Explore southeast Michigan and allow our region’s storied past to unfold!
“Keep up the good work on these tours; we need them so badly in this economy.” Bill Saul, Historical Commission – Monroe County Historical Museum
“While our state has been hit very hard with the economic downturn we’ve had to focus on our natural resources and history. Entrepreneurs like Karin Risko of Hometown History Tours are stepping up to make a difference. In rediscovering what’s in our own backyards, we’re reinvigorating our communities and revitalizing our state.” Steve Alexander, The General
_____________________
SE Michigan Heritage Tourism Networking Event
Capitalizing On Our Local History
Thursday, March 18, 2010 — 8:30 AM to 3:30 PM
Don’t delay! Early bird registration discount ends Wednesday, March 3rd!
____________________
Michigan at Gettysburg Bus Tour spotlighting the Michigan regiments at Gettysburg
July 1-5, 2010
Click here for details (Final details to be posted February 18)
____________________
Glory, Valor & Sacrifice: Southeast Michigan Civil War Remembrance Bike Tour in conjunction with Wheelhouse Detroit
May 2010 – details posted soon
_____________________
Local Bus Tours (May – September 2010)
Glory, Valor & Sacrifice: Southeast Michigan Civil War Remembrance Tour
The Underground Railroad: Retracing this secret network to freedom
Summer schedule to be announced soon
____________________
2009 Tour season concluded with the 170th Custer Birthday Celebration in Monroe. Event was a great success and it was a pleasure to meet so many new people who love history. Watch for tour pictures and brief article to appear shortly. Meanwhile, check out the article in the Monroe Evening News (Click here to read article).
_____________________
Discover southeast Michigan’s vibrant history with our series of published Driving Tour Guidebooks and narrated Bus & Walking Tours.
Our guidebooks and narrated bus/walking tours embrace various themes of the American experience and reveal the prominent role southeast Michigan and its people played in shaping our Nation’s history.
Hometown History Tours offers:
- Driving Tour Guidebooks
- Narrated Bus Tours
- Walking Tours
- Private Group Tours
- Expert Speakers on a variety of historical topics
- Organizational, Programming and Public Relations Assistance for your next historical event
Driving Tour Guidebooks
Our first release in the Hometown History Tours “It Happened Here” series, Glory, Valor & Sacrifice: Southeast Michigan’s Contribution to the Civil War pays homage to the local people who bravely fought to preserve the Union and identifies dozens of sites significant to this pivotal period of American history. Spend one day - or several – visiting these sites and discovering the stories of the people who fought and sacrificed and literally shaped our Nation.
- Glory, Valor & Sacrifice: Southeast Michigan’s Contribution to the Civil War. To order, or for more details, click here.
Narrated Bus Tours
“It [tour] was wonderful and I’ve bragged about it to several people. Elmwood was worthwhile seeing Colonel Brodhead’s marker, MaryAnn Mahaffey, 13th amendment creator and Strohs tomb sites – as well as the beautiful Ford gravesite upon entering. Loved the Monroe cemetery, too. And Steve Alexander is so good as well as the other speaker [David Finney] with his slide show. He is so well versed in these things. How did you ever find them? Got a kick out of Mark McPherson – you did a wonderful job lining up the right people.”-—Susie Harrison, Prudential Real Estate
Join Hometown History Tours as we travel via motorcoach to the various historic sites featured in our guidebook Glory, Valor & Sacrifice: Southeast Michigan’s Contribution to the Civil War.
Special guest narrators David Finney and Dave Ingall bring to life the special stories of the brave people of southeast Michigan who so valiantly served and sacrificed on behalf of our Nation.
Also, acclaimed living historian Steve Alexander portrays the infamous General George Armstrong Custer and will regale guests with his celebrated Civil War exploits and provide insight into 19th century life.
While most Americans know Custer primarily for his failed ” last stand” against Native Americans at the Battle of the Little Big Horn, they don’t realize this former Monroe resident’s Civil War service earned him “national hero” status.
For tour details and schedule, click here.
Upcoming Tours:
SE Michigan African American History Tour
SE Michigan & American’s 2nd War for Independence (War of 1812)
Walking Tours
Several walking tours are scheduled for Summer/Fall 2009. For details and schedule, click here.
Private Tours / Presentations
Hometown History Tours offers a variety of customized history tours and presentations for schools and other organizations. Contact us today!
Contact Information
For further information about Hometown History Tours guidebooks and narrated history tours, please contact HHT Director Karin Risko via email at: k_risko@yahoo.com or phone: 734.642.5712 (10 AM – 4 PM EST).
Check back often as new guidebooks and and narrated tours are under development and will be released soon!
