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Eastern Michigan Events
July 1: Plymouth
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"Whimsical Wednesdays" at the Plymouth Historical Museum begin Wednesday, June 24 at 1:30 PM. Each "Whimsical Wednesday" features an exciting children's story with one Wednesday dedicated to a book on fun history about the city of Plymouth. On July 1, Plymouth Historical Museum's Education Coordinator Anna Lopez reads Footsteps in History, a short historical story about Plymouth and how our community changed and grew to become the great area it is today. The cost of admission to Whimsical Wednesdays is $5 for adults, $2 for kids 5-17, and $10 for families. After each book reading, attendees can tour the Museum and see the "In the Presence of Lincoln" exhibit. For more information, contact the Plymouth Historical Society by phone at (734) 455-8940 or visit their website. July 8: Clinton Township
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The Greater Clinton Township Historical Society proudly presents Wednesday Night at the Museum in July. Come visit the Clinton Township Historical Village, including the 1880's Moravian Meeting House and the 1840's Williams Log Cabin. Moravian Meeting House was the Township's first town hall, and is now a museum highlighting the history of the Township. New displays include the evolution of cameras, stereoviewers, and sound recording devices throughout the years. The Williams Log Cabin is refurbished to resemble the 1840's when it may have been a canal worker's home on the nearby Clinton-Kalamazoo Canal. The Historical Village will be open on Wednesday nights, July 8th, 15th, and 22nd, from 6:00p to 9:00p. The July 8th open house is in conjunction with the Clinton Township fireworks display at dusk. The Village is located at Romeo Plank and Canal Roads, on the grounds of the Clinton Township Civic Center. For more information, contact the Historical Society at (586) 263-7025 or visit their website. July 8: Plymouth
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On July 8, Peggy Price Heiney reads her book about a teddy bear experiencing his own adventures after his companion Elizabeth forgets to take him back home with her to Seattle following a vacation at her Grandpa's house in northern Michigan. Heiney's book, titled Lonely Teddy, is available on Amazon.com. The cost of admission to Whimsical Wednesdays is $5 for adults, $2 for kids 5-17, and $10 for families. After each book reading, attendees can tour the Museum and see the "In the Presence of Lincoln" exhibit. For more information, contact the Plymouth Historical Society by phone at (734) 455-8940 or visit their website. July 11: Plymouth
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Join the Plymouth Historical Society on July 11 for our annual Craft Bazaar and Bake Sale, this year held in conjunction with Art in the Park. The Plymouth Historical Museum will be open free to the public from 9 AM to 5 PM; the Craft Bazaar also has free admission. Be sure to purchase raffle tickets to win craft items donated by craft vendors. For more information contact the Historical Society at (734) 455-8940 or visit their website. July 12: Chesterfield Township
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Join the Chesterfield Township Historical Society for a special display on July 12. Noted local historian Karl Mark Pall will have a display on Ernie Pyle at the Historic Village from 1:00pm to 3:00pm. For more information contact the Historical Society at (586) 749-3713 or visit their website. July 15: Plymouth
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On July 15, first-time children's book author Beth Conway shares Rachel's story in her book Rachel and the Magic Beads. While on vacation with a dear friend and her family, the idea to write a book about Rachel, her friend's child with Down syndrome, was born. While Rachel's brother Johnny watched as his sister danced around with her beads, the author and he decided they wanted to capture her fun in this little book. Twenty percent of the proceeds of the sale of the book go to an organization called the "Belle Center" in Chicago, which mainstreams children with disabilities. The cost of admission to Whimsical Wednesdays is $5 for adults, $2 for kids 5-17, and $10 for families. After each book reading, attendees can tour the Museum and see the "In the Presence of Lincoln" exhibit. For more information, contact the Plymouth Historical Society by phone at (734) 455-8940 or visit their website. July 17-18: Detroit
