Historic Fallasburg Village offers students a fun and educational opportunity to experience local history firsthand.
The visit begins in the one-room schoolhouse, built in 1867 and still standing strong today. Although the school closed in 1961, it contains maps, books, desks, and other items that would have been used throughout its many years of operation. Picnic tables are available outside for students to enjoy a snack or lunch.
From the schoolhouse, it is a short walk to the Misner House. Built in the mid-1960s to replace the original house that was destroyed by fire, the Misner House contains a collection of household furnishings and everyday items dating from the early 1900s and earlier.
Across the street is the Tower House Museum, which is part of the historic Tower Farm. Visitors will notice the barn quilt displayed on the Tower barn, featuring an image of the Fallasburg Covered Bridge. Inside the museum is a collection of farm tools and implements, many of which were gathered from the village and surrounding area. The museum also features a detailed diorama showing Fallasburg Village at its peak in the late 1800s.
The tour continues next door at the Fallas House. John Wesley Fallas built the home in 1842 using lumber milled at the village mill along the Flat River. The construction of the house marked the beginning of the community that would become Fallasburg. Today, the museum contains personal artifacts from the Fallas family, along with historic photographs that help tell the story of the village.
A short walk from the Fallas House leads to the Fallasburg Covered Bridge. Along the way, students will pass the Beckwith Tavern and the Waters House, which served many purposes over the years, including operating as the village general store. The route also passes the Stagecoach House, where travelers heading to Grand Rapids could spend the night and rest before continuing their journey the following day. These three historic homes are now privately owned.
The tour then arrives at the Fallasburg Covered Bridge. Built in 1871, this remarkable structure has survived for more than 150 years and remains one of the village’s most treasured landmarks.
At the end of the tour, the group may walk back to the schoolhouse, or parents and chaperones may shuttle the students back.
Goodwill offerings are gratefully accepted for school tours. The number of volunteer docents provided will depend on the size of the group. Larger groups may be divided into smaller groups, typically according to age, so that the information presented is appropriate and engaging for each group of students.
For more information, email us here or call Bruce Doll, our president at 616-304-0082.