Pentwater Historical Museum — First Baptist Church

The Pentwater Historical Museum is in the former First Baptist Church. Charles Anderson constructed this beautiful building in 1896, facing the exterior in the signature cream yellow brick produced locally. The first church on the site was dedicated in 1884, but on November 30, 1893 recording secretary, Mrs. E.G. Maxwell wrote these words “This evening our church was destroyed by fire.” The fire was discovered on Thanksgiving Evening when the janitor went to ring the bell for the evening prayers. It started in the basement and by the time the firefighters arrived it had spread to the attic and the wooden structure was gone. Maxwell served on the committee appointed two rebuild the ruined church. At the dedication service for the new church in 1896, Mrs. Maxwell wrote, "Today our new house of worship was dedicated. It was the happiest day in our church history." The building cost $4649.83, and the congregation raised $1,300 on the dedication day alone. One Brother Beals, who held the title of “State Missionary” preached in the morning and evening as the congregation celebrated. Distinctive features of this very Victorian-style building include the steep conical tower roof and multiple small shutters and a facade of wood shingles and Pentwater yellow brick. A trio of stained-glass panels on the front facing gable feature beautiful rosette windows.

In 2012, the Pentwater Historical Society bought and renovated the building for the new museum that opened in 2014. †hey made many improvements to the building, including enlarging the basement for plumbing facilities..

Today, there is an ongoing fundraising campaign to expand the building on this site and create a new space for exhibits and the collection.