Michigan 2007

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Group photo in front of Holland Harbor Lighthouse "Big Red"

Several of the following photos were taken at the Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park, a spectacular botanic garden and world–class sculpture park in Grand Rapids, Michigan
Photo By Dimitri Margaziotis

Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park
The Thinker
The Detroit Institute of Arts made a rare and exclusive loan of Auguste Rodin’s The Thinker to Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park, from May through October 2007, as a part of the fifth anniversary of the Sculpture Park. Right on time for our tour!
One of the most well-known and iconic works in the history of art, The Thinker, originally conceived as part of the sculptor’s famed Gates of Hell, was enlarged and re-imagined as an independent work of art. Created in 1880 and cast in bronze in 1904, The Thinker measures 78 inches tall. The Thinker was given to the Detroit Institute of Arts in 1922 by Horace H. Rackham, and has never been loaned to any other organization — until now.
Photo By Dimitri Margaziotis

Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park
Creepy Spider
Photo By Dimitri Margaziotis

Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park
That's one big horse about to step on Dimitri!
Leonardo Da Vinci had a dream of sculpting a detailed, phenomenal horse, three times bigger than life-size. The 14-ton, 24-feet high bronze horse was unveiled in the Frederik Meijer Gardens in Grand Rapids on Oct. 7, 2007.
Meijer contributed $2.38 million so two horses could be cast, one to be sent to Milan, Italy and one for the Frederick Meijer Gardens.
"The 'American Horse,' as the sculptures are now being called, were assembled at the gardens and are now open to the public.
Photo By Dimitri Margaziotis

Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park
Photo By Dimitri Margaziotis

Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park
The biggest shovel we've ever seen
Photo By Dimitri Margaziotis

Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park
Ken Kohler stands in the sundial

Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park
Tour Group wandering about
Photo By Dimitri Margaziotis

Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park
Meercats Sculpture in the desert green house
Photo By Dimitri Margaziotis

Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park
Orchid in bloom...in the tropical greenhouse

Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park
Leaman & Sylvia Sullivan in the tropical greenhouse

Lisa Sidorsky at Holland Harbor Lighthouse
"Big Red"

Holland Harbor Lighthouse
"Big Red"
Photo By Dimitri Margaziotis

Grand Haven Light

Grand Haven Light
Photo By Dimitri Margaziotis

AJ Licausi inspects a local fisherman's catch

John & Kathleen Kennedy in front of Grand Haven Light

Nancy Camp & Jill Nasso get a closer look at Grand Haven Light...
Watch out for those waves

Al Gherardi takes the wheel at the USS Silversides museum

George Crum stands next to the USS Silversides
Looks like they are all ready for him

At the base of the Muskegon Lighthouse

Muskegon Lighthouse

Beth Hoffman waving from atop the Muskegon Lighthouse

Jeff climbing the ladder to the top of the Muskegon Lighthouse
Photo By Dimitri Margaziotis

Chad at the top of Muskegon Lighthouse
Photo By Dimitri Margaziotis

Group dinner at Muskegon Tony's
Photo By Dimitri Margaziotis

Society members ascend the White River Lighthouse

White River Lighthouse

Society enroute to the Little Sable Lighthouse

Little Sable Lighthouse

Top of the Little Sable Lighthouse

Lens at the Little Sable Lighthouse
Photo By Dimitri Margaziotis

Our bus driver Ron enjoying the view

Danger!
Warning sign at the Ludington Pierhead Light...Will Society members let this sign scare them away?

Not a chance!
Society members courageously journey to the Ludington Pierhead Light

Base of the Ludington Pierhead Light
Photo By Lisa Sidorsky

Ludington Pierhead Light

The road ahead for those that want to see the Big Sable Lighthouse
Photo by Lisa Sidorsky

Lee McCoy gathering her strength for the walk to the Big Sable Point Lighthouse

Those crazy kids, trying to see how many Society members can fit in the back of this car. Clarice Powers, AJ Licausi & Sylvia Sullivan get things started

Approaching Big Sable Lighthouse

Lantern Room at the Big Sable Lighthouse

Big Sable Point Lighthouse
Photo By Dimitri Margaziotis

View from the top of the Big Sable Point Lighthouse
Photo By Dimitri Margaziotis

Interesting view through one of the port holes at the Big Sable Point Lighthouse
Photo By Dimitri Margaziotis

Richard & Gloria Huffman at the Big Sable Point Lighthouse

Philip Smyth & Donna Meckfessel at the Big Sable Point Lighthouse

Everyone's all smiles on Society coaches!
From Left to Right
Nancy Camp, Vince Nasso, Lennie Forkas & Jill Nasso

Pondering moment at the beach overlooking Frankfort Pier Lighthouse

Frankfort Pier Lighthouse
Photo By Dimitri Margaziotis

Frankfort Pier Lighthouse
Photo by Lisa Sidorsky

Clarice Powers standing strong against the winds at Point Betsie

Beach line at Point Betsie Lighthouse
Photo by Lisa Sidorsky

Lee McCoy outrunning the cold water in front of the Point Betsie Lighthouse
Run Lee Run!

