Exhibit "Maritime Holland: A Vision of Lakeshore Prosperity"

In 1996, the MMM contracted to produce a traveling exhibition on the maritime history of Holland for this community's 1997 Sesquicentennial celebration. Changes in staffing and other factors led the MMM to turn to the GLCMS to complete this project. GLCMS members and WMU Public History student, Paula Lange, worked with the Holland Historical Museum, Holland Joint Archives, and local residents to research this subject and collect resources for the exhibit. Exhibit staff at the Grand Rapids Public Museum provided design and fabrication services. Funding for this project, including MMM staff time and Lange's stipend, was provided by private and corporate donors. Since its opening in late 1997 the exhibit has had showings in Holland and Kalamazoo. In 1999 the exhibit served as the centerpiece for a year of thematic programming at the Holland Historical Museum entitled: "Life on Two Lakes: Holland's Maritime Story."