01/07/2025

ssbadger.com/blog/2025-150-years-of-cross-lake-service-from-ludington/

By Rob Alway The year 2025 marks 150 years of cross-lake service from Ludington, Michigan to Wisconsin. In 1875, the first steamships to transport goods across Lake Michigan were known as break-bulk freighters. Railcars at that time did not travel across the lake, so the…

01/04/2025

Our Winter Speakers Series is back! Starting January 9th at 7pm with our first speaker Rob Alway on the Railroads that built Mason County.

In December 1874, the Flint & Pere Marquette Railway reached Ludington. The railroad built towns that exist to this day including Custer, Scottville, Fountain, and Free Soil. Its terminus in Ludington started cross-lake freight service to Wisconsin, which evolved into the carferry service. Rob Alway will discuss how the F&PM impacted Mason County.

Event is FREE to members
Nonmembers $10

Get Tickets Here: https://masoncountymihistory.org/winter-speaker-series/

Zoom link available to members

01/03/2025

Take 60% off all Christmas merchandise!

More merchandise across the store, stop in today to get ready for next Christmas

01/02/2025

We are changing our hours for winter, we will now be open Monday-Friday from 10-4. Contact us today at [email protected] to schedule a research appointment!

12/25/2024

Merry Christmas from everyone at the Mason County Historical Society!

12/18/2024

Come Visit us from 4-8pm tonight (12/18)

12/17/2024

Take advantage of all the sales we have at the Emporium! Grab a last-minute stocking stuffer from classic tin-style hot cocoa to Christmas tea towels and more. The Emporium will be open from 10-5 Tuesday through Saturday

12/14/2024

Stop in today for the cookie walk 🍪and Canvas🖌️ from 1-4! Meet artist Karen Moeller and view some amazing artwork.

Take 25% off everything in store, we are open today from 10-5

12/12/2024

The downtown cookie walk is this Saturday (Dec 14) from 1-4! Meet with a local artist and take a tour of our archives.

Get your tickets here! https://www.eventbrite.com/e/downtown-ludington-cookie-walk-tickets-1065817632229?aff=oddtdtcreator

12/04/2024

Give the gift of membership this holiday season. Memberships are good for one year and unlock exclusive member-only benefits including; discounts on nonfood events, discounts in all 3 giftshops, and unlimited admission to both museums, 12 free research visits, and access to our weekly enews letter.

12/01/2024

Get your tickets here! https://www.eventbrite.com/e/downtown-ludington-cookie-walk-tickets-1065817632229?aff=oddtdtcreator

11/30/2024

We will be open late today! Sales going on from 10-8pm!

11/29/2024

Stop by the Emporium today for sales throughout the store. Pick up a free cup of coffee too!

11/26/2024

We will be closed this Wednesday and Thursday for the holiday. We will reopen at 10am on Black Friday.

11/19/2024

Give the gift of membership this holiday season. Memberships are good for one year and unlock exclusive member-only benefits including; discounts on nonfood events, discounts in all 3 giftshops, and unlimited admission to both museums, 12 free research visits, and access to our weekly enews letter.