Summertime
The summer diorama portrays nature's unique
gift to Michigan—the Great Lakes.
 Nature's gift to Michigan is the largest freshwater system in the world—the
Great Lakes. Michigan's 3,288-mile Great Lakes shoreline touches four of the
five lakes: Erie, Huron, Michigan and Superior. Michigan also boasts more than
36,000 miles of rivers and streams and more than 11,000 inland lakes. The
exhibit interprets the lakes, response to pollution problems and summer
recreation and tourism.
The Great Lakes have met our industrial, agricultural, navigational and
recreational needs, while at the same time serving to inspire, to soothe, and
leave us in awe of nature's splendor.
William G. Milliken
Governor of Michigan, 1969-82
During the 19th century, municipalities and industries along the shores
of the Great Lakes used the lakes' water for drinking, manufacturing,
transportation, fishing and pleasure.
Twentieth-century Michiganians began to realize that the precious and limited
lakes, as well as the land they surround, must be used more wisely. They began
to understand the Native Americans' respect for Mother Earth and to regard the
lakes and the land as valued resources held in trust for future generations.
On Borrowed Time
During the 1960s and 1970s, Michigan's citizens began to worry about water,
land and air quality. Lake Erie and smaller inland lakes were dying from the
sewage, industrial discharges and urban and agricultural runoff dumped into
their waters. Air quality diminished as auto exhaust and industrial emissions
spewed into the environment. Noise pollution came from airports, highways and
factories.
Michiganians rallied to save their environment. During 1967, industries and
municipalities began reducing pollution caused by waste disposal. In 1968,
Michigan adopted a $335 million clean-air bond act. Farmers worked to reduce
fertilizer, pesticide and nutrient runoff. There were, however, setbacks. A 1973
accident mixed a deadly fire retardant containing PBB (polybrominated biphenyl)—a toxic chemical—with
livestock feed. The poisoned cattle had to be destroyed.
Michigan also took steps to keep litter, debris, junked cars, landfills and
billboards from destroying their scenic landscapes. In 1972 Keep America
Beautiful, Inc. named Michigan as its state winner for "excellence in
litter prevention." Michigan's 1976 bottle-return bill required stores and
distributors to redeem beer and soft-drink containers.
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