June 5, 2009

Classic car owners from across the Upper Peninsula are gearing up for the Michigan Iron Industry Museum's 20th annual antique automobile exhibit from noon to 4 p.m. Sunday, June 21, on the museum grounds in Negaunee Township.

Commemorating a vital link between Michigan's iron, steel and automotive industries that has lasted more than 110 years, "Iron, Steel and the Automobile" will feature more than 50 automobiles and light trucks dating from 1909 to 1969.

Public admission to the car show is $3 per vehicle. Museum admission is free.

"Featuring vehicles from seven decades, traditional jazz, golden oldies and a food concession by the Republic Lions Club, this classic event promises to deliver a 'Pure Michigan' summer experience for car buffs of all ages," said Tom Friggens, a regional manager for the Michigan Historical Center.

New to the Father's Day event this year is a near-mint condition 1900 American Metropolitan horse-drawn fire engine shown by the Michigamme Museum and a rare 1909 Sears, Roebuck and Co. Model J owned by Dick Lutey of Marquette.

Sears marketed automobiles from 1908 to 1912 through its famed catalog. Shipped by rail, final assembly was done at the railyard by the purchaser, who then added gas and oil and drove the vehicle home. Top speed of the 10-horsepower, 2-cylinder car reached 25 mph. It cost $395.

Other exhibit vehicles include a 1924 Model T Ford, including a vintage trailer and camping gear, owned by Greg and JoAnne Lindstrom of Marquette; a 1947 Hudson Coupe shown by Gunnar Hult of Au Train; a 1955 Ford pickup owned by John Letts of Marquette; and Marquette resident Carl Tuch's 1963 Ford Fairlane.

Museum visitors can view a wide selection of Model As, Model Ts, touring cars, pickups and fire trucks as well as a 9.2-horsepower 1958 King Midget shown by Don Balmer of Marquette. Other featured vehicles include a 1928 "Super Six" Essex, a 1948 Chevrolet Fleet Line and a 1963 Studebaker Avanti.

Added attractions will include traditional jazz and popular music of the swing era, as well as music that stirred the youth of the 1950s and early 1960s, and the video "Roadsters, Rumbleseats and Country Drives," offering a nostalgic look back at America's love affair with the automobile.

Converted to steel and sold to automakers, Michigan iron ore helped put America on wheels. "Once a symbol of wealth at the start of the 20th century, the automobile soon became a middle-class necessity that changed American mobility, housing patterns, work and leisure," said Friggens. "The dynamic combination of iron, steel and the automobile revolutionized American society, changing our lives forever."

The Michigan Iron Industry Museum is one of 11 nationally accredited museums administered by the Michigan Historical Center, a public, non-profit facility of the Department of History, Arts and Libraries. It is located at 73 Forge Road, overlooking the site of the Carp River Forge, a pioneer industrial site listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The recently expanded museum is open daily from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. For more information about the auto exhibit or upcoming events, call (906) 475-7857 or visit online at www.michigan.gov/ironindustrymuseum.

The Department of History, Arts and Libraries (HAL) is dedicated to enriching quality of life and strengthening the economy by providing access to information, preserving and promoting Michigan's heritage and fostering cultural creativity. In addition to the Michigan Historical Center, HAL includes the Library of Michigan, the Mackinac Island State Park Commission and the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs. To learn more, visit www.michigan.gov/hal.