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Lecture Series

Learn From the Experts

The Gilmore Car Museum’s annual Winter Lecture Series is highly anticipated every year. Each week a different speaker will present on a variety of intriguing topics from Michigan based history to aircraft to automobiles, of course!

When is lecture series?

  • Every Sunday (except for Easter) at 2pm in the Heritage Ballroom
  • January through April

Admission is easy -

  • FREE to museum members
  • Included with your museum general admission ticket
  • $5.00/person if you are only attending the lecture

* The Winter Lecture Series will not be streamed via Facebook, YouTube or any other means.

2024 Schedule

January 7th"The Streetcar Era in Kalamazoo 1885-1932"
When electricity drove Kalamazoo.
Mark Tomlonson
Historian
January 14th"America's Anthems"

The Battle Hymn of the Republic, America the Beautiful, and The Star-Spangled Banner.

Cameron S. Brown
President of the Kalamazoo Abraham Lincoln Institute and former Michigan State Senator.
January 21st

"The Amazing Adventures of the Abernathy Brothers"
A fantastic story of two boys on a cross-country journey in 1910.

John Burton & Robin Nott
Historians and Storytellers-GCM Education Team
January 28th

“60th Anniversary of the Mustang”
A historical retrospective on the world’s favorite Pony Car.

John Clor

Enthusiast Communications Manager / Ford Performance
Ford Motor Company

February 4th“How to Buy and Sell Collector Cars”

Explore the many aspects of preparing your collector car for sale and finding a new one.

Patrick Krook
Classic Car Expert
February 11th"The American Guide Series"

The WPA's Travel Books of the 1930's.

Jim Craft

Author and Historian

February 18th

"Sam Hodgman's Civil War Experience 1861-1864"
Three Years with the 7th Michigan Volunteer Infantry.

Rick Cahow
Historian - Gilmore Education Team
February 25th

"The Golden Age of Building in Kalamazoo"
A look at the building boom in Kalamazoo during the 1920s and the people behind it.

Lynn Houghton
Director, The Zhang Legacy Collections Center
Western Michigan University
March 3rd

"Michigan State Parks Along the West Michigan Lakeshore"

M. Christine Byron & Thomas R. Wilson

Authors and Historians - Vintage Views

March 10th"Those Amazing Bradford Model T Girls"

Adventures of young single girls on nine consecutive summer vacations from 1934 thru 1942.

John Butte
John Butte, Author and Collector
March 17th"Carnegie Libraries in Michigan"

Step inside these historic structures and learn of the tremendous impact upon our State.

Dianna Stampfler
Author/Historian and Owner of Promote Michigan
March 24th"Creating a Giant"

The men and money that started the Ford Motor Co.

Ray Swetman

Automotive Historian

April 7th"In 1899 Steam and Electric Cars were King?"

What happened, and could it happen again?

Don LaCombe

Automotive Historian

April 14th"The Wonderful World of Radiator Emblems"
A rich history of fine art work and technological innovation in automotive emblems.
Todd Carlson

Automotive Historian

April 21st"Mascots in Motion"
Images and stories of automotive aesthetics.
Steve Purdy

Author and Historian

April 28th"Old Mission and Leelanau Peninsula Vintners"

The fascinating story of the wine making in northern Michigan. Wine tasting will follow the presentation!

Patrick Brys

Vintner, Brys Estate Vineyard & Winery



Speaker 1916 Packard Series
Dr. Tom George and Von Washington Jr. spoke at the Gilmore Car Museum Sunday afternoon. George spoke of President Lincoln's visit to Kalamazoo and Washington covered President Obama's visit

Have a topic idea that you'd like to present at a future series? Please email our Director of Education, Fred Colgren.


Winter Lecture Series sponsored by -

CRS for web
Tim Harvey