50 years of Sleeping Bear Dunes: looking back at 5 decades of events, milestones and movements

From staff reports

This year marks a golden anniversary for Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, which was signed into law by President Nixon on October 21, 1970. Our National Lakeshore had planned a year-long series of celebrations in 2020 to mark the milestone. But the global coronavirus pandemic has forced Lakeshore staff to cancel many of those events.

Nevertheless, the Glen Arbor Sun will use this anniversary as an opportunity to publish a year-long series of stories that highlight key events, milestones and movements that have changed the Sleeping Bear Dunes region since 1970. (Speaking of anniversaries, 2020 represents our 25th year of publishing this newspaper.)

In our pages this year you’ll read stories about: the early days of the National Lakeshore and the preservation of public lands vs. private property rights; the movement to protect historic resources within the Lakeshore; Glen Arbor’s growing artist community; the arrival of iconic businesses such as Cherry Republic; live music in town; a land swap that preserved the Crystal River; the growth of smalltown festivals; an outdoor recreation scene; the “Most Beautiful Place in America” honor of 2011; the 2015 megastorm; farmers markets and a local food movement, and rising water levels and climate change.

Dear readers: what stories do you think we should include in this anniversary series?