When the Bohannon School was built in 1901, its first occupants could not have known that their school would still be fulfilling its intended role in education more than 80 years later. With its inkwells, McGuffey readers, and wood-burning stove resting in the corner, the school is reminiscent of a long ago era when the Golden Rule and the three R's were the mainstays of education.
Originally located in Jasper Township, near Midland, Michigan, the school was brought to the CMU campus in 1970. The Museum of Cultural and Natural History staff and many dedicated friends worked to restore the building to its original state. Donated artifacts helped to make it complete.
Dedicated as the Gerald L. Poor Museum, it now stands as a monument to rural education. The schoolhouse is located on the southwest corner of Preston and West Campus Drive streets.
Schedule a visit
One-Room Schoolhouse tours & activities available:
- Schoolhouse lesson (reading, 'riting, and 'rithmetic)
- Schoolhouse culture (what else the schoolhouse was used for, pranks, make up of students)
- Recess games and schoolhouse lunch
- Spelling Bee
Registration Information
Print, complete and fax the Tours and Activities to (989) 774-2612. Contact us by e-mail or call (989) 774-3829. NOTE: Please schedule at least two (2) weeks in advance to reserve a time slot and avoid conflicting visits.
Suggested donations
- Tours: $0.50 per student and $1 per adult
- Extended activities: $2 per student
- School Resource Kits: $5 for 3-day loan
Schoolhouse Saturdays
2013: June 8, July 13, August 10, September 14, and October 12
9 a.m. to noon
Corner of West Campus Dr. and Preston St.
Due to the success of last year, the Bohannon Schoolhouse and Gerald Poor Museum on the campus of Central Michigan University will again be open to visitors one Saturday each month. Tour the schoolhouse and participate in fun, educational activities from another era.
The schoolhouse is located on the corner of West Campus Drive and Preston Street. For more information, contact the Museum of Cultural and Natural History at cmuseum@cmich.edu
or 989-774-3829.