Cambridge Junction Historic State Park in Michigan, USA - map, photos and visitor information

Research checked: 2026-11-01. Check linked official notices before travel.

Cambridge Junction Historic State Park in Michigan’s Irish Hills interprets stagecoach travel at Walker Tavern and later automobile tourism at Hewitt House. The historic buildings are closed for the season, so confirm their reopening before planning an indoor museum visit.

Highlights

The site connects two eras of road travel: Walker Tavern and the reconstructed barn focus on the 1840s and 1850s, while Hewitt House presents the Irish Hills’ roadside tourist attractions of the automobile age. Allow one to two hours when the historic buildings are operating.

Know before you go

Fees, hours, and seasonal access

Safety information

The route up to the tavern and barn has a steep grade. Visitors who need an alternative may ask staff for permission to drive to the top when the site is staffed. Ground-floor access at the tavern and barn does not provide access to their upper floors.

Maps, location, and access

The address is 13220 M-50, Brooklyn, MI 49230, at the junction of U.S. 12 and M-50. Use this street address to reach the historic site.

Nearby parks

• W. J. Hayes State Park is at 1220 Wamplers Lake Road, Onsted. It is another Irish Hills road stop on Wamplers and Round lakes.
• Watkins Lake State Park and County Preserve has visitor parking off Arnold Road. The lake and adjacent waterfowl refuge close February 15–May 15 and September 1–January 1; wildlife viewing along Arnold Road remains available year-round.

Things to do

During the building season, compare the tavern’s stagecoach-era exhibits with Hewitt House’s account of automobile tourism. The Walker Tavern Farm and Craft Market runs Sundays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., mid-May through the end of September; it is a seasonal event rather than a year-round attraction. Picnic tables and charcoal grills in the day-use area are first-come, first-served.

Facilities and accessibility

Designated accessible parking and an accessible Hewitt House Visitor Center are provided. The tavern and barn are accessible on their ground floors only. An accessible restroom is inside Hewitt House, and an accessible vault toilet is on the grounds. Indoor restroom use depends on the building being open.

About the historic park

The Michigan DNR’s Michigan History Center manages the historic sites within this 80-acre park.

History

Walker Tavern stood beside the route connecting Detroit and Chicago, serving travelers who needed food, rest, and lodging. The Michigan History Center has operated it as a historic site since 1965.

Contact

Check the Michigan History Center visitor information for the historic buildings. Call 517-930-3806 or email [email protected]. The official park directory covers park amenities and seasonal events.