HISTORY HANG

A Historical Guided Tour of the Alger House

A Tale Worth Telling

The War Memorial has a rich history steeped with trials and tribulations that have made this place not only a magical one to visit, but a wonderous and magnificent story to learn. From humble beginnings as a family home, a transition into a museum, then ultimately to the facility you know and love today. This building has seen influential political figures, famous inventors, and titans of US industry come through the doors. With all they legacy-filled history in these walls, including a few art heists, the story of The War Memorial is truly one-of-a-kind.

Join our in-house historian, Betsy Alexander, as she walks you through the historic Alger House and explains the different rooms and historical significance.

Tour Information

  • This guided tour spans 90 minutes and is held biweekly on Thursday mornings at 10am.

  • Guests will traverse stone staircases and explore stunning interiors as they move about the Alger House. The home is wheelchair accessible and features an elevator for all floors.

  • Tours are limited to 12 participants to ensure a personalized and immersive experience, allowing you to fully appreciate the grandeur and stories of the mansion.

  • While the tour is free, contributions to our Historic House Fund are greatly appreciated and help support the ongoing restoration of the Alger House.

    To donate, select the “Pay What You Want” button when prompted or select the “Continue Appointment” button to finish scheduling your tour.

  • Reservations are required and can be made below.

  • In the event of low attendance, please note that we reserve the right to cancel tours 24 hours in advance.

  • Tours begin promptly at 10 am (unless otherwise noted), so we encourage you to arrive early.

History at The War Memorial
Alger Service Through the Ages 
Alger Service Through the Ages 

In this special Veterans Day edition of History Corner, we look at the long line of Alger family members who have served in the military, dating back to the Battle of Hastings.

The Mystery of the Old Mooring Poles 
The Mystery of the Old Mooring Poles 

In this special Halloween edition of History Corner by a ghostwriter, we look at the story of the Venetian mooring poles that marked the Alger family’s property in the early 1900s.

October’s Lost and Found
October’s Lost and Found

There are eight men from Michigan who went missing in the Vietnam War in October. Of the locals, two were from Royal Oak, one from Rochester, and one from Detroit. These eight are among the 48 service men from Michigan who are still officially Unaccounted For.

Prohibition and the Algers
Prohibition and the Algers

By the early teens, the specter of Michigan succumbing to prohibition had accelerated greatly.

In honor of our new Speakeasy event series, we wanted to delight you with an excerpt from a story we previously published about Mary Swift Alger and her involvement in Michigan’s prohibition time.

Birth of The War Memorial
Birth of The War Memorial

The War Memorial officially turned 75 on March 18th! In celebration of this momentous occasion, we are telling the story of how The War Memorial came about.