MARY'S CITY of DAVID - The Israelite House of David as reorganized by Mary Purnell

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 Placed upon the "National Register of Historic Places in America"
April 15, 2009 as a "Historic District"
inclusive of 81 buildings upon 140 acres ...
read more

Summer Season

Due to staffing and health issues the museum will be closed till further notice

Appointments are not required, but strongly suggested.
rjtaylor@maryscityofdavid.org
269-925-1601
269-470-1891

Walk-ins are accepted but may have a waiting time
As we are under Govenor's order to allow 10 people at one time.


Mask are required.
6 ft. social distancing is required for those not in your group.
We will provide sanitary hand wipes for all upon entry.

There will be no walking tours from the museum on Sundays.
Museum Admission is $5.00 for 15 years and older.

You may call for further information/directions:
(269) 925-1601; M-F; 1-5 PM.

Museum

Eden Springs Campground
Eden Springs
Campground

Mary's Auditorium (Museum Location) Mary's City Of David - Photo #1

In 1997 Mary's City of David opened its historic properties for the public to view with a Museum/gift shop.  Due to the urging of several Southwestern Michigan historical organizations and numerous friends, the Israelite community, decided to open its doors to the surrounding area communities and the region's tourism.

The basis for this decision was three fold - as it would continue the restoration progress within the City of David ...

Colony electrician working on the Star lighting at the Administration building, 1999.

Would initiate a new source of income for the community's preservation; and most importantly will serve as an educational opportunity for the curious as well as the serious (research in sociology/communal studies, and comparative religions).

Auto Mechanic and repair garage,center, was restored in the summer of 1999. Paint, new cedar shakes and weather proofing made it look like 1930 once again.

The Museum will be ongoing and expand to meet the demand and to more thoroughly represent the unique history of the community, its foundation at Benton Harbor in 1903, its previous history back through the six churches in England, beginning in 1792, and its roots in the Philadelphian Society, 1652.

Mary's City of David Museum is located 2 miles North of Interstate 94, Exit 28; go North to Britain Avenue (turn right); 3 1/2 blocks East to Eastman Avenue, then turn right and follow the signs. [Map]

Or an interesting afternoon to see and learn something new. The Museum displays the most complete document and pictorial record in the world for an educational view of the fascinating story of the Israelite House of David and its Reorganization of 1930.

Mary's Auditorium (Museum Location) Mary's City Of David - Photo #2

The Museum is located in Mary's Auditorium and is filled with a vivid pictorial record and many artifacts from the community's history.

Mary's Auditorium (Museum Location) Mary's City Of David - Photo #3

The Museum Gift Shop is filled with an array of unique items from the Israelite community -- that you cannot find anywhere else.

The gift shop is next door in the former bakery and features items from the past, hand-crafted wooden products, a large selection of photographic material from the Museum collection, postcards, baseball bats, literature on the history and faith (original imprints), and items unique to the City of David. Gift shop hours coincide with Museum hours.

Your Grand Mother's Attic

The giftshop literature display includes printed materials covering the inspirational writings from Jane Leade's, Ascent to the Mount of Vision, 1699, through the most recent publications from England on the life of Joanna Southcott. The Panacean Society (Southcott, England), New and Latter House of Israel, (James Jezreel, England and Washington State), the Christian Israelite Church (John Wroe, Sydney), and the colony's printed materials are all available. Many publications are free pamphlets, while other selections are priced volumes. It represents the largest collection of published materials, inclusive of the most notable congregations of the Christian-Israelite movement, for sale in the world. Many tour groups that visit are amazed at the deep religious roots that span over 3 1/2 centuries and have influenced a number of renown religious congregations of today's Christianity.

