Experience Holidays and History at the Hackley & Hume Historic Homes

Step into Muskegon’s history this holiday season at the Hackley & Hume Historic Homes. These immaculately restored Queen Anne-style mansions, once home to lumber barons Charles Hackley and Thomas Hume, are decorated for the season. Enjoy self-guided tours, explore classic architecture, and discover the stories that shaped Muskegon’s past.

An ornate Victorian house in Muskegon with detailed woodworking, stained glass windows, and a prominent porch framed by an intricate metal fence adorned with a green wreath featuring a red bow.

Step Back in Time

The Hackley and Hume Homes are listed on the National Register of Historic Places and are excellent examples of Queen Anne-style architecture. Designed by Grand Rapids architect David Hopkins, both homes showcase craftsmanship that cannot be replicated today.

The Hackley House features hand-carved woodwork, interior stenciling, and a 13-color exterior paint scheme. The Hume House offers spacious living areas, a library, a sleeping porch, and geometric tile flooring in the dining room. Each home tells a visual story, from grand staircases to century-old details.

Elegant dining table set for a formal meal, featuring crystal stemware, fine china plates, and ornate red candle holders, situated in a room with traditional decor.

Decked Out for the Holidays

Since 1972, the Lakeshore Museum Center has partnered with local groups to decorate the homes for the annual holiday tour. Local businesses and community groups choose a room, bring their own decorations, and set them up, while museum staff decorate the remaining areas.

One long-standing tradition is coming to a close: The Minerva Dill Questers, a Muskegon chapter of Questers International, have decorated the dining room since the very first holiday tour in 1972. The 2025 holiday tour season will be the last year they contribute, giving visitors a final chance to see their work and celebrate this local tradition.

Holiday tours add seasonal charm with themed rooms, lights, and festive décor. Unlike commercial holiday events, these tours offer a unique way to connect with Muskegon’s heritage while enjoying the season.

Elegant holiday setting with a decorated Christmas tree and ornate stained glass reflected in a carved wooden mirror, surrounded by red floral arrangements and candlesticks.

Why You’ll Love the Tour

Visitors can step back in time and see how Muskegon’s early leaders lived. The intricate woodwork, period furnishings, stenciling, and original paint schemes make the homes a must-see for anyone interested in art, design, and architecture.

Holiday home tours are a shared experience for families, friends, and groups. Many visitors return year after year to enjoy the décor, historic details, and festive displays, and the themed rooms often inspire ideas for holiday decorating at home.

Tour Perks:

  • Move at your own pace with self-guided tours
  • Capture the festive displays and historic architecture through photography.
  • Vote for your favorite decorated room with two free voting tickets included with admission.

A beautifully decorated Christmas tree stands in an ornate room with stained glass windows and elaborate ceiling designs.

See It for Yourself

The homes sit next to each other, making it easy to visit both in one trip. Tickets are available at the City Barn behind the homes, which also features displays and a gift shop.

These family-friendly tours provide a unique opportunity to learn about Muskegon’s past while celebrating the holiday season. Come see the Hackley & Hume Historic Homes this year and make new holiday memories.

Red vintage christmas ornament shaped like a pinecone