About Us

The Fort Custer Historical Society is responsible for establishing and managing the museum in an old WWII barracks, Building no. 2631, at Fort Custer.  The building was moved to its present site where it was restored to its near original condition.  Since that time, a dedicated group of individuals headed by Michigan National Guard Colonel (Retired) James Spackman has stepped forward to continue the efforts and prepare the facility for its grand opening in 2012.

The museum will highlight the units that have been part of the Fort Custer history since the post was established in 1917 as Camp Custer.  Some of these include the 85th Division in World War I, the 5th “Red Diamond” Infantry Division in World War II, the 339th “Polar Bear” Regiment, which served in northern Russia at the end of the First World War, and the World War I 14th Division, (Regular Army).  This unit was popularly known as the "Wolverine Division”.  It was organized and demobilized at Camp Custer at the end of the war and was never sent into battle.

It will also place emphasis on the follow-on years of the training facility i.e., the Civilian Military Training Camps of the 1920s, Civilian Conservation Corps era (1933-1942), World War II, Korea, Vietnam, and present day.  In particular, it will address the history of the Michigan Army National Guard from 1805 to present.  Included will be Michigan in the Civil War, the 32nd “Red Arrow” Division in the First World War, Michigan Units in the Pacific and European Theaters during World War II, and today’s Citizen Soldier.  It will also cover the Custer years, the Spanish American War, and the formation of the Michigan State Troops Permanent Force, (also known as the Michigan State Constabulary).

It will pay tribute to the lives of individual soldiers who served at the post, the German Prisoners of War, the establishment of the Fort Custer National Cemetery, and Harmonia, the land area purchased by the government for the construction of Camp Custer.