The giftshop literature display includes printed materials covering the inspirational writings from Jane Leade's, Ascent to the Mount of Vision, 1699, through the most recent publications from England on the life of Joanna Southcott. The Panacean Society (Southcott, England), New and Latter House of Israel, (James Jezreel, England and Washington State), the Christian Israelite Church (John Wroe, Sydney), and the colony's printed materials are all available. Many publications are free pamphlets, while other selections are priced volumes. It represents the largest collection of published materials, inclusive of the most notable congregations of the Christian-Israelite movement, for sale in the world. Many tour groups that visit are amazed at the deep religious roots that span over 3 1/2 centuries and have influenced a number of renown religious congregations of today's Christianity.

Restorations to this historic site are still in progress, and each year there will be new features and exhibits to document and explore Southwestern Michigan's most famous historical presence, and one of America's oldest practicing Christian Communities.

The Benton Harbor Class of 1954 beginning a morning tour from the museum as part of their weekend 50th class reunion.

Shiloh Administration Building

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Over the many years of the Israelite Communities in Benton Harbor (since 1903), there have been so many lives touched by visits and interaction with the House of David and Mary's City of David (since 1930). We, at the Museum and Tours in Mary's City of David, would be very pleased to receive any written memories of events and wonderful memories at either or both Israelite colonies. We have thought to assemble a collection book of stories and anecdotes from those that wish to share an interesting, unusual, or just plain nice 'ole story about a visit with us over the many years. It would be a very nice feature to exhibit and share with our Museum guests through the summer.

Also, we would be very pleased if anyone having souvenirs or artifacts from the colonies' past, and would like to share that with us - we would be very excited. We have had a number of very kind and generous donations to our Museum, which are now on display for the public and identified as to the donor, and our sincere appreciation for their support towards the preservation of this history, and their kindness in the wish to share it as part of this educational repository of Israelite culture.

From all of the Brothers and Sisters at Mary's City of David ... "We thank you for your support and interest".

From all of the Brothers and Sisters at Mary's City of David ... We thank you for your support and interest.

 

A VERY SPECIAL THANK YOU
to the following DONORS to the City of David Museum collection:

Gordon Allan
West Sussex, England

Dr. Steven Balkin
Roosevelt Univ., Chicago

Benton Harbor Public Library
Fred Kirby, Director

Earl Boyersmith
Benton Harbor, MI

Chet Bush
DeFunik Springs, FL

Isabelle Fleck
New Castle upon Tyne, England

Pat & Ed Gerger
Benton Harbor, MI

Janet Hair
Indianapolis, IN

Keith & Leone Howard
Kalamazoo, MI

Don Johnson
Saint Joseph, MI

Ruth LaMore
Niles, MI

Ron Mahka
Saint Joseph, MI

Sara Mayer
Madison, WI

Gerry & Rothadelle Moore
La Rue, OH

Wallace Perrin
Vallejo, CA

Mary-Margaret Pierce/Lambert

Don Schultz
Benton Harbor, MI

Suzanne E. Snider
New York, NY

Judy & Bob Sutton
Benton Harbor, MI

George Anderson
Benton Harbor, MI

Beverly & William Bennit
Baroda, MI

Terry Bertolino
Union, MI

Wilma Burkholder & Sisters
Southwest Michigan

Lloyd Dalager
House of David
Benton Harbor, MI

Fort Miami Heritage Society
St. Joseph, MI

Rodney Gray
Sydney, Australia

Joel Hawkins
Des Plaines, IL

Paul Johnson
House of David
Benton Harbor, MI

Ron Kronewitter
South Bend, IN

Sylvia Lieberg
Saint Joseph, MI

Lucy Mayer
Benton Harbor, MI

Thomas Meldrim
Mattawan, MI

George & Vivian Neff
Watervliet, MI

Janie Peterson
Saint Joseph, MI

Donnie Robertson
Benton Harbor, MI

Alice Shingleton
Berrien Springs, MI

Wayne Stivers
Colorado

Dr. Heather Van Wormer
Grand Rapids, MI

Eden Springs Campground
Eden Springs
Campground

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