HOMETOWN HISTORY TOURS

2010 History Related Summer Events in Southeast Michigan

Editor’s Note: Hometown History Tours is pleased to post your history related event. Please use following format: date, event name, link or URL to event page, two/three sentence description. Email information to k_risko@yahoo.com

Ongoing Events

Saturdays, June – September

Detroit History Highlights Trolley Tours / Lunch & Learn Bus Excursions

Join Hometown History Tours for two-hour  trolley tours covering different themes in Detroit and United States history.Tours depart from the historic Park Shelton Kirby Street entrance. If you want more in-depth history, we offer several Lunch & Learn Day Bus Excursions. Fee. Click here for details.

Through July 3

Detroit Experiences – Robert Frank Photographs, 1955

Detroit Institute of Arts

Over 60 rare black-and-white photographs taken in Detroit by legendary artist Robert Frank as he traveled throughout the United States in 1955 to take photographs for his ground-breaking book The Americans. 10:00am to 5:00pm.

Through August 8

Through African Eyes – The European In African Art, 1500 To Present

Detroit Institute of Arts

Exhibition exploring the artistic consequences of the variations and dynamics of cultural exchanges between Africans and Europeans over 500 years. 10:00am to 5:00pm

May

May 19 to 22

The Martha Barker Country Store-Michigan Week Celebration

Martha Barker Country Store-Monroe, Mi

The Martha Barker Country Store will be open from noon to 6 p.m. May 19 to 22 in observance of Michigan Week.

May 20

Remembering The J.L. Hudson Company

Sterling Heights Public Library

Look back at The J.L. Hudson Company with author Michael Hauser.  Program begins at 6:30 p.m. Registration required at 586-446-2640.

May 22

Progressive Lunch of Birmingham

Downtown Birmingham
A guided, historical lunch-tour of stylish Birmingham restaurants offered by Culinary Escapes. 11:00am to 2:30pm.

May 22

Re-enactment of the 1820 Landing of the Lewis Cass Expedition

Metro Beach Park, Clinton Township

12:00pm to 4:00pm. Period music and informal presentations, displays and exhibits.

May 23

Michigan Vintage Volkswagen Festival

Riverside Park in Depot Town, Ypsilanti, MI

23rd Annual Michigan Vintage Volkswagen Festival. 734-482-5200.

May 23

Community Celebration Day-100th Anniversary of the Historic Alger House

Grosse Pointe War Memorial, 32 Lakeshore Drive-Grosse Pointe, MI

11:00am to 3:00pm. Free admission. Games, children’s attractions, Alger House tours, music, entertainment, food.

May 26-31

Fruitport Old Fashioned Days

Muskegon County

Annual event in Muskegon County featuring Carnival Midway rides, a Community Picnic, Old Fashioned Days Parade, Lions Ox Roast, The Grand Lady Riverboat Cruises, Old Fashioned Days Run, Community Marketplace and Garage Sale, live Band Shell Entertainment begins on May 26 and runs through Memorial Day. (231) 557-3262 for more details.

May 28-31

Civil War Days

Coldwater – Branch County

4 day Memorial Weekend Celebration in Coldwater includes free live music by the 5th Michigan Regimental Band, a Barn Dance, and much more. Reenactors, crafters, and other volunteers are welcome to participate.

May 29

Greater Rochester Heritage Days

Rochester Municipal Park-Rochester, MI

10:00am to 6:00pm. Art fair, car show, climbing wall, Civil War and World War II reenactors, pony rides, old fashioned  games, plow horses, antique fire trucks, live music, food, and historic displays.

May 29-31

Civil War Remembrance Weekend

Greenfield Village

Join more than 450 military reenactors in honoring our nation’s veterans at an authentic Civil War encampment with parades, artillery demonstrations and historical music at Greenfield Villiage.

June

June 3, 4 and 5

The Little Big Horn Associates Annual National Meeting

Monroe, Mi

Various events and activities at the Ellis Reference and Information Center; Monroe Council 1266, Knights of Columbus, hall; Holiday Inn Express; the Custer Statue; Woodland Cemetery; Soldiers and Sailors Park; St. Mary Catholic Central High School; and Monroe Golf and Country Club.

June 4 and 5

Tour historic Monroe, Michigan and revisit the life and times of General George Armstrong Custer with visiting members of the Little Big Horn Associates.

A 100th Anniversary Celebration of the Custer Statue Dedication will be held at various locations in downtown Monroe.

Bus tour includes many sites of interest related to Custer’s life in Monroe. Tour includes afternoon stop at Custer Equestrian Statue to commemorate the statue’s 100th Anniversary. Advance registration required for bus tour and seating is on a space available basis. Tickets are $15 for adults, $5 for youth. Click here for full details.

June 5

Spring Speakeasy

Wyandotte Museum, 2610 Biddle Avenue, Wyandotte

An evening of music and performances from the Prohibition Age. Model ‘A’ cars, live music in the Marx ‘blind pig,’ a 1920s fashion show at the MacNichol Home, a period film. Featuring music from the Jazz trio of:  Rob Bourassa, James Dapogny & Mike Karoub. Cash bar for those age 21 and over.  All ages are welcome to attend this event, and learn about the Prohibition Era. Attendees are welcome and encouraged to dress to impress for the 1920s.

June 5

Indian Village Home and Garden Tour

Indian Village-Detroit, MI

View eight home and garden venues. Docents and master gardeners give commentary on one of Detroit’s most elegant neighborhoods, with homes dating back to 1895. 10:00am to 5:00pm. Send a check or money order payable to Indian Village Home and Garden Tour (along with a self-addressed and stamped envelope) to: Advance Ticket Sales, Historic Indian Village Home and Garden Tour, PO Box 14616, Detroit Mi 48214.

