Nov. 10, 2008

Internationally acclaimed photographer Vincent J. Musi, whose work is frequently seen in National Geographic Magazine, will be in West Michigan on Nov. 11 and 12 as part of a multi-year cultural tourism initiative. The project, initiated by Michigan's State Historic Preservation Office and Michigan's Beachtowns Association, is part of the Michigan Department of History, Arts and Libraries' cultural economic development strategy.

"Michigan's Beachtowns communities, stretching from New Buffalo to Ludington, have built a strong tourism product based on Lake Michigan and their natural resources," said Department of History, Arts and Libraries Director William Anderson. "However, we believe that by packaging their cultural and heritage assets with their natural resources, they will attract loyal visitors who stay even longer and spend more in this sector that is so important to Michigan's 21st-century economy."

The project began with an extensive survey of the cultural and heritage resources of the region. It is now building on the survey to create stronger community knowledge of these resources and achieve designation as a Michigan Heritage Highway.

One of the rediscovered pieces of history is the visionary effort of community leaders to create the West Michigan Pike nearly 100 years ago. Those leaders publicized their vision of a road that could take tourists to every town along the Lake Michigan shoreline with annual driving tours of the ever-improving route.

Beachtowns leaders decided to introduce their new vision for the West Michigan Pike to area residents by inviting Musi, one of the nation's finest photographic essayists, to photograph the area this past summer. He will share his work in four locations during his two-day stay in West Michigan:

• On Tuesday, Nov. 11, he will give presentations in St. Joseph and South Haven. The South Haven presentation, sponsored by the South Haven Convention and Visitors Bureau, is open to the public and will be held at the Lake Michigan College South Haven Campus at 1 p.m. For information, contact the South Haven Convention and Visitors Bureau at (269) 637-5232.

• The evening of Nov. 11, there will be a cocktail reception from 6-8 p.m. at the Saugatuck Center for the Arts, 400 Culver St. in downtown Saugatuck, where Mr. Musi will debut his photo exhibit and make remarks at 7 p.m. The reception and exhibit are open to the public, courtesy of the Saugatuck-Douglas Convention and Visitors Bureau, Huntington Bank, The Saugatuck Center for the Arts and the Michigan Historical Center. For more information, contact the Saugatuck-Douglas Visitors Bureau at (269) 857-1701.

• On Wednesday, Nov. 12 at 10 a.m., Mr. Musi will give a presentation - which is open to the public - at the Haworth Inn and Conference Center, 225 College Ave. in Holland. For more information, contact the Holland Area Convention and Visitors Bureau at (616) 394-0000.

An exhibit of 40 of Musi's photographs will tour West Michigan in 2009, including shows at the Tri-Cities Museum in Grand Haven, the Saugatuck Center for the Arts and venues in New Buffalo, St. Joseph, Holland, Muskegon and Ludington. The exhibit is being developed by the Michigan Historical Museum, which, like the State Historic Preservation Office, is part of the Michigan Historical Center.

"The extraordinary collaboration on this effort has mirrored that of the original creators of the West Michigan Pike," said Michigan Historical Center Director Sandra Clark. "State partners in Travel Michigan and the Michigan Department of Transportation are key players in this state/local partnership, as are the federal, state and local organizations who have provided funding."

Preserve America and the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs supported the original project and survey work. The Michigan Humanities Council and the Holland/Zeeland Area Community Foundation were lead supporters of the public phase of the project. They have been joined by the Frey Foundation, the Upton Foundation, the Muskegon County Community Foundation, the Grand Haven Area Community Foundation, the Fund for Mason County of the Community Foundation for Mason County, the Tri-Cities Museum, the Michigan Historical Center Foundation and the Berrien County Community Foundation.

The Michigan Historical Center, which preserves, promotes and interprets Michigan's past for a global audience, includes the Michigan Historical Museum System, the Archives of Michigan, Records Management Services, the State Historic Preservation Office and Michigan History magazine. The Michigan Historical Center is part of the Department of History, Arts and Libraries (HAL), whose mission is to enrich quality of life and strengthen the economy by providing access to information, preserving and promoting Michigan heritage, and fostering cultural creativity. The department also includes the Library of Michigan, the Mackinac Island State Park Commission and the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs. For more information about HAL, visit www.michigan.gov/hal.

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