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The show must go on! Despite the loss of title sponsor Chrysler, the 17th annual Concert of Colors returns to the Max M. Fisher Music Center in downtown Detroit on Saturday, July 17 and Sunday, July 18 to once again celebrate metro Detroit's cultural diversity through music. Among the performers set to appear free of charge are guitarist/singer/songwriter Vieux Farka Toura, son of Malian musical legend Ali Farka Toure; and Detroit native Don Was, who will reprise his spectacular Detroit Super Session with a new cavalcade of classic local acts. Check in for more details and schedule updates at www.concertofcolors.com. July 25: Pontiac
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The Oakland County Pioneer and Historical Society invites you to A Day at Pine Grove Saturday, July 25 from 12 noon to 4pm. Admission charges are $8 for adults if purchased before July 25 and $10 at the gate. Children under 12 are free. This special event will feature music by the Church Street Singers, Great Lakes Ancient Field Musick, and the Fife and Drum Corps. In addition, antique appraisals, children's historic games and toys, and tours of Pine Grove Estates will be available. Ice Cream and Cake are free with admission and special treasures will be for sale. For more information call the Society at (248) 338-6732. July 25: Gagetown
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Join the Friends of the Thumb Octagon Barn for their annual themed tea party "Christmas in July". The teas begin at 12:30 p.m. in the beautifully restored home of James and Cora Purdy. The cost is $10 and will include much more than just tea and scones. Please call Judy Wallace at (989) 872-2766 to make a reservation. July 27: Detroit
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Join the Jewish Historical Society of Michigan for our award-winning tour of the important sites and neighborhoods of old Jewish Detroit. These docent-led bus tours will include a stop at the Detroit Historical Museum for the acclaimed exhibit "From Haven to Home," which traces more than 350 years of Jewish life in American and Michigan. Departure is at 12:30pm from Congregation Shaarey Zedek in Southfield. Water and a snack will be provided. For JHS members, the cost is $25. For non-members, the cost of the tour is $27. For more information contact the Jewish Historical Society of Michigan at (248) 432-5517 or visit their website. August 7: Saline
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The US 12 Heritage Trail Yard Sale will be held on August 7 and 8 along the 212 mile historic Old Sauk Trail The yard sale at the Rentschler Farm will benefit the Saline Area Historical Society Museums which include the Rentschler Farm and the Saline Depot on North Ann Arbor St. Also included in the sale will be Architectural Salvage items from old homes and other historic structures. The sale hours are Friday, August 7 from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Saturday, August 8 from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. The historic society is asking for donations of items for either the yard sale or the salvage sale. These should be usable clean household items: furniture, linens, book, toys, luggage, dishes, hand tools and decorating accessories. Antiques are especially appreciated. Clothing, large appliances, and electronics will not be accepted. Donated items can be brought the farm museum on Saturday, August 1 between 11:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. or the following Monday through Thursday between 5:00 and 7:00 p.m. Contact Janet at 734-429-3164; 734-429-1174 or the museum office at 734-944-0442 for more information.
August 15: Gagetown
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Join the Friends of the Thumb Octagon Barn for their annual themed tea party "Vintage Hats". The teas begin at 12:30 p.m. in the beautifully restored home of James and Cora Purdy. The cost is $10 and will include much more than just tea and scones. Please call Michele Szostak at (989) 672-0052 to make a reservation. August 15: Detroit
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Preservation Wayne, Detroit's oldest and largest Historic Preservation organization presents their annual Theatre Tour. Join us behind the curtain for a look at seven historic venues including the Fox Theatre. This tour sells out every year! Tours depart every half hour from 9:00a.m. to 11:30a.m. Tickets are $40 per person and include lunch. Reservations required. For more information, call: 313-577-3559 or visit their website. August 16: Wyandotte
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Join the Wyandotte Historical Society for their Annual Victorian Mad Hatter Tea! A lovely afternoon of tea, freshly baked scones, sandwiches, and other delicious treats awaits you as we celebrate the Victorian tradition of afternoon tea with a twist. Tickets for this event are available at the Wyandotte Museums offices. For more information, call (734) 324-7284 or email museums@wyanorg.