June 6

14th Annual Orphan Car Show

Riverside Park, Cross Street-Ypsilanti, Mi

Car show of automobiles that fell by the wayside. Several of the best automotive historians spend the day sharing their knowledge of forgotten automobile brands. Cost: $5. (734) 482-5200.

June 6

War of 1812 Militia Muster

Navarre-Anderson Trading Post-Monroe, Mi

A War of 1812 Militia Muster will be held from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday June 5 and Sunday June 6 at the Navarre-Anderson Trading Post, 3775 S. Custer Rd. Admission is free.

June 11 and 12

The River Raisin Fife and Drum Muster

Loranger Square- Downtown, Monroe, Mi

Huge annual event that attracts hundreds of people. Friday night tattoo. Parade and muster on Saturday featuring corps from Michigan, Connecticut, Massachusetts and Indiana.

June 12

Pleasant Ridge Home & Garden Tour

Pleasant Ridge Historical Museum-Pleasant Ridge, MI

Explore the city’s unique homes and gardens on Saturday, June 12th, from 10am – 4pm. Tickets: $20 per person. Sold rain or shine for $20 the day of the tour from 10am – 2pm behind Pleasant Ridge City Hall at 23925 Woodward (just south of I-696). Advanced group (20 or more) sales will be available for $15 per person at the Pleasant Ridge City Hall. Pleasant Ridge Garden Club will provide lunches for purchase in Memorial Park. Phone: (248) 542-5614

June 12 – August 22

Annual Historic Base Ball Games at America’s Greatest History Attraction – The Henry Ford

The Henry Ford/Greenfield Village-Dearborn, MI

Historic base ball games will be played weekends, 1:30pm. Men play by the rule books from 1867. No cussing; no gloves.

June 13

Pie And Ice Cream Social

Ford MacNichol Home-Wyandotte, MI

Annual Pie & Ice Cream Social on the lovely porch of the historic Ford-MacNichol Home built in 1896.  Blazo fruit pies of all sorts, Sanders vanilla ice cream sundaes, delicious brownies, and refreshing lemonade will be sold to benefit the Wyandotte Historical Society.  Tour the grounds and enjoy an antique automobile display on the Museum grounds, courtesy of the Downriver Model ‘A’ Restorers Club.

June 19

32nd Annual Detroit Windsor Tug Race

Detroit River between the cities of Detroit and Windsor. Unique race celebrates our region’s maritime history. 1 pm. Click here for full details.

June 19

145th Juneteenth Celebration

Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History-315 East Warren Avenue  Detroit, MI

Celebrate the oldest nationally celebrated commemoration of slavery’s end in the USA. 10:00am to 4:00pm

June 19

2nd Annual Boston-Edison Garden Tour

Detroit, Mi

The Historic Boston Edison Association presents the Second Annual Garden Tour featuring spectacular gardens and landscapes in the neighborhood.

Persons with reservations (Advance Tickets – $15) check in at Voigt Park. Walk-up tickets ($20) will be on sale also.

July

July 7

17th annual Original Northville Garden Walk

Mill Race Village-Northville, Mi

Visit six private gardens in Northville. Enjoy a garden market, live music, and famous homemade refreshments at historic Mill Race Village. Proceeds from the event support charitable contributions to local and national horticultural causes. 9:00am to 4:00 pm.

July 9

The Rolling Sculpture Car Show

Downtown Ann Arbor

More than 400 exotic, antique, classic and concept cars. Free. 2:00pm–10:00pm.

July 14

Upton House/Doebler Contest

Sterling Heights Public Library, Sterling Heights, MI

11:00am to 12:30pm. Children ages 5 and older, stop in the Programming Center for a look back in time, make a craft, then walk over to the Upton House for a tour. The group will end up in the Children’s Art Garden for refreshments. Program dedicated to Wallace Doebler, Historical Commissioner. All children participating can enter for a $50 door prize. Phone (586) 446-2669.

August

August 7

St. Andrew’s Society 2010 Highland Games

Greenmead Historical Park, Livonia. 6 PM

August 7-8

Thunder Over Michigan

Willow Run Airport-Ypsilanti, Mi

See the Blue Angels and more! Thunder Over Michigan is an annual event featuring reenactments, demonstrations and performances. Cost: $15-25 Visit website for more information. Saturday: 9am-9pm  Sunday: 9am-5pm. 

August 13-14

Dexter Daze

Downtown Dexter, Mi

Over 100 booths of artisans and crafters, a community parade, historical tours, free entertainment. 9:00am-11:00pm

August 14-15

Ann Arbor Antiques Market

5055 Ann Arbor Saline Rd.-Ann Arbor, Mi

8:00am-4:00pm. $6.00 admission.

August 20- 22

Ypsilanti Heritage Festival

Riverside Park, Depot Town, Frog Island, and Downtown Ypsilanti

Annual parade, historical encampment, Millionaire’s Party and Saloon, live entertainment, Festival Opening Reception, Children’s Village, Historic Home Tour and nearly 100 artisans. Friday: Noon-5:00pm, Saturday: 10:00am-9:00pm, Sunday: 11:00am-7:00pm. (734)483-6071.

August 21

Woodward Dream Cruise

Along Woodward Avenue in Oakland County-Royal Oak, Mi

9:00am to 8:00pm. Largest one-day automotive event in North America that showcases vintage cars.

August 29

Village Faire

Preservation Park-Canton, MI

10:00am. Enjoy free music, games, face painting, historical demos, petting farm, and shop at the farmers market. Support the Canton Lions club and purchase a wristband for the all-you-can-eat corn roast.