Far Out! Ann Arbor in the 60s from JFK to Earth Day
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Description
Tour of physical locations representing key moments of Ann Arbor in the long 60s
1. The Union Front Steps
Let us set the scene. It’s fall 1960 and students at the University of Michigan are enthusiastic about the upcoming presidential election. A small, vocal cohort of campus activists didn't mind Kennedy, but overall, they found him too conservative. They also made it known that his opponent, Richard Nixon, had views that were even more conservative and outdated.
2. West Hall
West Hall tells a story of how research initiatives across the University of Michigan were mobilized in the service of the Cold War. As you can see, West Hall appears old and outdated, but it has been a crucial part of the University for decades. It was here, and at other places on campus, where research, such as social science, natural science, engineering, and even the humanities were militarized during the Cold War. These research initiatives included defense applications to combat the spread of communism, and to expand and consolidate the influence of the United States around the world.
3. The DIag
I’m sure that you’re all probably familiar with Earth Day, but you might not know much about the connection between Earth Day environmental activism at Michigan. The Diag serves an important historical purpose in this story. Here, the first Earth Day “prototype”—an environmental teach-in— was hosted in 1970 by ENACT, the Environmental Action for Survival student organization.This teach-in was a product of the 60’s passion for activism.
4. Angell Hall and The Fishbowl
We are now standing in between the Angell Hall auditoriums, the location of the first teach-in in American history, and the Fishbowl, once the site of the humiliation of a Marine recruiter. Starting with President Eisenhower in the 1950s, the United States escalated its military involvement in Vietnam's Civil War to prevent the spread of communism in the region. In the early 1960s, the American public (and most likely, even students!) supported military action in Vietnam, like it had with US involvement in earlier wars. But students and other activists began to question this, leading to smaller protests in 1965 and eventually mass protests by the end of the decade.
5. Hill Auditorium
In 1962, Hill Auditorium, where we’re standing right now, bore witness to two of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s powerful addresses regarding nonviolent protest, integration, and education––a mere six months before his iconic “I Have a Dream” speech in Washington, DC. Dr. King emphasized the importance of civil disobedience, rallying thousands of supporters and those passionate to change the fundamental problems in US society at the time. The effects of historic moments in the 60’s like MLK’s visit foreshadowed future civil rights activism at the University of Michigan.
6. Kresge’s / Walgreens
Today, you see a Walgreen’s standing here, one that many of you may have undoubtedly visited many times, in between classes or on your way to work. But decades ago, this was the site of Kresge's, a store that played a pivotal role in Ann Arbor's civil rights history. Let's explore the rich history behind this building!
7. The State Theatre
Here we are at the State Theatre, which opened in 1942. The first film shown at this theater was The Fleet’s In, a romance story about a shy sailor and his bets to kiss the stand-offish club star. Twenty-six years later, in 1968, the most popular film of the year was 2001: A Space Odyssey, a film inspired by the ongoing space race in which the University played a role in (we’ll hear more about that later on the tour).
8. Student Publications Building
Have you ever felt like you were not represented by the administration? Have they taken credit for something you and your peers worked hard for? The Michigan Daily aims to set the record straight.
9. Michigan Union Side Door
Today, roughly half of all U of M students are women and students of all genders are, on paper, given equal access to student life here on campus. But this wasn’t always the case—many spaces, including the Michigan Union, excluded women for much of U of M’s history.
