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 June 25, 2026
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Pump House Museum Announces 2026 Summer Speaker Series
HOLLAND, MI— The Pump House Museum and Learning Center has announced its 2026 Summer Speaker Series, featuring five evening presentations in July and August focused on the people, places, and events that helped shape the history of Holland and the Ottawa Beach area.
Programs begin July 1 and continue through August 26, with presentations on local history, environmental stewardship, Native American history, humanitarian rescue efforts during World War II, and the local connection to Pope Leo XIV.
Doors open at 6 p.m. Programs begin at 7 p.m. Admission is free.
The series opens July 1 with author Wally Ewing presenting his new book, Trees. In the book, four local authors — Larry Romanelli, William Martinus, Wallace Ewing, and Lawrence Burns — explore the history, significance, and enduring relationship between trees and human communities around the Grand Haven area. The presentation examines the intersection of environmental history, storytelling, and sustainability.
On July 16, Deborah Schakel will present a program on Lida Rogers, the influential educator and civic leader credited with inspiring the modern Tulip Time Festival. Schakel will discuss Rogers’ contributions to Holland’s beauty and environmental stewardship, including her work planting Keppel Forest with students over a 20-year teaching career.
Rick Bosch, a member of the Hope Academy of Senior Professionals (HASP), will speak July 29 on the history of the Ottawa Indians in the Holland area. His presentation will place special emphasis on Chief Joseph Waukazoo, the Reverend George Smith, and the Old Wing Mission.
Deb Schakel returns August 12 with a presentation on American socialite and humanitarian Mary Jayne Gold. After spending summers in Waukazoo Woods, Gold moved to Europe during the 1930s and later became involved with the Emergency Rescue Committee in Marseille, helping refugees escape Nazi-occupied Europe during World War II.
The series concludes August 26 with Elizabeth McEwen, executive director of the Felt Mansion between Saugatuck and Macatawa Park. McEwen will discuss the property’s connection to St. Augustine Seminary High School, where the future Pope Leo XIV graduated in 1973. She will also discuss plans for the site to become part of a future pilgrimage honoring the first American pope.
The series is presented by the Historic Ottawa Beach Society.
Summer Speaker Series 2026 Details
Join us for five evenings of fascinating local history and storytelling.
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July 1 - Wally Ewing presenting on Trees: Exploring the history, beauty, and enduring significance of trees in the Grand Haven region.
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July 16 – Deborah Schakel presenting on Lida Rogers: The educator and civic leader who helped inspire Tulip Time and Holland’s environmental legacy.
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July 29 – Rick Bosch presenting on Ottawa Indian History: Chief Joseph Waukazoo, the Old Wing Mission, and the Native American history of Holland.
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August 12 – Deb Schakel presenting on Mary Jayne Gold: A Holland-area socialite who helped refugees escape Nazi-occupied Europe during World War II.
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August 26 – Elizabeth McEwen presenting on Felt Mansion & Pope Leo XIV: The local connection to America's first pope and the future pilgrimage destination in Allegan County.
Doors Open: 6 p.m.
Programs Begin: 7 p.m.
Admission: Free
Location: Pump House Museum & Learning Center (directions)
Pump House Museum
The Pump House is the last surviving structure of the splendid Hotel Ottawa Complex. In the early 2010s, the Ottawa County Parks and Recreation Department, which now owns the building, began a partnership with the Historic Ottawa Beach Society to renovate the building for use as a museum. Today, the museum serves as a centerpiece of the Black Lake Boardwalk at Historic Ottawa Beach Park.
Hours
The Pump House Museum is open Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Sundays from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. throughout June.
Beginning in July and continuing through August, the museum is open Tuesday through Sunday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
 Visit the Pump House Museum at 2282 Ottawa Beach Road to explore Famous Faces and Local Places, an exhibit celebrating the people and stories that shaped Ottawa Beach.
About the Historic Ottawa Beach Society
The Historic Ottawa Beach Society (HOBS) was established in 2010 as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and now operates the Pump House Museum and Learning Center. The mission of HOBS is to foster cultural and environmental stewardship of Michigan’s Historic Ottawa Beach by preserving and interpreting its wonders, memories, and stories.
About Ottawa County Parks & Recreation
Ottawa County Parks & Recreation manages over 7,700 acres of parks, trails, beaches, and open spaces across Ottawa County. The county park system is supported in part by the voter-approved Parks & Open Space Millage, which helps fund park operations, maintenance, stewardship, and infrastructure improvements. In 2026, Ottawa County voters will consider Parks & Open Space Millage proposals on the August and November ballots. Learn more at miOttawa.org/parks-millage
Media Contact:
Daniel Aument
ob24hs18@gmail.com
Pump House Museum and Learning Center
Historic Ottawa Beach Society
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