From Pelts to Plows: Michigan’s Shift from Fur Trade to Settlement

This program by the Lakeshore Museum Center explores Michigan’s transition from a fur trade economy to agricultural settlement in the 18th and 19th centuries. Through maps, historical images, primary sources, and some objects from our education collection, participants will examine the shifting roles of Native communities, European traders, and American settlers. The presentation highlights how changing land use, economic priorities, and cultural dynamics shaped our region’s development. This program provides historical context for Michigan’s early industries and settlement patterns, offering insight into the broader story of expansion and change in the Great Lakes region. Registration required. This program is part of our Big Read Lakeshore Initiative, an annual fall community read inspired by this year’s selected books: I Cheerfully Refuse, by Leif Enger; A Wish in the Dark, by Christina Soontornvat; and Journey, by Aaron Becker. Visit the MADL website for registration information.