Events

** Please note: Please check event locations carefully and check this page for the latest updates. **

Open House – 1913 & 1953 Tax Record Books
Sunday, April 2, 2023, 1-4 pm
(Free Admission, Donations Appreciated)
Orchard Lake Museum, 3951 Orchard Lake Road
Come see 1913 and 1953 West Bloomfield tax record books. To learn more about your property, know your Township section number, property description and, if known, subdivision. Permanent exhibits interpret local area history and culture.

Tour the Birmingham Museum
Tuesday, April 4, 2023, 12:30 – 3:30 pm
WB Parks, Recreational Activities Center, 4640 Walnut Lake Rd.
Board the bus for a trip back in time with a docent led tour of The Birmingham Museum. See a new exhibit A Tapestry of Birmingham, which includes early Black settlement, abolitionists, the Underground Railroad. Also tour the oldest house in Oakland County – the 1822 John West Hunter House. See the WB Parks 2023 Winter Guide for details and registration.
Click here to register online.

Orchard Lake Nature Sanctuary Spring Walk
Sunday, April 16, 2023, 2-3 pm
(Free Admission, Donations Appreciated)
Orchard Lake Nature Sanctuary, 4700 Pontiac Trail
Join Naturalist David Anthony for a guided tour. Walk through rolling terrain and explore the breathtaking spring flowers. Sponsored with Orchard Lake Nature Sanctuary.

Open House
Friday, April 21, 2023, 1-4 pm
(Free Admission, Donations Appreciated)
Orchard Lake Museum, 3951 Orchard Lake Road
Permanent exhibits interpret local area history and culture.

Grand Open House: Exhibit Opening
Sunday, April 23, 2023, 1-4 pm
(Free Admission, Donations Appreciated)
Orchard Lake Museum, 3951 Orchard Lake Road
We are excited to announce the completion of our “Four Communities” exhibit! Please join us for light refreshments to celebrate the opening of the Frances Gadd Gallery. The “Four Communities” exhibit features the City of Keego Harbor, City of Sylvan Lake, City of Orchard Lake Village, and West Bloomfield Township. Visitors can also learn about the Herschede Tubular Chime Clock and Keego Theater within the exhibit. There are also six new exhibits in the museum highlighting West Bloomfield transitions, European settlers, schools, local first responders, and other notable people such as the Ellenwood Family and Albert Kahn.

Open House
Sunday, May 7, 2023, 1-4 pm
(Free Admission, Donations Appreciated)
Orchard Lake Museum, 3951 Orchard Lake Road
Permanent exhibits interpret local area history and culture.

Apple Island & Museum Docent Training 
Wednesday, May 10, 7 pm
Orchard Lake Museum, 3951 Orchard Lake Road.

Do you enjoy working with people? Would you like to lead 2nd grade students or the public for a tour on Apple Island or at the Orchard Lake Museum? Come see what it’s all about! It’s fun. Tours are in May/June. Materials and training provided.
RSVP by Monday, May 8 to snelsen@gwbhs.org.

51st Greater West Bloomfield Michigan Week Community Awards Breakfast
Friday, May 12, 7 am
(Registration is $30 per person)
Temple Israel, 5725 Walnut Lake Road, West Bloomfield
Greater West Bloomfield volunteers give their time, talent, and personal resources on a daily basis without regard for recognition or promotion.  We invite you to help us celebrate and recognize these individuals and organizations that serve our community year-round. Register for the Awards Breakfast beginning Friday, March 10, until Friday, April 21, 2023. GWBHS is a proud sponsor of this event!
For more details go to MichiganWeek.org

Open House – Food & Farming
Sunday, May 14, 1-4 pm
(Free Admission, Donations Appreciated)
Orchard Lake Museum, 3951 Orchard Lake Road.
This area was a farming community until the 1940s! Try hand farming tools and activities. Explore engaging exhibits interpret local area culture and history.

Open House
Friday, May 19, 2023, 1-4 pm
(Free Admission, Donations Appreciated)
Orchard Lake Museum, 3951 Orchard Lake Road
Permanent exhibits interpret local area history and culture

Join GWBHS in Memorial Day Parades
Monday, May 29, 9 am-12 pm
Join the parades! Walk, bike, or drive your classic car in the Memorial Day parades! Do you have a golf cart, with a hitch, to pull the GWBHS carriage?
To volunteer or for more information contact duannesonneville@hotmail.com.

Open House – National Trails Day
Saturday, June 3, 2023, 9 am-12 pm
(Free Admission, Donations Appreciated)
Orchard Lake Museum, 3951 Orchard Lake Road
The Museum will be open during the trail walk in partnership with West Bloomfield Parks & Recreation Commission.
Learn more at WBParks.org.

