Remembering the first Mackinac Bridge Walk

Posted on by farlane

Oldsmobile Convertibles at Mackinac Bridge Dedication ~ June 25, 1958

“Michigan at last is to be one state geographically, economically and culturally, as well as politically. Where nature divided us, we have bound ourselves together with this web of steel. This mighty bridge, the world’s greatest, is a symbol of our strength.”
Michigan Governor G. Mennen Williams, June 1958

Yesterday’s Mackinac Bridge walk post was so popular I had to bring you a little more! Mighty Mac shares that although the Mackinac Bridge opened to vehicle traffic on November 1, 1957, the official Mackinac Bridge dedication didn’t take place until June of 1958 when only 68 people walked the Bridge. The walk was moved to Labor Day in 1959, and it has been held every Labor Day since then! Much more at Mighty Mac’s Mackinac Bridge Walk page.

Also if you can’t make it, you can check out the Bridge Walk live through the Mackinac Bridge Web Cams!

First Mackinac Labor Day Bridge Walk 1959

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R.E. Olds Transportation Museum and the MotorCities National Heritage Area

Posted on by farlane

1951 Oldsmobile Super 88 and 1962 Oldsmobile F85 coupe R E Olds Museum Lansing MI 2-9-2008 182 N

1951 Oldsmobile Super 88 and 1962 Oldsmobile F85 coupe R E Olds Museum Lansing, photo by Corvair Owner

The MotorCities National Heritage Area is holding a Sweepstakes on Facebook. The Grand Prize is an Autopalooza Gift Basket that includes a $50 BP Gas Card, MotorCities 1-year Membership, National Park Passport Stamp Book, Henry Ford 150 Celebration Mug, Ford Piquette Avenue T-Shirt, 2013 Cruisin’ Hines T-Shirt, 2013 Clinton Twp. Gratiot Cruise T-Shirt, 2013 Woodward Dream Cruise Calendar, Free Admission passes to The Henry Ford Museum, R.E. Olds Museum, Ford Piquette Avenue Plant, Gilmore Car Museum Edsel & Eleanor Ford House and more! 2 baskets will be raffled off, one at the Concours d’Elegance on July 28, 2013 and the other at the Orphan Car Show on September 22, 2013.

The photo above is from one of the MotorCities National Heritage Area member organizations, the R.E. Olds Transportation Museum in Lansing. From their Facebook page:

The Museum has thousands of irreplaceable items in the archives along with 52 vehicles that range from 1886 through 2003. It is dedicated to Ransom Eli Olds, inventor, entrepreneur, and financier, and one of Lansing’s most notable automotive leaders. He created the principle of the assembly line in the automobile industry and founded two local automobile companies: Olds Motor Works (1897) and REO Motor Car Company (1904).

…The Museum exhibits a significant collection of automobiles, engines, and other materials significant to the transportation history of Lansing, the region, the state and the nation. The R.E. Olds Transportation Museum and the Bates and Edmonds Engine Company offices are resources within the Lansing Stewardship Community of Motor-Cities-National Heritage Area, a cultural heritage area and affiliate of the National Parks Service.

View Joe’s photo bigger and see more in his RE Olds Museum slideshow.

More Michigan museums on Michigan in Pictures!