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DOWAGIAC — The Dowagiac Area History Museum announces its Fall Lecture Series, which begins Wednesday, August 7 at 6 p.m. with Christina Hirn Arseneau, Director of the Niles History Center, presenting A Few of My Favorite Things From Fort St. Joseph. 

The Niles History Center and the City of Niles have partnered with the Western Michigan University Archaeology Department for over twenty years in the search for evidence of Fort St. Joseph, the fur trading post along the St. Joseph River in Niles. Field students and community members have discovered thousands of artifacts over the years that provide evidence of building locations and how the fur traders, soldiers and American Indians lived and interacted hundreds of years ago.

“Fort St. Joseph and the fur trade brought Europeans to the St. Joseph River Valley and this annual dig unearths amazing artifacts that give us clues to how people lived at the fort hundreds of years ago,” Christina said. “I look forward to sharing some of the fort’s history and how my favorite finds further the fort’s narrative.”

The Lecture Series features one program per month on a variety of topics. On September 4, Titanic author Kelly Scwarkan will present R.M.S. Titanic: Lasting Legacy, Enduring Impact; Brooke Clement, interim director of the Gerald Ford Presidential Library and Museum will talk about President Ford on October 2; and Tim Cook of Lake Michigan College will close out the series on November 6 with a program on President Theodore Roosevelt.

The program is free to museum members and $5 for non-members. Children under 18 are admitted free. Seating is on a first-come basis. Membership will be available at the museum. The museum is at the corner of Division and West Railroad streets. For more information, call the museum at 783-2560 or visit www.dowagiacmuseum.info.