The Steam Railroading Institute is dedicated to educating the public about steam-era railroading in Michigan and the Great Lakes Region. This includes the preservation of the skills and technology for maintaining steam locomotives by operating steam-era equipment and providing the experience of steam locomotives in actual operation.

In 1837 four couples came to this area, known as Maple River, from Oakland County to claim their newly purchased acreage. They were soon followed by a dozen families. These pioneer farmers chose this vicinity because the very fertile land was well-adapted for grazing and crop production.

Herman C. Frieseke built this house in 1872. The bricks used were from the tile and brick factory that he and his brother Julius had opened in 1865 beside the tracks of the Detroit, Grand Haven and Milwaukee Railroad.

In 1840 thirteen people founded a Presbyterian congregation on the principles of opposition to slavery and “total abstinence from all intoxicating liquors as a beverage.” It was the first church established in Owosso.

James Oliver Curwood was born in Owosso on June 12, 1878, and lived here most of his life. Writing and love of nature were his boyhood interests, and by 1908 Curwood was earning his living as a novelist. During the 1920s his books were among the most popular in North America, and many were made into movies.

Elias Comstock was the first pioneer to erect a permanent residence in Owosso. He moved here in 1836.

Born here, above his grandfather’s general store, on March 24, 1902, Thomas Dewey is known as one of Owosso’s most famous sons. After attending the University of Michigan and Columbia University, he began a long and distinguished legal career.

For discoveries in virology and genetics, Hershey, Max Delbrück, and Salvador Luria received the 1969 Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine and were credited as "The original founders of the modern science of molecular biology.”

Over 120 years ago, this building served as the office of the Woodard Furniture Company paymaster and stood on the south side of West Main Street in the 400 block. It was centered in the midst of the Woodard lumberyard that occupied the area bounded by Main, Shiawassee, and Clinton street and Michigan Avenue. When the Woodard's built their new plant on Elm Street after the devastating fire of their buildings on Main Street, they sold the lumberyard to Mulhall and Benkelmen, who moved the building to South Elm Street. The building was given to the city of Owosso in the 1980's and it was moved to its present site on the north side of West Main Street next to the Shiawassee River in Curwood Castle Park.

The Curwood Collection is maintained, supported and preserved by the Owosso Historical Commission, whose vision “To Foster Appreciation and Discovery of Owosso’s Heritage,” is supported by our mission “To recognize, preserve and bring public attention to the historical treasures of the city and to promote a historical interest in the arts.”

The Curwood Castle was the writing studio for one of America's greatest authors of his time. James Oliver Curwood was an Owosso, Michigan native whose novels were estimated to have been read by over 7 million people during his time, and whose stories were turned into major motion pictures in Hollywood. However, the once world renowned and famous author fell into obscurity after his death in 1927. His former writing studio (Curwood Castle) and his family home (Hoddy House) remain preserved in Owosso and retain the legacy of his life as a writer, adventurer, explorer, conservationist, and pioneer.

This one room log cabin, built in 1836 according to the Midland design style, was the first permanent residence in the settlement that became Owosso.   It was the home of Elias Comstock and his wife, Lucy Lamson Comstock. Over his long life, Comstock was a merchant, school teacher, justice of the peace, township supervisor, judge and county clerk.

Gould was elected in 1859 as Owosso's first mayor. He founded Owosso's first bank, organized the first school district, brought in the first school teacher, organized the first cemetery association (Oak Hill) and organized the first Congregational Church. Gould was also the first lawyer in the city and served as prosecuting attorney and probate judge.

The Steam Railroading Institute is dedicated to educate the public about steam era railroading in Michigan and the Great Lakes region. This includes the preservation of the skills and technology for maintaining steam locomotives by operating steam era equipment and providing the experience of steam locomotives in actual operation.