August 29: Belleville
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The Belleville Area Museum will host a tour of the French Landing Dam and Powerhouse Saturday August 29 12:00 to 5:00pm. In 1924-25, the Detroit Power and Light Company built a dam across the Huron River at French Landing, creating Belleville Lake. The dam is rarely open to the public, so don't miss a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see this Van Buren Township landmark! Tour will include the spillway, water intake, generators, and turbines in action. Those on tour will actually go 40 feet under the lake! Tickets are available by July 20 and are $10 for adults and $5 for Children age 15 and under. For more information, call the museum at 734-697-1944.
- August 29 and 30: Harrison Twp.
The Ste. Claire Voyageurs will hold the 13th Annual Encampment on August 29 and 30 (Saturday and Sunday), from 10am to 5pm at Metro Beach Metropark Nature Center in Harrison Twp., Michigan. Learn about and experience the history connected with early settlers, Indians and military of the Great Lakes Fur Trade era. This reenactment of the lifestyles and skills of this era will include demonstrations and displays of canoe building, traditional crafts and skills, trade goods and more!
- September 10: Pontiac
The Oakland County Planning and Economic Development Services presents their Heritage Conference with this year's theme as "Adapting to Changing Times" on Thursday, September 10 at the Crofoot Ballroom in Pontiac. Session topics may include the film industry, local food network, profitable non-profits, leveraging local assets, suburban to urban transition, historic building and loft tours, downtown Pontiac tour, and much more.
September 12: Chesterfield Township
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On Saturday, September 12, the historic village in Chesterfield Township will be open from 10:30am to 3:30pm. There will be games and activities for the children, guest speakers, music, craft demonstrations, classic and antique cars and food will be available for purchase. Bring you outhouse badge or purchase a new one and write your name on the outhouse wall. Parking at the Chesterfield Township Offices with a tractor-drawn trolley ride to the village.
- September 16: Bloomfield Hills
The Rabbi Leo M. Franklin Archives presents the Mary Einstein Shapero Memorial Lecture Series featuring a discussion on "Abraham Lincoln and the Jews" by renowned Lincoln scholar and historian Harold Holzer on Wednesday September 16, 2009 at 7:00 p.m. The lecture will occur at Temple Beth El in Bloomfield Hills. There is no charge and everyone is welcome! Reservations can be made by emailing franklinarchives@tbeonline.org or by calling (248) 851-1100, ext. 3137.
October 10: Detroit
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Preservation Wayne, Detroit's oldest and largest Historic Preservation organization invites you to join us for our first ever Cemetery Architecture Tour, 6p.m. Historic Elmwood Cemetery, Detroit's second-oldest cemetery, established in 1846, boasts a mixture of Gothic, Victorian and Romanesque influences which rivals that of similar European cemeteries. Elmwood was the first fully integrated cemetery in the Midwest and is also the final resting place of many of Detroit's most legendary figures. For more information, call: 313-577-3559 or visit their website.
- October 10: Bloomfield Hills
The Bloomfield Hills Family History Center is sponsoring a Free Genealogy Seminar on October 10 from 8am to 5pm. Located at 37425 Woodward in Bloomfield Hills, the FHC presents "Tracking Our Ancestors' Footsteps III". For more information contact the FHC at (248) 647-5671.
October 17: Detroit
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Just in time for the Halloween season, Preservation Wayne, Detroit's oldest and largest Historic Preservation organization invites you to join us for a hair-raising adventure at Historic Fort Wayne (W. Jefferson at Livernois). Starting at 6p.m., engage in a guided ghost hunt, on the grounds of Detroit's only historic fort, and enjoy a tour that will surely give you goose-bumps! For more information, call: 313-577-3559 or visit their website.
Eastern Michigan History Exhibits
January 21-November 4: Plymouth
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Just in time to celebrate Abraham Lincoln's 200th birthday on February 12, the Plymouth Historical Museum will be showcasing original furniture from Lincoln's Springfield, Illinois, home in its upcoming exhibit, "In the Presence of Lincoln." The four furniture pieces-two rockers, a claw-foot table, and a mantle clock, all on loan from The Henry Ford in Dearborn-have not been available for public display in many years. Shortly before Lincoln left Springfield for his inauguration in 1861, he held a furniture auction. A number of the pieces were purchased by Harry Wilton, a Lincoln acquaintance and Springfield neighbor. The Plymouth Historical Museum is located at 155 S. Main Street just north of downtown Plymouth. Admission is $5 for an individual, $2 for students 6-17, and $10 for families. Tour groups can be accommodated, but please call in advance. For more information, call 734-455-8940 or visit their website.April 4-July 5, 2009: Detroit
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Friends of Detroit's Chinatown is opening its new exhibit, "Detroit's Chinatown: Works in Progress" at the Detroit Historical Museum. This exhibit, sponsored by Wayne State University, reveals the untold stories of Chinatown residents and the current presence of metro Detroit's Chinese American population through photographs, artifacts, and interviews of former Chinatown residents. Now through August 16: Dearborn
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The Arab American National Museum's exhibit entitled "A Yemeni Community: Photographs from the 1970s by Milton Rogovin" is extended through August 16. Social documentary photographer Milton Rogovin is known for capturing images of those he called "the forgotten ones," including people in storefront churches, miners, steelworkers and other laborers. This exhibition features 30 images of Yemeni immigrants in 1970s-era Lackawanna, New York, never before exhibited together, as well as a free, cell phone-based audio tour in both English and Arabic to enhance the gallery experience. The exhibition, in the Museum's Lower Level Gallery, is free with Museum admission. For more information visit the Museum's website. May 6-August 30: Detroit
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The Detroit Historical Museum's From Haven to Home: Jewish Life in America is a fascinating opportunity to trace the American Jewish Journey from persecution to participation, from the original 23 refugees who landed in New Amsterdam in 1623 to today's extraordinary and diverse Jewish community. Created by the American Jewish Historical Society in cooperation with the Library of Congress, the exhibit includes the Jewish experience in Michigan from the first fur traders to the modern era. The museum is now taking reservations for group tours of the exhibit. Please contact (248) 432-5517 or visit their website. May-October: Detroit
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On the 1st and 3rd Saturdays or the month from 10 am-4 pm, come to the Historic Ford Piqette Avenue Plant (T-PLEX) to see the birthplace of the Model T! Learn how cars were made before the advent of the moving assembly line, walk the same floors as Henry Ford, the Dodge Brothers, James Couzens, Walter Flanders and other automotive engineers. Located in the Milwaukee Junction area (cradle of the early automobile industry in Detroit), the Ford Piquette Avenue Plant is the first building built and owned by the Ford Motor Company. The Plant is the only early auto factory in Detroit open to the public, is on the National Register, and is a National Historic Landmark. Admission is $10 (Ages 16 and under are free). For more information visit their website. Now through November 2009: Rochester Hills
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The Rochester Hills Museum at Van Hoosen Farm unveils its new exhibit Big Boy Toys - What Men Collect on display through November 2009. Men have their own peculiar tastes and interests and guests will be amazed at what fills their attics, workshops, basements, and sheds. Collections of pianos, guns, clocks, watches, 1968 Detroit Tigers, duck decoys, duck stamps, ice cream scoops, trains, model boats, model trains, small engines, Abe Lincoln, funeral objects, phonographs, brass garden nozzles, and more will be on display. In addition, guest can view the Museum's permanent exhibit Our Lively Town, a look at the history of community using hundreds of photographs and artifacts. The Museum also offers an orientation video, tours of the 1840 Van Hoosen Farmhouse, 1850 Red House, Children's Garden and 16 acres of gardens and grounds. Admission is $5 for adults, $3 for seniors and students and free for Museum members. For more information call (248) 656-4663. Current: Flint
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Whaley House Museum presents its long-term photographic exhibit, The Legacy of Kearsley Street. Featuring many never before seen images, the exhibit tells the compelling story of the prominent families and industries of Kearsley Street and how they continue to influence our community today. The exhibit is included with museum admission. For more information please call (810) 235-6841.
To submit information for Historical Happenings:
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or E-mail: hsm@hsmichigan.org or FAX: (517) 324-4370
