March 23, 2009

The Michigan Historical Commission, charged with overseeing Michigan's commemoration of the 150th anniversary of the Civil War, is seeking public input on its Civil War Sesquicentennial Work Plan. The plan - which covers grassroots involvement, events and projects, education, heritage tourism, marketing and funding - is available electronically at www.michigan.gov/hal/0,1607,7-160-17445_19277_19527-209868--,00.html.

The Michigan Historical Commission will hold public hearings at several locations around the state to receive comments on the draft work plan:

• Saturday, March 28, 1 to 2:30 p.m., Detroit
  Detroit Historical Museum, Cadillac Café, 5401 Woodward Ave.



• Tuesday, April 7, 6:30 to 8 p.m., Lansing
  Michigan Historical Museum, Education Room, 702 W. Kalamazoo St.



• Wednesday, May 6, 6:30 to 8 p.m., Grand Rapids
  Grand Valley State University Pew Campus, Richard M. DeVos Center, Room 109-D, 401 W. Fulton St.



• Saturday May 30, 2 to 3:30 p.m., Negaunee
  Michigan Iron Industry Museum, 73 Forge Road

The plan is available for public comment until June 1, 2009. Written comments also will be accepted and may be sent to the Michigan Historical Commission, Department of History, Arts and Libraries, P.O. Box 30740, Lansing, MI 48909-8240; faxed to (517) 241-3647 or e-mailed to PatrickM@michigan.gov.

Governor Jennifer Granholm's Executive Order 2007-52 directed that members of the Michigan Historical Commission would constitute a Civil War Sesquicentennial advisory body within the Department of History, Arts and Libraries. Part of their charge is to advise the department and the governor on matters relating to fostering authenticity and inclusion in Michigan's observance of the 150th anniversary of the Civil War, and to encourage, plan and develop activities, events, programs, observances and services to appropriately commemorate the sesquicentennial of the Civil War.

The members of the Michigan Historical Commission/Civil War Sesquicentennial Committee are Edward D. Surovell of Ann Arbor, president; John M. Dempsey of Plymouth, vice president; L. William Conner Jr. of Monroe; Lamont Corbin of Detroit; Thomas M. Farrell of Lansing; Samuel Logan Jr. of Detroit; James A. McConnell of Livonia; Judith L. Tappero of Bloomfield Hills; Thomas Truscott of Lansing; and Sandra S. Clark, director of the Michigan Historical Center, executive secretary.

The Michigan Historical Commission has been the public arm of state history programs since 1913. It advises the director of the Department of History, Arts and Libraries and approves Michigan Historical Markers. The governor appoints commission members to four-year terms. For more information on Michigan's history programs, visit www.michiganhistory.org.

Read more press releases from the Department of History, Arts and Libraries (HAL).