When the first space capsule was launched in the 1950s, a generation of American children began aspiring to a new career goal: astronaut. The latest program series at the Lorenzo Cultural Center looks at the 1950s Space Race and provides other opportunities for children to learn about the decade that many of their grandparents grew up in.
The 1950s: Affluence and Anxiety in the Atomic Age begins Feb. 26 and continues through May 7 at the Lorenzo Cultural Center on Macomb’s Center Campus in Clinton Township. In addition to providing a wide variety of presentations, exhibits and videos that showcase life and activities in the 1950s suitable for all ages, the series also features several events specifically designed for children and their families.
On Saturday, March 19, the Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum offers families the opportunity to drop in between 1:30 – 3:30 p.m. to participate in any of nine interactive family activities related to the science of toys from the 1950s. At 11 a.m., Friday, March 25, the Detroit Science Center will “lead” upper elementary and middle school students, back to the Fifties to experience the Space Race through a multimedia presentation combined with hands-on activities.
Storyteller Rosie Chapman reenacts Rosa Parks’ Montgomery bus incident at 11 a.m., Friday, April 8, highlighting Parks’ life and the civil rights movement. On Wednesday, May 4, 11 a.m., the legacy of Rosa Parks is featured through an interactive workshop focusing on the struggle for voting rights that black Americans faced in the 1950s and connecting youth leadership of today with civic responsibility.
The program series features more than two dozen free presentations, as well as free exhibits in the cultural center, including Atoms for Peace – a display of lithographs on loan from the National Museum of Nuclear Science & History – and Affluence and Anxiety in the Atomic Age – a multimedia exploration of life in the 1950s.
Admission to the presentations is free, but advance registration is required and may be made by calling 586.445.7348. Group visits and school field trips are also welcome and may be made at the same number.
The Lorenzo Cultural Center is open 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Wednesday-Saturday and 1-4 p.m. Sundays. Additional information on the cultural center and on the 1950s program series is available at www.LorenzoCulturalCenter.com.
About the Lorenzo Cultural Center
The Lorenzo Cultural Center (www.LorenzoCulturalCenter.com) explores the influences and experiences that shape our community's heritage, examining topics from a variety of perspectives and creating interactive opportunities for learning, celebration and entertainment. Located on Macomb Community College's Center Campus, Hall and Garfield Roads in Clinton Township, the cultural center is adjacent to the Macomb Center for Performing Arts.
About Macomb Community College
Macomb Community College (www.macomb.edu) is one of the nation’s leading community colleges, providing learning experiences to more than 48,000 students annually. Macomb nationally ranks in the top two percent in the number of associate degrees awarded and as the largest grantor of associate degrees in Michigan. The college’s comprehensive educational programming includes pre-collegiate experiences, university transfer and career preparation programs, bachelor degree completion and graduate degree programs, workforce training, professional education and certification, and continuing education and enrichment opportunities