Thank you for considering the Lakeshore Museum Center for your donation. The Museum relies on donations from individuals, organizations, and corporations.

The Museum considers offers of:

• Archival material

• Three-dimensional objects

• Cultural history artifacts

• Natural history specimens

• Archaeological artifacts

These items are included in the Museum’s permanent collection, education and hands-on use, or reference collection. Artifacts are used to benefit the Lakeshore Museum Center, Archives, Hackley & Hume Historic Sites, Fire Barn Museum, and the Scolnik House of the Depression Era.

How to Donate an Artifact

To inquire about donating to the collection of the Lakeshore Museum Center, please contact the Collections Manager at 231.724.5532 or via email at [email protected].

Photographs and descriptions via email are encouraged.

Please do not bring or mail items to the Museum. They will not be accepted. First, contact the Collections Manager to schedule time to review your donation.

Staff cannot appraise, assign a monetary value to items or suggest specific appraisers. If you plan to get an appraisal for an artifact, please do this before leaving items in the custody of the Museum and completing the donation.

Thank you for your interest in supporting the Lakeshore Museum Center. If you have any questions, contact our staff today!

Artifact Selection Criteria

Artifact selection at the Lakeshore Museum Center is based on the following criteria:

• Relevance to the mission and collection of the Lakeshore Museum Center

• Condition of the item

• Long-term care requirements of the item

The Acquisitions Committee reviews donations on a monthly basis. Decisions are based on the item’s connection to Muskegon County, its condition, and possibilities for exhibits or educational programming. All Committee recommendations are submitted to the Board of Trustees for formal acceptance or decline. This process can take several weeks.