Mark your calendars for  April 13^th at 6:30 pm and enjoy 101 Things that Happened on the Mackinac Bridge presented by Mike Fornes through the support of the Special Collections Department at the George N. Fletcher Public Library will be an entertaining, informative presentation about historic, tragic, and humorous events on the iconic “Mighty Mack.” Since construction began in 1954, the Mackinac Bridge has withstood gale-force winds, the pressure of crushing ice flows, and blinding snowstorms. Since its opening in 1957, it has been struck by lightning, and hit by an airplane and a ship, yet still stands as perhaps the safest five miles of I-75. Take a trip through the first six decades of the bridge’s history and experience unusual crossings, triumph and tragedy. Parades of vehicles and pedestrians have crossed over the Mackinac Bridge and flotillas of ships have passed under it. Hear the stories, see the photos and meet the people who have made this engineering wonder a symbol of the state of Michigan.

Author Mike Fornes covered the Mackinac Bridge and the USCG Mackinaw for 26 years for several outlets in Northern Michigan, including radio and television stations and the Cheboygan Daily Tribune. A resident of Mackinaw city, Fornes is frequently in demand as a guest speaker and presenter to tour groups, cruise ship organizations and historical societies. He is the author of the 2008 Michigan Notable Book Mackinac Bridge- A 50 Year Chronicle 1957-2000, USCGC Mackinaw WAGB 83: An Illustrated History of a Great Lakes Queen and Arcadia Publishing’s Images of America: Mackinac Bridge and USCG Mackinaw WLBB-30.

For more information visit www.alpenalibrary.org or call (989)356-6188 ext. 17.

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Jessica Luther
Development Coordinator
Alpena County George N. Fletcher
Public Library

jluther@alpenalibrary.org
989.356.6188 ext. 25