Date: August 24, 2006
Contact: Gregg Bruff, 906-387-2607
The National Park Service traveling exhibit “Experience Your America” opens at the Alger County Heritage Center on August 25. The interactive exhibit enables visitors to learn more about their national parks as places for physical, intellectual, emotional and spiritual renewal. Through the use of video, audio, eye-catching graphics and 3-D elements, the visitor is taken on an adventure of discovery. The exhibit is a collaborative venture between the Alger County Historical Society and Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore to help celebrate the Lakeshore’s 40th Anniversary.
“The exhibit has been designed to convey a sense of national parks – like Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore - as a unified system of parks. The images and sounds used are contemporary and chosen to appeal to a diverse audience,” Lakeshore Chief of Heritage Education Gregg Bruff remarked. Hear the whistle of a steam train and learn more about Steamtown National Historic Site or read about Wolf Trap National Park, America’s only national park dedicated to the performing arts.
Also on display will be the works of several artists that have been donated to the Lakeshore through its annual Artist In Residence program. The most recent donation occurred in June with a large oil landscape painting of the Miners River by Wisconsin artist Bill Lathrop. Lakeshore Superintendent Jim Northup invites area residents and visitors to enjoy these beautiful works of art along with the traveling exhibit.
August 25 was selected for the exhibit opening as that is known within the National Park Service as “Founders Day.” On August 25, 1916, President Woodrow Wilson signed the bill creating the National Park Service within the Department of the Interior. Since that time 90 years ago, the nationwide system has grown to 390 units, preserving the most important elements of America’s heritage.
The “Experience Your America” exhibit will remain on display at the Alger County Heritage Center through October 14. The heritage center is located at 1496 Washington Street in Munising, and is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
