Free Admission At This Rochester Hills Gem On Smithsonian Museum Day

MICHIGAN — Three Michigan museums, including one in Rochester Hills won’t charge admission Saturday as part of Smithsonian Magazine’s 18th Annual Museum Day.

The Rochester Hills Museum at Van Hoosen Farm, located at 1005 Van Hoosen Rd, will not charge admission Saturday from 12 to 3 p.m. The museum plans to give guided tours of the 1840s Farmhouse and a vintage baseball game, featuring the Rochester Grangers vs Royal Oak Wahoos.

The Michigan Maritime Museum in South Haven will offer free admission from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The museum explores and preserves maritime histories on the Great Lakes.

The Little Traverse Historical Museum in Petoskey is also participating in the event. The seasonally operated museum on Petoskey's waterfront has much to offer, including Ernest Hemingway's Michigan story, which explores the influence northern Michigan had on his life.

Here are a few things to know:

You need to download a ticket by clicking the “get a ticket” box on the Smithsonian website. From there, you’ll be able to search by the museum’s name or by location.

When you find the museum you want to attend, another “get a ticket” box will pop up, and once you confirm your information, you’ll be able to download your ticket on the spot. You’ll also get an email confirmation.

Only one ticket is allowed per email address. Each ticket provides general admission for the ticketholder and one guest, but additional guests will have to pay full admission unless they’ve ordered their own tickets.

Generally, if admission to the museum is free for children, that policy will still apply and the child will count as the Museum Day guest. It’s best to call the museum you want to attend and sort this out.

Some museums require a printed ticket, while others allow electronic tickets. If a printed ticket is required, you’ll see an asterisk under the museum address stating **printed ticket required.