Truckin’ for World Turtle Day … and Memorial Day Weekend!

Posted on by farlane
Truckin' by Mark Smith

Truckin’ by Mark Smith

Tomorrow (Saturday, May 23rd) is World Turtle Day, the unofficial official holiday of Michigan in Pictures. It was created in 2000 by the good people at American Tortoise Rescue to help people just like you celebrate and protect turtles and tortoises and their disappearing habitats around the world through education & advocacy for our hard shelled neighbors.

Once again, I’m happy to report that one of the most popular features on Michigan in Pictures remains Know Your Michigan Turtles that I wrote back in 2013. With many articles & pics added through the years about every one of Michigan’s 10 native turtle species including the positively prehistoric Common snapping turtle, it may be the finest compendium of Michigan turtle resources on the planet!

Mark shared this photo back on May 23, 2021 and writes “Heavy traffic today on our driveway. This is an ancient mossy back turtle that frequents our shoreline. Some serious detail here, so please zoom in to see the dinosaur scales and massive claws.“

See more in his The Road gallery on Flickr and for sure check out his work at Leelanau Landscapes Photography.

Have an awesome & safe weekend everyone and PLEASE watch out for turtles … and your fellow drivers!

PS: If you’re wondering about the state of Leelanau’s cherry blossoms, Mark has you covered!

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Taking it to the (Detroit) streets

Posted on by farlane
Ren Cen Raceway by Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix

Ren Cen Raceway by Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix

As an estimated 1.3 million Michigan drivers get ready to hit the road for Memorial Day, elite Indy car drivers from all over the world are gearing up for next weekend’s annual Detroit Grand Prix (May 29-31, 2026). The 3-day event is a lot of fun for all ages with features including a qualifying heats and a classic sports car race.

PS: If you want to get in on the fun, the Detroit Grand Prix Association is still looking for volunteers to join their team!

PPS: The Detroiter in me is a little sad at the realization that this will be the last Detroit Grand Prix featuring the iconic Renaissance Center towers looking like this!

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Memorial Day 2017

Posted on by farlane

Memorial Day – Navy WWII, photo by BRB1952

“Each of the patriots whom we remember on this day was first a beloved son or daughter, a brother or sister, or a spouse, friend, and neighbor.”
-George H. W. Bush

View the photo background big and see more in BRB1952’s St. Thomas Cemetery slideshow.

PS: If you would like to read more about Michigan’s role in the history of Memorial Day, click that link.

1939 Detroit Memorial Day Parade

Posted on by farlane

1939 Detroit Memorial Day Parade down Woodward

1939 Detroit Memorial Day Parade, photo by Buildings of Detroit

Buildings of Detroit shared this photo back in 2013 saying:

Tonight the Wayback Machine continues to show us views of Detroit’s Memorial Day Parade down Woodward, this time in 1939. Most of the structures remain as they were in the previous 1920 image (click to see it!). We can clearly see Kern’s and an expanded Hudson’s, as well as Eaton Tower, Bond Clothing, and the Majestic Building along with the Detroit Opera House, now transformed into Sam’s Cut Rate clothing store.

View the photo bigger and definitely follow Buildings of Detroit on Facebook for lots more about Detroit’s unique architectural heritage.

Lots more Detroit on Michigan in Pictures!

Memorial Day in Michigan: 1907 Edition

Posted on by farlane

via leelanau.com…

Suttons Bay May 27th 1907

Scene in Suttons Bay, May 27th. 1907, photo courtesy Leelanau Historical Society

Here’s the scene 110 years ago on Memorial Day in the village of Suttons Bay. Yikes!!

Hoping you have a safe and fun holiday weekend with the absolute minimum of snow!!

View the photo bigger, follow the Leelanau Historical Society on Facebook for more great photos, and check out their online photo archive for fun stuff like this search of Suttons Bay.

Don’t Forget Why You Have Today Off Work

Posted on by farlane

Don't Forget Why You Have Today Off Work.

“Don’t Forget Why You Have Today Off Work, photo by J.M.Barclay

Indeed. Enjoy your extra weekend day but take some time to remember the incredible sacrifices that have been made for our nation.

View J.M.’s photo bigger and see more in his slideshow.

Memorials & Memory

Posted on by farlane

U.S. Flag

U.S. Flag, photo by Anne Savage

I hope everyone gets a chance today to remember those they know and those they dont who gave their lives in service to country.

View Anne’s photo bigger and see more of her work at annesavagephotography.com.

You can look back on past Memorial Day posts on Michigan in Pictures including how Michigan was the first state to make Decoration Day a state holiday and Michigan’s role in the creation of Memorial Day.

Memorial Day & Michigan

Posted on by farlane

History of Memorial Day and Michigan

Remember, photo by LindaB.

While the Memorial Day page at the Center for Civil War Research Center lists roles that people from many states had in creating Memorial Day, there’s no doubt that Michiganders had some part in it:

“On the sixteenth of April, 1862, some ladies and a chaplain from Michigan were chatting together at Arlington Heights. They were talking about the horrors of the war and one lady said: ‘How lonely and cheerless the bare graves of the soldiers look.’ Another proposed gathering some flowers and laying them on the graves of the Michigan soldiers that day. They did so, — and the next year they decorated the same graves. The third year [1864] the same chaplain and ladies were in Fredericksburg, and they decorated the soldiers’ graves there. So the beautiful custom grew and spread its influence with its flowers each year.”

What’s more, as detailed on Michigan in Pictures last year, Michigan was the first state to make Decoration Day a state holiday. Here’s hoping that you have a chance to remember and reflect upon those who have given their lives for our nation, and also that few more are called to do the same.

View Linda’s photo at Flickr and see more in her Great Great Grandfather slideshow.

More Memorial Day on Michigan in Pictures.