Explore 'extinct' artifacts at Hayes State Park Aug. 8

Michigan Department of Natural Resources sent this bulletin at 08/04/2015 12:45 PM EDT

Enjoy hands-on investigation of artifacts like those that early settlers brought to Michigan.
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Museum docent speaking with children

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Aug. 4, 2015

Contact: Laurie Perkins, 517-241-0731


Explore “extinct” artifacts at Hayes State Park Aug. 8

History interpreters from Walker Tavern Historic Site will explore “extinct” artifacts with visitors Saturday, Aug. 8, at Walter J. Hayes State Park near Onsted, Michigan. Meeting at the campfire ring from 2 to 3 p.m., the program will feature hands-on investigation of reproduction artifacts like those that early settlers brought with them when they came to Michigan during the 1840s. Firsthand accounts of their use will also be shared.  

“Many of the settlers’ everyday tools and utensils – not to mention the skills they represent – are mysterious to 21st-century Americans. The word ‘extinct’ calls attention to the dramatic changes in daily life that have occurred in the last 175 years,” said Walker Tavern site historian Laurie Perkins. “How many of us know how to make a candle or beat a rug to get the dirt out?”

Hayes State Park is located at 1220 Wamplers Lake Road. The artifacts program is free, but a Recreation Passport is required for park entry.

Walker Tavern Historic Site is one of 11 nationally accredited museums administered by the Michigan Historical Center. It is located in Cambridge Junction Historic State Park, at the intersection of U.S. 12 and M-50. For more information call 517-241-0731 or visit www.michigan.gov/walkertavern. Admission to the historic site is free, but a Recreation Passport is required for park entry.

The Michigan Historical Center is part of the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. Its museum and archival programs help people discover, enjoy and find inspiration in their heritage. It includes the Michigan Historical Museum, 10 regional museums, Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary and Underwater Preserve, and the Archives of Michigan. Learn more at www.michigan.gov/michiganhistory.

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources is committed to the conservation, protection, management, use and enjoyment of the state's natural and cultural resources for current and future generations. For more information, go to www.michigan.gov/dnr.