The story of James Jesse Strang is one of the most unusual and fascinating chapters of frontier life in the Midwest. Over the course of his remarkable life, Strang rose to prominence as a Mormon prophet, crowned himself King of Beaver Island, served as Grand Primate of the Halcyon Order of the Illuminati, became a Michigan state legislator, and was even accused of piracy. Drawing from sources such as Strang’s encrypted diaries and accounts of his strict rule on Beaver Island, this program explores how a young man from rural New York transformed himself into one of the most controversial and intriguing figures in Midwestern history.
Founded in 1926, the DCHS preserves, maintains, and shares the history of Door County.
