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Last Weekend to See Plowshares Into Swords Exhibit.

5thMichiganPlayer: The 5th Michigan Volunteer Infantry will perform at the Michigan Historical Museum on Feb. 4, marking the last weekend of the museum’s special exhibit, Plowshares Into Swords.

Michigan Department of Natural Resources

Michigan --(Ammoland.com)- The 5th Michigan Volunteer Infantry will play at the Michigan Historical Museum on Feb. 4 at 1 p.m. in recognition of the museum’s Civil War exhibit, Plowshares Into Swords.

The performance marks the last weekend visitors can see the special exhibit. It will be held in the museum’s first floor in the Forum and begin at 1 p.m. The event is free with regular museum admission.

The 5th Michigan Volunteer Infantry – a unit which saw action at the battles of Bull Run, Antietam and Gettysburg during the Civil War – was mustered into service on Aug. 28, 1861 at Fort Wayne in Detroit. One hundred fifty years later the modern 5th Michigan Regiment Band brings Civil War history to thousands of spectators each year through music and historical narration.

The band will be dressed in their Union blues and perform Civil War-era music on antique and replica sax horns and wood rope tension drums. The selection will include popular marches, polkas, waltzes and quicksteps of the 1860s that were played during parades and at military balls on both sides of the Mason-Dixon Line.

Lt. Col. Guy Smith, director of the band, has meticulously transcribed and orchestrated the band’s music using original scores preserved in the National Archives.

Visit www.michigan.gov/museum and see “Coming Events” for more detailed information.

Michigan Historical Museum admission is $6 for adults 18-64. Children through age 5 are free; youth ages 6-17 pay an optional $2; and seniors 65 and up pay $4. Annual passes are available, and Sundays are FREE for everyone. Visit www.michigan.gov/museum for details.

The museum is open seven days a week. It is located inside the Michigan Library and Historical Center, 702 West Kalamazoo St., Lansing. The museum and visitor parking are on the north side of Kalamazoo Street, two blocks east of M. L. King Jr. Boulevard. Weekend parking is free. For more information, visit www.michigan.gov/museum or call 517-373-3359.

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, 11 regional museums, 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.

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Enjoy Snowshoe Treks through Michigan's Ludington State Park in January & February

Michigan Department of Natural Resources

Michigan --(Ammoland.com)- Ludington State Park in Mason County is offering a Go Get Outdoors free snowshoe trek on Saturdays, Jan. 14 through Feb. 18, weather permitting.

These 1-1/2-hour guided snowshoe/nature/history programs will take visitors through Ludington State Park’s snow-covered sand dunes. Two treks will be offered each Saturday.

Start out from the Warming Shelter located next to the parking lot at the end of M-116 at 3 p.m. or try the Moonlight Trek at 7 p.m. The park has 40 pairs of snowshoes to loan out on a first-come, first-served basis. Loaner snowshoes fit visitors ages 10 years old to adult. Reservations are not required.

Park staff will be on hand to help novice trekkers with their snowshoes and getting started. Participants are advised to dress warmly, wear good-fitting winter walking shoes or boots, and bring a flashlight if attending the Moonlight Trek.

“Snowshoeing can be done by anyone at any age. One hour of moderate walking in snowshoes can burn up to 750 calories, and the sport is one of the safest winter activities,” said Allen Wernette, Ludington State Park interpreter.

Ludington State Park is located at 8800 W. M-116 in Ludington. For details, call Wernette at 231-843-9261.

Snowshoe hikes and cross-country ski events are taking place this winter at many state parks across Michigan. To learn more, visit www.michigan.gov/gogetoutdoors.

A Recreation Passport is required for all vehicles entering Ludington State Park. The Recreation Passport has replaced motor vehicle permits for entry into Michigan state parks, recreation areas and state-administered boating access fee sites. This new way to fund Michigan’s outdoor recreation opportunities also helps to preserve state forest campgrounds, trails, and historic and cultural sites in state parks, and provides park development grants to local communities.

Michigan residents can purchase the Recreation Passport ($10 for motor vehicles; $5 for motorcycles) by checking “YES” on their license plate renewal forms, or at any state park or recreation area. Nonresident motor vehicles must still display a valid nonresident Recreation Passport ($29 annual; $8 daily) to enter a Michigan state park, recreation area or state-administered boating access fee site; these can be purchased at any state park or recreation area, or through the Michigan e-Store at www.michigan.gov/estore. To learn more about the Recreation Passport, visit www.michigan.gov/recreationpassport or call 517-241-7275.

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.

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