The Historical Society of Michigan (HSM) is the state’s oldest cultural institution, founded by Territorial Governor Lewis Cass and explorer Henry Schoolcraft in 1828. For over 175 years the Society has been committed to advancing the story of our state, educating our citizens on Michigan’s past and demonstrating how it is relevant to today. As a 501 c3, we are not a part of state government, receive no state support and rely solely on private donations, membership and a number of earned revenue activities.