LELAND — Leelanau Historical Society devoted two years to planning events helping people find their place is the national story, because according to the organization, local histories are the foundation of America’s story.
The Society honors the nation’s 250th anniversary with a series of events celebrating Leelanau’s place in the larger historic narrative. Programs and presentations are designed to connect citizens in personal, engaging and inclusive ways.
“It’s easy to put history in a box,” said LHS executive director Kim Kelderhouse. “In a year like this, we should inspire people to look into things now and in the future — and inspire a nice relationship with history going forward.”
Kelderhouse said LHS programming is family-friendly and created for accessibility with day and evening events presented at multiple locations throughout the county. From lectures and exhibits to concerts and more, events range from academic to lighthearted.
Programming kicks off May 12 with a lecture by Gregory Nobles, author, professor emeritus at Georgia Tech, LHS trustee and Leelanau Conservancy docent. His presentation “Whose American Revolution was it – and Whose is it Now?” explores the complexity of the revolution and asks what it means to today’s Americans.
“People in Leelanau County, some have been here decades, others are newcomers,” he said. “We all share the same legacy.” Nobles believes by knowing the stories of those living through the struggle for independence, including the indigenous and enslaved blacks, we better understand the threads of the nation’s origins.
LHS dug into its collection of more than 20,000 artifacts, documents and cultural objects for its “L is for Leelanau” exhibit opening June 17. It features the “Leelanau from A-to-Z” exhibit pairing local artifacts to their stories of where, when, how and with whom they were relevant, collectively illustrating Leelanau relationships to America’s development.
“It encourages multigenerational learning by connecting familiar (alphabet) letters to broader concepts that come together to tell the story of Leelanau’s past and present,” said Elizabeth Adams, LHS engagement and collections manager. “Our hope is to spark curiosity and conversation among families, between parents, children and grandparents, both within and the exhibit and beyond.”
Also in June, Christine Byron and Tom Wilson present “Leelanau Treasures” based on the David Tinder collection of Michigan photo postcards at the University of Michigan William L. Clements Library. The authors and historians known for their “Vintage Views” regional history book series will highlight Leelanau County’s legacies through postcards and photos.
July highlights include an Independence Day Parade in Leland, “An American Folk Concert” with Ben Traverse on July 8 and a screening of the documentary “Frontier to Freedom: Wilderness, Revolution and Michigan Statehood” produced by Manitou Films for PBS.
Harvard professor and Dakota descendent Philip Deloria presents on July 22. Deloria’s professional background focuses on the social, cultural and political histories of the relations among American Indian peoples and the United States. He served four terms as a trustee of the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of the American Indian.
Other Leelanau events and anniversary celebrations take place through September. They include the annual Port Oneida Fair, a presentation by Susan Wasserman with a behind the scenes look at LHS and the Leelanau Maritime History Festival.
Visit leelanauhistory.org for the complete schedule.