Point Betsie Lighthouse
Photo By Dimitri Margaziotis

Fog Signal Building at the Point Betsie Lighthouse

Jen & Art Sullivan on the beach at the Point Betsie Lighthouse

Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore
It's quite a climb to the top
Photo by Lisa Sidorsky

Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore
All the fun is running down
Photo By Dimitri Margaziotis

Photo by Lisa Sidorsky

Jane Sims & Lisa Sidorsky sharing a laugh

Tour at Lifesaving Station

Val & Dimitri Margaziotis

Bunny & Dick Borkowski

That little speck in the distance is South Manitou Island Lighthouse
Photo By Dimitri Margaziotis

Sleeping Bear Point Life Saving Station

Fresnel Lens on display at the Sleeping Bear Point Life Saving Station
Photo By Dimitri Margaziotis

Sleeping Bear Point Life Saving Station
Lifecar
This metal boat is a lifecar, built in 1848, which was used to bring people ashore from ships wrecked or stranded. The first step in setting up rescue equipment was to fire a light line across the vessel from a Manby mortar on shore. When everything was in place, the lifecar was pulled through the surf from shore to the vessel and back. When the waves were rough, the ride must have been very uncomfortable...to say the least
This lifecar is identical to one used to rescue 201 passengers from the ship Ayreshire on the New Jersey coast in 1850.

Sleeping Bear Point Life Saving Station
Lyle gun and Faking Box
In 1878 the Lyle gun replaced the Manby mortar for firing light lines to wrecked vessels because they had a longer range and were more accurate. The Faking Box has wooden pins used to fake (coil free for running) a light line. Before attaching the line to the Lyle gun bullet, rescuers would invert the pin board and allow the line to drop into the lid of the box. Then the line was ready to play out smoothly when the shot was fired.

Ned Goebricher & Nancy Camp take a stroll
Photo by Lisa Sidorsky

Watch your step or you may go for an unplanned swim in Lake Michigan
Photo by Lisa Sidorsky

Society members venture out to see the breathtaking view of Lake Michigan. This deck goes right to the edge of the 450 foot drop.

Glen Haven Cannery
Interior of the lens from North Manitou Shoal Lighthouse

Glen Haven Cannery
Chad once caught a fish this big!

Glen Haven Cannery
This boat smiles where ever it goes

Grand Traverse Light Station
Photo By Dimitri Margaziotis

Grand Traverse Light Station

Inside Grand Traverse Light Station
Photo By Dimitri Margaziotis

Grand Traverse Light Station
Photo By Dimitri Margaziotis

Sutton Bay
Samuel's Welcomes the USLHS
Photo By Dimitri Margaziotis

Old Mission Point Lighthouse
Photo by Lisa Sidorsky

Old Mission Point Lighthouse

Beautiful sunset at the Charlevoix South Pier Light
Photo by Lisa Sidorsky

Cruising the streets of Charlevoix
Photo By Dimitri Margaziotis

Beaver Island Boat Cruise

View of Charlevoix South Pier Light as we head out to Beaver Island
Photo By Dimitri Margaziotis

Our fearless leader Jeff, enjoying the beautiful sunny weather on deck on the way to Beaver Island
Photo by Lisa Sidorsky

Beth Hoffman & Vince Nasso playing cards on the vessel to Beaver Island

Melissa sorting out the lunches so everyone can have a delicious meal on board

Society members taking a siesta in the sun on deck...what could be better

Sylvia & Leaman Sullivan

Beaver Island Harbor Lighthouse
Photo By Dimitri Margaziotis

Beaver Head Lighthouse
Photo By Dimitri Margaziotis

Beaver Head Lighthouse

Fog Signal Building at the Beaver Head Lighthouse

Coastline at Beaver Head Lightouse
Photo by Lisa Sidorsky

Bambi
Photo by Lisa Sidorsky

Society members winding down on the vessel
Photo by Lisa Sidorsky

Clarice Powers

Frances & Wyman Pang

Charlevoix South Pier Light as we return to port

Society members off on another cruise to the straights of Mackinac

Cheboygan Crib Light
Photo By Dimitri Margaziotis

Cheboygan River Front Range Light
Photo By Dimitri Margaziotis

Nice shot of Fourteen Foot Shoal Lighthouse
Photo By Dimitri Margaziotis

Poe Reef Lighthouse
Photo By Dimitri Margaziotis

Bois Blanc Island Lighthouse
Photo By Dimitri Margaziotis

Round Island Lighthouse
Photo By Dimitri Margaziotis

Round Island & Round IslandPassage
Photo By Dimitri Margaziotis

Mackinac Island
Horse drawn Taxi
Photo by Lisa Sidorsky

Mackinac Island
Photo by Lisa Sidorsky

Jeff & Melissa at the Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island

Anna & Al Gherardi on a horse drawn taxi

View of the Grand Hotel from inside a Horse Drawn Taxi

Mackinac Island Bicycles
Photo by Lisa Sidorsky

Old Mackinaw Point Lighthouse
Photo By Dimitri Margaziotis

Close up at the Old Mackinaw Point Lighthouse
Photo by Lisa Sidorsky

Society members at the Old Mackinaw Point Lighthouse

Mackinaw Bridge
Photo by Lisa Sidorsky

Hartwick Pines State Park
Photo by Lisa Sidorsky

Hartwick Pines State Park
Photo By Dimitri Margaziotis