Tonight we’re taking a stroll down memory lane. Featured photos in this post are of our very first tour – Glory, Valor & Sacrifice: SE Michigan Civil War Tour which took place June 12, 2009. It was an ambitious tour with stops in Detroit, Grosse Ile, and Monroe including Fort Wayne, Belle Isle, Elmwood Cemetery, Campus Martius, Woodmere Cemetery, Woodland Cemetery and Monroe County Historical Museum.
Food offerings were pretty darn good. A Panera bagel and coffee break kicked off the tour. Lunch was at the Majestic Cafe on Woodward. A casual catered dinner was served at the Monroe County Historical Museum.
Civil War experts David Finney, Steve Alexander aka The General, and Dave Ingall provided guest narration. Couldn’t have assembled a more knowledgeable team.
Looking back with fond memories. Think I’m going to reprise tour in 2015 to coincide with release of our new History Press book: Michigan Civil War Landmarks to be released in April.
Click on thumbnail below to start slideshow.
Reviewing tour details with guest narrators David Finney (L) and Steve Alexander (R). We’re off at 8 AM sharp.
CW Union hero George Armstrong Custer provides commentary.
Motorcoach driver Ken was great. He held umbrella as we disembark for Dearborn Historical Museum
Dearborn Museum was nice. Wish we spent a little more time there.
We listen as Fort Wayne Coalition’s Tom Berlucci provides insight into the fort’s history
The General, Susie Harrison & GI Trustee Pam Frucci take a break and converse
This entrance divides the Civil War portion of Fort Wayne from later additions
The original soldiers’ barracks in the distance
Reproduction of CW bunkhouse
Michigan’s Civil War memorial honoring those who died
Gen. A S Williams astride Plug Ugly
Elmwood Cemetery grave of Civil War Congressional Medal of Honor recipient Jos. S. Keen
Grosse Ile contingent stands before Colonel Thornton Brodhead’s grave at Elmwood Cemetery
Lunch at the Majestic Theatre Cafe
David Finney is captivating audience with CW presentation
Enjoying lunch before we depart for a full afternoon of touring.
Civil War Lot at Woodmere Cemetery
Marker denoting Brodhead office
Office belonging to Thornton Fleming Brodhead
Mark McPherson resides in Gray Gables on Grosse Ile. He tells us about former resident Major Horace Gray
Mark McPherson in front of Horace Gray home
KC Barker home on Grosse Ile. Barker was mayor of Detroit during final year of Civil War.
Acclaimed living historian Steve Alexander in front of Bacon / Custer home
Woodland Cemetery stop
Dave Ingall details lives of those from Monroe County who fought in the Civil War
Woodland Cemetery in Monroe
Custer family plot at Woodland (Custer and wife Libbie are buried at West Point.
Custer Trevillian Station Collection at Monroe County Historical Museum
Dinner and presentation at Monroe County Historical Museum
HOMETOWN HISTORY TOURS 