The galleries in the Jesse Besser museum feature wide varieties of artwork done by photographers, painters and other kinds of artists. The popular museum also features permanent exhibits which include the early days of the farming and lumbering industry. There is also the gallery of the Early Man which tells of the history of the first few inhabitants in the area.

It also has the avenue of shops that would make you have a closer look at the Alpena way back in the late 1800s. It is situated on the grounds of Alpena and is part of a group of historical buildings. The rest includes the Green School, McKay Cabin, Spratt Church and even the Malz Exchange Bank. It also is considered to be an open air museum.