- What Is History? -
Everybody and everything has a history.
History is simply what happen before today.
Your family, your church, and your school
are just a few things with a history.
Even Mickey Mouse has a history!
Actually, Mickey is quite famous -- he was created by Walt Disney who is also famous. Together they started motion picture cartoons. Thanks to Mr. Disney and Mickey, we have plenty of cartoons to watch today! The Disneyland amusement parks are named after Mr. Disney who also made some movies that I betcha you've seen! He and Mickey are pioneers (Pioneers are important because they lead the way for others to follow.).
There are many pioneers in our history and they passed much of what they did onto us. Our parks, schools, buildings, bridges and countless other things were built by them long ago. Maybe one day you will be a pioneer too!
| Can you think of a history that is important to you? |
 How about your history! |
Okay... now lets talk about "our history!"
To start with -- I want to cover some basics so everyone taking this tour will know what I'm talking about. If you already know it, "Good!" You can use the menu at the top or the bottom of this page to skip to another subject.
What Is "Our" History?
The map on this page is a drawing of where we live, a place named Bay County. When I mention "our history", this is the place that I'm talking about.
Inside Bay County there are many smaller communities (a group of people that share something in common) called villages, cities or townships (I will tell you more about them later.) Each of these communities has a history of its own that was created by the people living there. In my case, my community is the Saginaw Bay -- it's the largest fresh water bay in the world and a great place to live!
| Do you know the name of the place where you live? |
| If not, ask someone and have them show you where it is on a map! |
Bay County Will Be "150 Years Old" in 2007!
150 years may seem pretty old to us, but our history would be considered very young compared to many other places in the world. Bay County was "born"... so to speak, in 1857.
Before Bay County was created, our area was a part of Saginaw County which created in 1835. The first white settler to live in this area was Louis Campau who settled where the city of Saginaw is in 1813. In 1882, there were enough people living there to establish a settlement which was called the "Town of Sagana."
The first white settler to live in Bay County was Leon Trombley who built a log-cabin in 1832 along the river near 4th street in Bay City. The first settlement was the village of Portsmouth in 1836. A year later the village of Lower Saginaw (former name of Bay City) was created just north of the Portsmouth village. Later on the small villages of Banks, Salzburg and Wenona came into being and later on they got together to became West Bay City. Portsmouth, Lower Saginaw and West Bay City eventually got together to create the Bay City we know today.
Other birthdays in 1857:
State of Michigan will be 170 years old.
Bay City will be 171 years old. (Based on village of Portsmouth.)
Saginaw County will be 172 years old.
United States will be 231 years old.
| Can you name some places older than these? |
If You Need Help.
You may want to have mom, dad or someone join you as you go through our history. They will be able to help explain some of the things you see here and on the pages to follow. We all need help sometimes, that is how we learn and get things done.
Our history is very much about people helping people
and of course, fish helping fish.
Our friend, "Yellow Bird" will help us from here on. She's a certified crossing guard and has lots of experience giving directions.
A see a few of my "other friends" will be helping me as you take this tour. You may even know some of them.
| Welcome | History? 1-2 | Geography | Nature 1-2 | Discovery | Natives | Settlers | Lumber | Things | The End
History 2