March 25, 2005

What better place to spotlight Michigan authors and their stories of Michigan's past than the museum that captures the state's history in exhibits and events?

The Michigan Historical Museum in downtown Lansing hosts "Michigan History Readers," a monthly series of author discussions and book signings. The next date in the series is April 2, 2005.  All programs in the series will begin at 1:30 p.m.

"The museum is the perfect backdrop for the ‘Michigan History Readers' series," said Phillip C. Kwiatkowski, director of the Michigan Historical Museum System.  "Our exhibits offer a larger context for the stories these authors have investigated.

"The lectures also highlight how history connects to any number of areas, including travel, literacy and education."

The "Michigan History Readers" series includes:

April 2 - "ON THE BRINK: THE GREAT LAKES IN THE 21ST CENTURY"
Author Dave Dempsey weaves the natural character and phenomena of the Great Lakes and stories of the schemes, calamities, and unusual human residents of the Basin with the history of their environmental exploitation and recovery. On The Brink: The Great Lakes in the 21st Century has been named one of the Library of Michigan's 2005 Michigan Notable Books. [Location: museum third-floor mezzanine]

May 7 - "EIGHT STEAMBOATS: SAILING THROUGH THE SIXTIES"
Author Patrick Livingston chronicles his adventures on eight Great Lakes shipping vessels - only one of which survives - during the 1960s. Eight Steamboats: Sailing Through the Sixties has been named one of the Library of Michigan's 2005 Michigan Notable Books.  [Location: museum first-floor education room]

June 4 - "WINDJAMMERS:  SONGS OF THE GREAT LAKES SAILORS"
Joe Grimm, co-author of Windjammers: Songs of the Great Lakes Sailors, discusses the era when white-winged schooners dominated commerce and culture on the Great Lakes, and sailors' songs relieved their hours on board.  [Location: museum third-floor mezzanine]

This program is a collaborative effort of the Michigan Historical Museum, Michigan Historical Museum Docent Guild and the Library of Michigan.

The Michigan Historical Museum is a year-round museum in downtown Lansing. Five exhibit levels - surrounding visitors with  Michigan's past, from prehistoric times through the late 20th century - include an Upper Peninsula copper mine, the 1957 Detroit Auto Show and a one-room school.  The museum, the flagship of the Michigan Historical Museum System, is fully accredited by the American Association of Museums.

The Michigan Historical Museum is located inside the Michigan Library and Historical Center, 702 W. Kalamazoo St., two blocks west of the State Capitol in downtown Lansing. The main entrance and visitor parking are located north of Kalamazoo Street, just east of M. L. King Jr. Boulevard. Museum hours are Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; and Sunday, 1 to 5 p.m. The museum is closed on official state holidays. Admission and weekend parking are free.

For more information visit www.michiganhistory.org or telephone (517) 373-3559, TDD (517) 373-1592.

The Michigan Historical Museum System is a division of the Michigan Historical Center, an agency of the Michigan Department of History, Arts and Libraries, whose mission is to enrich the quality of life for Michigan residents by providing access to information, preserving and promoting Michigan's heritage and fostering cultural creativity. The department also includes the Mackinac Island State Park Commission, the Library of Michigan, the Michigan Film Office and the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs.

Read more press releases from the Department of History, Arts and Libraries.