Historic Site


Ella Sharp The Ella Sharp Museum of Art & History sits on a 10-acre campus that was once part of the 530-acre Merriman-Sharp farm. In her will, Ella Sharp expressed her wish that her home become a museum and that the majority of her property become a public park forevermore.

Today on the Museum grounds, visitors are invited to tour Ella Sharp's 19th-century Hillside Farmhouse, the Dibble One-Room Schoolhouse, Eli Stilson's Log House and the Merriman-Sharp Tower Barn. Other exhibits down Farm Lane include a woodworking shop, doctor's office, general store and print shop. And the farm's original granary is now Ella's Granary Restaurant.

Guided tours of Hillside Farmhouse are available at 11:00 am, 12:30, 2:00 and 3:00 pm. Visitors are also encouraged to visit the self-guided Merriman-Sharp Interpretive Exhibit located at the rear of the house. This exhibit examines the history of Ella Sharp and her family during the years they lived at Hillside farm (1857-1912) and features a DVD tour of Hillside. The book A History of the Merriman Sharps may be purchased at the Friends Gift Shop.

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The Ella is on the National Register of Historic Places, listed as a State of Michigan Landmark and accredited by the American Association of Museums.

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