Open House
Sunday, June 4, 2023, 1-4 pm
(Free Admission, Donations Appreciated)
Orchard Lake Museum, 3951 Orchard Lake Road
Permanent exhibits interpret local area history and culture

Apple Island Tours
Saturday & Sunday, June 10 & 11, 10 am-3:30 pm [last boat leaves] (with a WB Parks bus driver break from 12:30-1pm)
Orchard Lake Museum, 3951 Orchard Lake Road
Click here for more details.

Open House
Friday, June 16, 2023, 1-4 pm
(Free Admission, Donations Appreciated)
Orchard Lake Museum, 3951 Orchard Lake Road
Permanent exhibits interpret local area history and culture

Juneteenth in the WB
Saturday, June 17,  10 am-2 pm
WB High School, 4925 Orchard Lake Road
“Juneteenth in the WB” is a community event to honor National Freedom Day. Free and open to the public, there will be food, music, arts and vendors. The oldest celebration commemorating the end of slavery in the US, Juneteenth recognizes the triumph of the human spirit. We in WB promote diversity, equity and a strong sense of community. Come visit the GWBHS table at this community event!
Learn more at “Juneteenth in the WB”.

Open House
Sunday, June 25, 2023, 1-4 pm
(Free Admission, Donations Appreciated)
Orchard Lake Museum, 3951 Orchard Lake Road
Permanent exhibits interpret local area history and culture.

Open House
Sunday, July 2, 2023, 1-4 pm
(Free Admission, Donations Appreciated)
Orchard Lake Museum, 3951 Orchard Lake Road
Permanent exhibits interpret local area history and culture.

Open House – Resorts
Sunday, July 9, 2023, 1-4 pm
(Free Admission, Donations Appreciated)
Orchard Lake Museum, 3951 Orchard Lake Road
Resorts, summer cottages, and camps were plentiful here! Come learn more about them and see postcards from that era.

Appreciation Reception
Wednesday, July 12, 6-8 pm
Orchard Lake Museum, 3951 Orchard Lake Road
Members, supporters, and volunteers are invited for refreshments with one complimentary ticket per person for a raffle with terrific prizes.
RSVP appreciated by not required by July 7 to snelsen@gwbhs.org.

Open House
Friday, July 21, 2023, 1-4 pm
(Free Admission, Donations Appreciated)
Orchard Lake Museum, 3951 Orchard Lake Road
Permanent exhibits interpret local area history and culture.

Open House
Sunday, July 23, 2023, 1-4 pm
(Free Admission, Donations Appreciated)
Orchard Lake Museum, 3951 Orchard Lake Road
Permanent exhibits interpret local area history and culture.

Orchard Lake Fine Art Show
Saturday & Sunday, July 29 & 30
Come visit us at this year’s Orchard Lake Fine Art Show!
Click here to learn more.

Open House
Sunday, August 6, 2023, 1-4 pm
(Free Admission, Donations Appreciated)
Orchard Lake Museum, 3951 Orchard Lake Road
Permanent exhibits interpret local area history and culture.

Pine Lake Marina Tour
Wednesday, August 9, 7 pm
Pine Lake Marina, 3955 Orchard Lake Road  (Park on Seminary Road.)
Gather at Pine Lake Marina for historical information about the longtime marina, water taxis, and trolley transportation. We’ll walk to the nearby Interurban railway bed. Registration is required through West Bloomfield Parks.

Open House – Classic Cars
Sunday, August 13, 2023, 1-4 pm
(Free Admission, Donations Appreciated)
Orchard Lake Museum, 3951 Orchard Lake Road
All are welcome to showcase their classic cars in the parking lot. Voters Choice winner receives “West Bloomfield & the Tri-Cities.” Significant Buildings of Auto Pioneers in Greater West Bloomfield Presentation” by Tim Pawl at 2 pm & 3 pm.
Reserve your space at snelsen@gwbhs.org

Open House
Friday, August 18, 2023, 1-4 pm
(Free Admission, Donations Appreciated)
Orchard Lake Museum, 3951 Orchard Lake Road
Permanent exhibits interpret local area history and culture.

Open House
Sunday, August 27, 2023, 1-4 pm
(Free Admission, Donations Appreciated)
Orchard Lake Museum, 3951 Orchard Lake Road
Permanent exhibits interpret local area history and culture.

Past Events


Monthly Open Houses
1st, 2nd, & 4th Sundays and 3rd Fridays, 1-4 pm
(Free Admission, Donations Appreciated)
Orchard Lake Museum, 3951 Orchard Lake Road
Enjoy temporary and permanent exhibits interpreting area history and culture. Occasionally guest presenters share their interests.