Andrew Kercher Lectures & Tours

03/13/2026

The Wild West? Myths and Realities with Andrew Kercher

I'll see you at High Noon! Were there really ever any street shootouts in the Old West? Who was the fastest gun? How likely would you need a tombstone in Tombstone? The Wild West is big, huge. So big that stories quickly become legends, and legends turn into myth. Hear what's real about the American Wild West, and what's just another campfire story...and sometimes truth is stranger than fiction! This program will take place on Wednesday, March 18, from 6 - 7 p.m., at the Don Dodge Auditorium located at 200 Grand River Ave, Port Huron, MI. This venue is behind and across the street from the Port Huron/Main Branch of the St. Clair County Library System.

For more information and to register, please call (810) 987-7323 or click: https://conta.cc/3MGF826

03/13/2026

11/25/2025

11/16/2025

I'm really excited to announce that my show Around the Block has been picked up and there is more episodes on the way! I've already got another couple in the can heading off to the editor! Where do you think I should cover next?

09/09/2025

Hey everyone! I know I haven't posted in a hot secnond. (I've been pretty busy driving the bookmobile!) but I do have a great upcoming tour on the Huron Lady II on September 20th. Come join me for a fun Saturday afternoon and learn about the exciting world of Prohibition in Port Huron's Past!

Get you ticket today!

Have you heard the stories?? 🧐
Do you know the history?? 🤔
Bootleggers on the Blue Water! 🤯

Join us on September 20th and step back in time for a 90-minute cruise exploring Port Huron’s fascinating Prohibition history.
Glide along the same shores where illicit liquor once crossed under cover of night, while historian Andrew Kercher shares captivating tales of bootlegging in the Blue Water region.

📅 Saturday, September 20th
🕒 3:00 PM
💵 $50 per person
🎟️ Tickets: huronlady.com

Seats are limited—book today before they’re gone!

04/11/2025

Always a Welcome Sight! Michigan's Lighthouses with Andrew Kercher

They are critical infrastructure and iconic architecture. Join historian Andrew Kercher on Tuesday, April 15, from 6 - 7 p.m. at the Ira Twp. Library, to find out more about these sentries on the lake shore. Learn the how and why of some of the most famous lights that have guided everything from 1,000-foot freighters to sailboats on the Great Lakes since the 1820s. Hear stories of ever-changing technology, government corruption, German saboteurs, and lifesaving rescues! There is more than meets the eye with these beautiful landmarks.

For more information and to register, please call (586) 725-9081 or click: https://conta.cc/41Zs9NO

04/10/2025

TONIGHT! I'm really looking forward to this double feature!

03/20/2025

Anyone like Chicory Coffee? It was big business in the Thumb for many years! Ask the historian featured in this video!

03/16/2025

I'm excited to talk about all things booze and rum running at this gala! Get your tickets today, they will go FAST!

SCCLS Roaring Twenties Literary Gala

Transport yourself to the glittering 1920s at the SCCLS Roaring Twenties Literary Gala, an enchanting evening of music, art, and storytelling that captures the spirit of the Jazz Age!

Join us for an unforgettable evening celebrating a bygone era's music, art, and literature, set against the charming backdrop of historic downtown Port Huron. This immersive experience will whisk you back to a time of speakeasies and literary legends.

Delight in an array of unique entertainment, including:

Dance Instruction - Learn the iconic moves of the Charleston and East Coast Swing from professional instructors Dan and AnnaLee Higgins, and dance the night away!

Caricature Artist - Take home a unique keepsake from our talented caricature artist.

Historical Presenter - Discover the secrets of bootlegging in the Bluewater Area during Prohibition, with an engaging talk that reveals our region's hidden past featuring Andrew Kercher.

Gatsby-Style Refreshments - Savor elegant hors d'oeuvres paired with prohibition-inspired mocktails.

This one-of-a-kind gala is perfect for literature lovers, history enthusiasts, and anyone eager to experience the glamour and mystery of the Jazz Age. Dress to impress in your finest 1920s attire and join us for a night of revelry you won't soon forget! To register, please visit Eventbrite. Registration begins March 17, 2025.

Seats are limited. Formalwear is welcome and encouraged but not required. Registration is required for this event. Ages 16 and up are welcome to attend. To secure your free ticket, please visit our event page on Eventbrite. The gala will take place at CityFlatsHotel, 800 Military Street, Port Huron, MI 48060. Doors will open at 5:45 p.m. for check-in and seating.

Please call (810) 987-7323 for more information. To get tickets, please go to: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/sccls-roaring-twenties-literary-gala-tickets-1142978161449?aff=oddtdtcreator

03/14/2025

Excited to talk to a group of a couple hundred "Lifelong Learners" at a coffee and conversation event at Scoolcraft College in Livonia!

02/22/2025

This morning I went to the Blue Water Area Chamber of Commerce ribbon cutting for the new Salvation Army Thrift Store in Fort Gratiot! The Salvation Army was started in England, but goes back to the 1880s in Port Huron. In the 1880s, before the Salvation Army had a permanent home, they rented space above a storefront downtown. On at least one occasion in 1884, one of the ladies marching with their band was hit by a snowball, later causing Captain McCracken, the "lady leader" of the local branch to quip that Port Huron was "...in the hands of teh King of Hades!" She feared that “they could not succeed in wresting the city from him!”

Later, the Salvation Army would move their barracks to a rented hall on Water street, before eventually building their Citadel on the north side of downtown, where it still stands today. The 1903 Citadel is unique as the oldest purpose-built Salvation Army building in North America, as the group typically rented halls rather than new construction to divert more funds directly to their charitable causes. The Citadel not only held their meeting space but also store fronts on ground level to bring in more revenue. They would stay there until the 1960s when they moved to their current location on Court street. The Citadel is home to Enter Stage Right at The Citadel Stage today.

The Salvation Army was also well known for running a thrift store with donated items at deeply reduced prices. THe first store was operated out of the basement of the citadel, before they eventually occupied a space at 7th and Lapeer. Sadly this storefront would catastrophically burn in 1958. The new store front in Fort Gratiot will be in addition to the other thrift store in a former grocery building at 8th and Howard.

Have you ever thrifted something from a Salvation Army Store? Have you ever stopped to listen to their famous brass band?

02/10/2025

Tonight in Capac! Sick of hearing about politics these days? Come listen about politics back then! All about the Forgotten Presidents at 6pm!