Fenton Museum facts for kids
The A.J. Phillips Fenton Museum and Historical Society is a special place in Fenton, Michigan, where you can explore the past. It's located in a beautiful old building that was built way back in 1900. The family of Andrew Jackson Phillips gave this building to the City of Fenton in 1906. For many years, it was known as the Fenton Library before the library moved to a new spot. Now, that library is called the Jack R. Winegarden Library.
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Discovering History at the A.J. Phillips Museum
The A.J. Phillips building is owned and taken care of by the City of Fenton. However, all the amazing historical items inside belong to the Fenton Historical Society. This museum is like a treasure chest filled with stories and objects from long ago, helping people learn about the history of Fenton and the surrounding areas.
What's Inside the Museum?
The museum has many different rooms and collections, each telling a unique part of history. It's a great place to see how people lived in the past and what their lives were like.
Exploring Your Family's Past
One of the most interesting parts of the museum is its extensive genealogy room. This is where you can find records and information about people who lived in Fenton and nearby areas. They even have cemetery records for a large part of Genesee County, which can help you research your own family history!
A Trip Back in Time: The Victorian Room
Step into the Victorian Room, and you'll feel like you've traveled back in time! This room is set up to look just like Andrew Jackson Phillips' own office. You can see some of his actual furniture and imagine what it was like to work in an office over a hundred years ago.
Everyday Life and Military History
The museum also displays many vintage items that show what daily life was like in the past. You can see old clothes, tools, and even vintage televisions and photography equipment. It's fascinating to compare these old items to the things we use today!
There's also a collection of military items from different wars. These include artifacts from the U.S. Civil War, the Spanish–American War, World War I, World War II, and the Vietnam War. A very special item in this collection is a sword that belonged to Col. William Fenton. The City of Flint, Michigan gave him this sword when he became the leader of the 8th Michigan Volunteer Infantry Regiment.
