Lake Effects

Date:  October 05, 2013  -  August 24, 2014
Time:  All Day Event
Location: Michigan Historical Museum, Lansing

(See museum hours or admission FAQ.)

Michigan weather—ever-changing, often surprising.

Our new special exhibit takes its name from a familiar Michigan weather occurrence, lake-effect precipitation. Cold winds blowing over a warm Great Lake can bring "lake-effect" rain or snow up to 100 miles inland.

Lake Effects highlights some of the significant weather events in Michigan's past and looks at the influence of weather on inventions, crops, work, recreation and everyday life in the Great Lakes State. You'll also learn about the science behind Michigan weather.

Discover more about these weather events:

• The September 1881 fires that swept through the Thumb region, burning more than a million acres.
• The Storm of 1913, whose hurricane-force winds, snow and ice over Lake Huron led to the loss of 12 ships and their crews.
• The Heatwave of 1936, the first time since temperature record-keeping began in the 19th century that Detroit experienced two consecutive days of triple-digit weather.
• The 1953 Flint-Beecher tornado that left a 27-mile path of death and destruction in Genesee County.
• The Blizzard of 1978 that dumped up to 34 inches of snow in some parts of the state.

The special exhibit extends into the museum's long-term exhibit galleries, with special labels pointing out the role of weather in Michigan history from pre-historic times to the 1970s.

Our Lake Effects special exhibit features a host of interactives for kids, including a magnetic weather map for making their own forecasts and a mannequin who needs their help to dress appropriately for the weather.

Beginning in December, the second Saturday of every month will feature family-oriented activities examining the science of weather. Check out our calendar of events and look for the Lake Effects logo.

Visit the Michigan Historical Museum on Facebook for upcoming artifact and exhibit photos, plus an opportunity to add your own weather stories and photos.

This exhibit is included with museum admission. For more information, please send us an e-mail or telephone (517) 373-3559.

The Michigan Historical Museum—flagship of the Michigan Historical Museum System—is located inside the Michigan Library and Historical Center, 702 West Kalamazoo Street, Lansing. The museum and visitor parking are on the north side of Kalamazoo Street, two blocks east of M. L. King Jr. Boulevard. Sunday admission and weekend parking are free. Here's more information on how to find us.

Contact the Michigan Historical Museum.

Updated 09/13/2013