Dougherty Mission House
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We are open for the season!
Our volunteers have worked enthusiastically to prepare the historic Dougherty House. Visitors' can experience first hand what early life looked life on the Old Mission Peninsula. Our first Docent led tours of 2021 will take place Friday, July 2 & Saturday, July 3 from 1 - 4:30pm ; we will be closed on Sunday in observance of the 4th of July.
REGULAR SUMMER HOURS
Friday 1pm - 4:30pm
Saturday 1pm - 4:30pm
Sunday 1pm - 4:30pm
Visiting the House:
Visitors will be met by a greeter on the Dougherty House front porch. From there a docent will usher them back to a bygone era, where they will tour the House, summer kitchen, carriage shed, ice house, and unique outhouse. Group tours may be arranged no later than 2 days in advance by emailing doughertyoldmission@yahoo.com
Off hour visitors may peek in the windows, view the demonstration gardens, walk the trails, and take a virtual tour of the interior on this website Videos page, the Dougherty Old Mission House Facebook page, or on YouTube at PDS Virtual Tour. The grounds including walking trails remain open all year, subject to wearing face masks and maintaining social distancing in compliance with the Governor's Executive Order.
This home was built in 1842 by Reverend Peter Dougherty, a Presbyterian minister, with the help of a Chippewa village headed by Chief Aghosa. The Mission was supported by the United States pursuant to the Treaty of 1836. By that Treaty, the Native Americans ceded 14 million acres of land to the U.S. Michigan Territory, qualifying Michigan to become a State. The Native Americans requested the mission be part of the Treaty, and the Mission taught religion, English, carpentry, and blacksmithing, to help them assimilate with the European culture which assumed control of the area. The United States made the payments to the Native Americans in installments over many years, with the final payment being made in the late 1900s.
Beginning in 2004, a group of Old Mission Peninsula residents collaborated with the Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy, the Old Mission Peninsula Historical Society, the Grand Traverse Regional Community Foundation and Peninsula Township to raise over $575,000. Even more funds were raised to restore the house and property. The 1842 home built by Reverend Peter Dougherty, a Presbyterian minister, and surrounding land were acquired. In July, 2006, the home and property were deeded to Peninsula Township. It became a part of the Michigan Historic Preservation Network, placing the home and property in conservancy.
In 2006, the Peter Dougherty Society was organized as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation to restore, maintain, and display the home and grounds. The Home and land were placed on the National Register of Historic Places with State significance in 2011, conserving it for future generations.
The home and surrounding grounds required extensive restoration. Now completed, the House site is an historical, cultural, educational and community center as well as a museum for all visitors. The grounds include the Heritage Trail and Disabled Trail as well as gardens which reflect farming in the late 19th Century. We have furnished the interior with furniture and artifacts appropriate to the period from 1842 to 1910.
This website contains more information about the Mission and Old Mission Peninsula, illustrated by photographs and videos. You are invited to look at the entire website, and then to visit the house in Old Mission Village.
Our volunteers have worked enthusiastically to prepare the historic Dougherty House. Visitors' can experience first hand what early life looked life on the Old Mission Peninsula. Our first Docent led tours of 2021 will take place Friday, July 2 & Saturday, July 3 from 1 - 4:30pm ; we will be closed on Sunday in observance of the 4th of July.
REGULAR SUMMER HOURS
Friday 1pm - 4:30pm
Saturday 1pm - 4:30pm
Sunday 1pm - 4:30pm
Visiting the House:
Visitors will be met by a greeter on the Dougherty House front porch. From there a docent will usher them back to a bygone era, where they will tour the House, summer kitchen, carriage shed, ice house, and unique outhouse. Group tours may be arranged no later than 2 days in advance by emailing doughertyoldmission@yahoo.com
Off hour visitors may peek in the windows, view the demonstration gardens, walk the trails, and take a virtual tour of the interior on this website Videos page, the Dougherty Old Mission House Facebook page, or on YouTube at PDS Virtual Tour. The grounds including walking trails remain open all year, subject to wearing face masks and maintaining social distancing in compliance with the Governor's Executive Order.
This home was built in 1842 by Reverend Peter Dougherty, a Presbyterian minister, with the help of a Chippewa village headed by Chief Aghosa. The Mission was supported by the United States pursuant to the Treaty of 1836. By that Treaty, the Native Americans ceded 14 million acres of land to the U.S. Michigan Territory, qualifying Michigan to become a State. The Native Americans requested the mission be part of the Treaty, and the Mission taught religion, English, carpentry, and blacksmithing, to help them assimilate with the European culture which assumed control of the area. The United States made the payments to the Native Americans in installments over many years, with the final payment being made in the late 1900s.
Beginning in 2004, a group of Old Mission Peninsula residents collaborated with the Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy, the Old Mission Peninsula Historical Society, the Grand Traverse Regional Community Foundation and Peninsula Township to raise over $575,000. Even more funds were raised to restore the house and property. The 1842 home built by Reverend Peter Dougherty, a Presbyterian minister, and surrounding land were acquired. In July, 2006, the home and property were deeded to Peninsula Township. It became a part of the Michigan Historic Preservation Network, placing the home and property in conservancy.
In 2006, the Peter Dougherty Society was organized as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation to restore, maintain, and display the home and grounds. The Home and land were placed on the National Register of Historic Places with State significance in 2011, conserving it for future generations.
The home and surrounding grounds required extensive restoration. Now completed, the House site is an historical, cultural, educational and community center as well as a museum for all visitors. The grounds include the Heritage Trail and Disabled Trail as well as gardens which reflect farming in the late 19th Century. We have furnished the interior with furniture and artifacts appropriate to the period from 1842 to 1910.
This website contains more information about the Mission and Old Mission Peninsula, illustrated by photographs and videos. You are invited to look at the entire website, and then to visit the house in Old Mission Village.
Happenings At The House
We were happy to welcome the Area Honey Bees from around Boon, MI. They were supposed to tour the house in 2020, but their trip was cancelled due to COVID. They were finally able to come this September. Thanks for visiting Ladies!
Peter Dougherty Society Board of Directors
Jim Brammer
Barb Hansen, Secretary
Rob Manigold
Jim McWilliams, Treasurer
Chris Rieser, President
Connie Sargent, Vice President
Barb Hansen, Secretary
Rob Manigold
Jim McWilliams, Treasurer
Chris Rieser, President
Connie Sargent, Vice President