Michigan Excursions

Friday, May 26

Detroit Tiger's Baseball Game

You are invited to experience the American pastime of baseball, followed by a fireworks display! It's certain to be a perfect ending to the 2006 IASSIST meeting.

IASSIST is organizing an outing to the home of the Detroit Tigers. Chartered bus transportation will be provided to watch the Detroit Tigers take on their AL Central rivals, the Cleveland Indians. At the conclusion of the game, fans will be treated to a spectacular fireworks display before returning to Ann Arbor. Round-trip bus transportation and one ticket to the baseball game may be purchased for $25.00.

Comerica Park became the latest home of the Tigers in 2000 and was designed to offer something for everyone. In addition to nine innings of baseball, sports fans can enjoy a baseball-themed Ferris wheel, a tiger-themed carousel, a dazzling center-field water display, and a decade-by-decade "Walk of Fame" featuring Tigers' moments in history along the concourses.

The bus will depart from the Michigan Union at 5:30 pm and will return to the Michigan Union after the game. This trip is limited to the first 55 registrants, so register today! Additional questions? Please contact Shawn Pelak (spelak@umich.edu).

Saturday, May 27

Bus Tour of Detroit

For those interested in a cultural tour of Detroit, a bus tour will be led by Ren Farley from the Institute of Social Research on Saturday, May 27th. This tour encompasses sites that cover the founding of the city, its automobile and other manufacturing history, the labor movement, race relations, architecture, art, music, and sports.

For a preview of what the tour includes, take a look at Ren Farley's Detroit Web site or take a look at the itinerary (PDF 1.5MB) of a previous tour. Missing from these links is the fascinating narrative and music clips that Ren provides.

The tour bus will depart at 10:00am from the Fleming Building, 503 Thompson [behind the Michigan Union] and will return at 4:00. Cost is $25, which covers the cost of the bus and lunch. For further information, contact Lisa Neidert (lisan@umich.edu). The tour is limited to 40 participants.

Henry Ford Excursion and Ford Rouge Factory Tour

Interested in discovering more about Detroit's history? IASSIST is hosting a tour of The Henry Ford, which will include a tour of the Ford Rouge Factory and your choice of either Greenfield Village or the Henry Ford Museum. Round-trip bus transportation and admission tickets for the tours may be purchased for $35.

The Ford Rouge Factory offers an extraordinary opportunity to learn about one of the largest automotive complexes ever built as well as the past, present, and future of auto manufacturing. The Factory tour includes a virtual reality theater presentation and offers a bird's eye-view of the production plant from an elevated walkway. By visiting the observation deck you can get a magnificent view of the world's largest living roof and learn about the environmental impact of manufacturing.

The Henry Ford Museum holds many exhibits on events that hold significance in American history, including: the chair in which Abraham Lincoln was assassinated, the limousine in which John F. Kennedy was shot, and the bus on which Rosa Parks made her groundbreaking stand for civil rights. There are also constantly changing exhibits focused on aviation, ground transportation, manufacturing, and other aspects of American culture. During your visit there will be a special exhibit organized by the National Baseball Hall of Fame, titled "Baseball as America."

Greenfield Village is a 90-acre historic district that narrates a chronicle of America's past. It is complete with authentic buildings, artifacts, and historic re-enactors, and offers a look into the domestic and work lives of Americans and the trade and commerce of America during Henry Ford's century. In addition to exhibits on Henry Ford and the Model T, Greenfield Village also offers exhibits on the work of Thomas Edison, the lives of the Wright brothers, craftworks, the railroad industry, and other aspects of 19th century life in America.

The bus will depart from the Campus Inn at 8:00 AM and return at 3:00 PM. This trip is limited to the first 47 registrants, so sign up today! Additional questions? Please contact Shawn Pelak (spelak@umich.edu).

Other Options

For those who would like to stay in Michigan for the weekend and plan their own excursion, we suggest you check out the following Web sites for ideas: