Mackinac Bridge 50th Anniversary
Calendar of Events July 27 to Nov. 1

A section of one of the many trusses is lifted up off a barge during construction of the Mackinac Bridge, which officially opened November 1957. The steel superstructure was the longest suspension bridge in the world at the time with a length of 8,614 feet, including anchorage. (Photograph courtesy of Michigan Department of Transportation)

FRIDAY, JULY 27, 2007

12:00 P.M. & 2:30 P.M. Little Bear Community Center, 275 Marquette Street, St. Ignace

"50 Fabulous Years"

Q&Awith running Slide Show Presentation Mackinac Bridge Authority Staff two showings, free, limited seating

"Memories of Mackinac" Slide Show Presentation - Richard DeMara, Ironworker

two showings, free, limited seating

6:00 P.M. Reception

7:00 P.M. Banquet Kewadin Casino, Mackinac Trail, St. Ignace

SATURDAY, JULY 28, 2007

10:30 A.M. Parade, Downtown St.Ignace 11:45 A.M. Fifty Parade Convertibles to Cross Bridge!

12:30 P.M. Parade, Downtown Mackinaw City

AFTERNOON EVENTS

Bridge View Park, St. Ignace

Throughout the Day

Display of 50 Parade Convertibles

with Mighty Mac in the background!

Food Vending - Lions, Kiwanis, VFW, Animal Shelter 50th Birthday Cakes - provided by Straits area bakers and chefs

Oral History Booth - Oral History Association of Michigan

(recording memories of persons involved in the construction

and dedication of the Mackinac Bridge) Sales-Mackinac Bridge books, author Larry Rubin-Kiwanis Club

Mackinac Bridge Tokens Michigan History Magazine - Mackinac Bridge edition

Amateur Radio Operators - Special event broadcast!

1:00 P.M. Great Lakes Folk Music Dan Hall; The Pub Runners (Jerry Belanger & Doug Berkshire)

2:30 P.M. Ironworkers/Building Trades Demonstration

( I-beams, working forge, rivet tossing, etc.)

3:30 P.M. Ironworkers/Building Trades Stories and Q&A Session

4:45 P.M. Dedication of Ironworkers/Building Trades

Statue and Memorial

5:00 P.M. Fly-Over, Michigan Air National Guard (tentative)

10:30 P.M., sunset,

Fireworks display over Straits of Mackinac

MONDAY, SEPT. 3, 2007 7:00 A.M. 50th Annual Labor Day Bridge Walk!

Begin in St. Ignace and walk to Mackinaw City.

THURSDAY, NOV. 1, 2007

First Crossing - Commemoration Ceremony,

Bridge View Park, St. Ignace (time to be determined) Ceremony commemorating the opening and first crossing of the

Mackinac Bridge on November 1, 1957.

[schedule/times subject to change]