April 27, 2005

Whether you're a car buff or a Michigan history fan, don't miss the 2005 Car Show at historic Walker Tavern in Brooklyn for the opportunity to either show off your classic car or see a remarkable collection of vintage autos.  The second annual event takes place Sunday, June 12, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.  General admission to the car show and tours of the historic stagecoach stop are free to the public.

The 2005 Car Show offers visitors the opportunity to get up close to these wheeled wonders and talk with their owners.  Enjoy a picnic lunch, enter the silent auction, play traditional games or dance on the lawn to music played by DJs Kevin and Sally.

According to Walker Tavern site historian Cheryl Valentine, the venue is more than fitting to host a car show.  The site was a stagecoach stop in the mid-19th century and then became a roadside attraction from the earliest years of automobile travel along the crossroads of what is now today's US-12 and M-50 highways.  Walker Tavern's roles in frontier transportation and early automobile tourism have earned it member status within the Motor Cities National Heritage Area, an affiliate of the National Park Service.

"Last year, people really connected to the historic setting," said Valentine.  "It's something a little different, seeing these wonderful cars against the backdrop of historic buildings and crossroads, where at one time automobiles weren't even a glint of an idea."

To help capture the moment, Valentine said a professional photographer will be on hand during the show to take and sell sepia prints of owners with their cars.  To complement the nostalgic setting, period clothing will be available in case people want to dress up for the photos.

Through June 1, there is a $5 registration fee to enter a car in the 2005 Car Show; from June 2 through the show date, registration will cost $10.  The first 100 cars registered will receive dash plaques and goodie bags.  For more information or to request a registration form, please call event co-sponsor MotorCities National Heritage Area at (313) 259-3425 or send
e-mail to nburnett@experienceeverythingautomotive.org.

The 2005 Car Show is co-sponsored by the Michigan Historical Museum System, the Friends of Michigan History, MotorCities National Heritage Area, Michigan International Speedway, Brooklyn-Irish Hills Chamber of Commerce and the Lenawee Conference and Visitors Bureau.

Walker Tavern is located in Brooklyn, next to the Michigan International Speedway, in the Irish Hills region.  Situated at the historic crossroads of M-50 and the U.S. 12 Heritage Trail, Walker Tavern is just 35 miles west of Ann Arbor.

Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Wednesday through Sunday, from May 25, 2005, through Sept. 4, 2005.  Allow at least one hour to tour Walker Tavern.  The historic site is partially accessible.

Walker Tavern, part of the Michigan Historical Museum System, is fully accredited by the American Association of Museums.  For more information, visit www.michiganhistory.org or call (517) 467-4401, 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 and strengthen the economy 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.