Benzonia, MI
Benzie Area Historical Society
Centralized Archives with Flexibility for the Future
Preservation and Growth Working in Harmony
To best serve their patrons, museum professionals must be resources for understanding the past and applying lessons learned that can benefit future generations. To that end, the Benzie Area Historical Society (BAHS), which owns and operates the Benzie Area Historical Museum, found an opportunity to use its experience with archiving to plan a versatile research center with an eye on the future .
The museum, which was converted from a 19th-century church, began collecting artifacts from the surrounding area in 1969. While, an addition to the museum in 2000 increased the organization’s ability to house additional archival materials, that area quickly filled up with photographs, maps, posters, manuscripts, letters, ephemera, and other items. In 2025, BAHS broke ground on what is now the Archibald Jones Historical Research Center, allowing it to achieve its goal of bringing all archives into a single facility.
Understanding how quickly the previous archives filled up and determined to adhere to the organization's mission of preserving, collecting, and interpreting the history of their community and the surrounding area, the museum’s leaders knew the long-term functionality of their new research center would need to be well organized and able to adapt to items acquired in the future.
Centralized Collections and a Vision for the Future
BAHS’ previous archives room relied on static wooden shelves on three sides of the room and one flat file cabinet, both of which had reached capacity. This created challenges with access, efficiency, and workspaces. Worse yet, space limitations faced negatively affected the organization’s ability centrally to store artifacts, put items on display, and in some cases even accept donated collections.
It became clear to BAHS that they required a solution that would solve their immediate storage and workflow challenges and also remain adaptable to accommodate needs that may arise in the future.
A Solution that Freely Adapts
Benzie Area Historical Society’s goal was to create a centralized archives area with space for staff and volunteers to comfortably work. BAHS leaders interviewed other museums to ask what storage systems worked for them and discovered a nearby historical society that had been using Spacesaver for decades. This strong testimony encouraged BAHS leaders to connect with our Michigan-based distribution partner to further research Spacesaver’s museum solutions and understand all the options we could offer.
Working with BAHS throughout the construction process to better understand how to optimize the new space and its functionality, our rep suggested our innovative 4-Post FreeSpan™ Shelving to deliver the versatility BAHS was looking for. FreeSpan’s patent-pending clip design allows the archive’s shelves to be adjusted quickly and easily in ¾” increments – by a single member of the museum staff – ensuring optimal shelf spacing for all types of materials.
Utilized in both a standalone cabinet and the archive's Mechanical Assist High-Density Mobile Shelving system, FreeSpan™ Shelving's configurations and related accessories allow BAHS staff to store standard archival boxes, bulky items, and smaller, fragile items all within one centralized archive space.
Download the 4-Post FreeSpan™ Brochure
Compatible with all of our 4-Post solutions and accessories, Spacesaver 4-Post FreeSpan™ Shelving is engineered to redefine modern storage by maximizing flexibility, speed, and functionality for its users and the space they occupy. Download Brochure
Download the 4-Post FreeSpan™ Brochure
Compatible with all of our 4-Post solutions and accessories, Spacesaver 4-Post FreeSpan™ Shelving is engineered to redefine modern storage by maximizing flexibility, speed, and functionality for its users and the space they occupy. Download Brochure
Mapping Storage and a Workspace
In the middle of the archives room, Spacesaver 420 Flat File cabinets were configured back-to-back beneath a nearly 10’ x 8’ countertop, allowing two-dimensional items to be safely stored while also providing ample workspace. Enhancing workflow, a cabinet equipped with doors and easily adjustable 4-Post FreeSpan™ Shelving keeps offices supplies organized and patent-pending FreeSpan™ Shelf Extenders prevent smaller items from falling behind shelf posts.
Day Use Lockers, in two different sizes and configurations, are positioned near the High-Density Mobile Shelving system to provide staff, volunteers, and visitors with a secure place to leave personal belongings and prevent workspaces from being crowded. Custom end panels on the High-Density Mobile Shelving and Day Use Lockers give the room a cohesive look and pleasing aesthetic.
Freedom to Do More
With archives consolidated into one location and easily adjustable solutions near their worktable, museum staff have become more efficient when reviewing and documenting new items, and they’re excited that storage capacity has nearly tripled. The versatility provided by 4-Post FreeSpan™ Shelving has made moving collections into the new space easier than expected. As boxes and objects of various sizes are moved into the Archibald Jones Research Center, staff can adjust shelving on the fly as they determine the best configuration for each set of items.
Spacesaver’s in-house engineers and design experts can give your museum’s long-term vision the freedom needed to come to fruition. Contact us to learn more about how we work with locally based consultants to deliver solutions versatile enough to protect, and grow with, your collections for generations.
