Matt Varnum is the Executive Director for the Benzie Area Historical Society.
The Benzie Area Historical Society was founded in 1969 and is located in an 1887 Congregational Church on Traverse Avenue, in Benzonia. In 1988, Katherine Maley donated the Drake School property which is located at 11935 Fowler Road, in Honor.
The mission of the Benzie Area Historical Society (BAHS) is to connect people to the past through the vibrant story of the region by collecting, preserving, and interpreting the history of the Benzie area. Over 37,000 objects related to the history of the community are on display. An online catalog is available for viewing and purchasing various items in the collection. BAHS provides outreach programs for the schools and local libraries, lecture series, historical walking tours, and partners with the Oliver Art Center/ARTiFACTORY in Frankfort.
The Archibald Jones Historical Research Center was completed in November 2025 thanks to funding from private donations, including a substantial gift from local historian/author Stacy Daniels, and grants from the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation and Rotary Charities of Traverse City. The Rotary grant allowed for the purchasing of the high-density shelving to increase the storing of the archives threefold. The new wing includes an exhibit of the lowering of Crystal Lake; a research library with historical and informational books on Benzie County, Northern Michigan, and the Great Lakes; and an archives room.
In 2026, the BAHS will continue to host walking tours for Honor, Frankfort, Thompsonville, and Benzonia, adding Elmira and Lake Ann. Kaffeeklatsch is an informal gathering where participants share their histories and stories, and Jerry Heiman will facilitate a discussion on winter experiences, Saturday, January 24th, at 11:00 a.m. The Benzonia Academy Lecture Series is the second Thursday of each month, and will present "The History of Crystal Highlands" on February 12th, 4:00 p.m., Mills Community House and Zoom. ARTiFACTORY will have a theme of the American flags for poetry, painting, and music projects/programs.
The Benzie Area Historical Society will celebrate America's 250th anniversary this year with an exhibit showcasing various types of American flags throughout history and information on each flag.
BAHS relies on donations and volunteers to ensure the continued preservation of Benzie County's history. To watch Matt's presentation, click on the following private YouTube video, https://youtu.be/61SxRYFf3MA