THE HURON EMERY | ISSUE 4: FEBRUARY
4 | NEWS
Ann Arbor bicentennial:“Beyond the boundless arc of a Midwest sky” MAYA FU WEBSITE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Ann’s Arbor. Dedicated in 1824 to the wives of founders John Allen and Elishia W. Rumsey (both named Ann), the small settlement filled with beautiful natural groves (or arbors) quickly grew into a bustling city, its name shortened to simply Ann Arbor. Originally a center for agricultural training, the moving of the University of Michigan from Detroit in 1837, along with the arrival of the Michigan Central Railroad in 1839, helped transition the city into a period of rapid growth. World War II marked another population boom, with the nearby Ford Willow Run plant producing B-24 Liberator bombers. But before being claimed by settlers of European descent, the major roadways of today’s Ann Arbor w e r e frequently traveled by many indigenous tribes, such as the Ojibwe, Ottawa, Potawatomi and the Wyandot tribes. The City of Ann Arbor pays respect to these tribes, who were forcefully removed from their land in the Treaty of Detroit in 1807, by keeping public land acknowledgements on its website. Luckily, the cultures, languages, and legacies of these indigenous tribes live on through their descendants, many of whom still reside in Ann Arbor today. Now, 200 years later, Ann Arbor is home to over 100,000 residents and countless landmarks we’ve come to know and love. The
bicentennial celebrations were started by a kickoff event on Jan. 19 at the Michigan Theatre featuring a silent auction and a poem reading, with Community High School’s jazz program and Ann Arbor artist DJ Myint providing music. At the conclusion of the evening, a bicentennial tile created by Motawi Tileworks was unveiled, featuring colorful depictions of various famous Ann Arbor sites and Shakey Jake, an Ann Arbor street musician beloved among everyone. Other
discussing topics pertinent to Ann Arbor’s history. “I grew up attending programs and summer camps at the university, exploring downtown, and visiting the libraries and local museums or centers,” said senior Aria Burton-Weisman, who was born and raised in Ann Arbor. “I’d also say that one of the most central aspects to me has been its diversity. It’s largely embraced here, which I think is an
celebrations to honor the city’s 200th birthday include Ann Arbor District Library’s Ann Arbor 200 project, which will include 200 digital content releases over the course of 2024
Timeline of Ann Arbor history
GRAPHIC BY PHUONG-ANH DO
incredibly important facet of any community, especially to me as a biracial person.” Despite not being a large-scale city, BurtonWeisman thinks that it’s a bustling college town with lots to do, and has always felt like the perfect sized community to grow up in. “Especially with the University of Michigan
essentially built into it, Ann Arbor also heralds education and the arts in a highly unique and profound way that I don’t think could really be replicated anywhere else,” she said. “It’s always growing, modernizing, and becoming increasingly accessible.” She recalls that her grandfather – who was not raised in Ann Arbor – constantly talked about how it would top lists online of the best places to live in the U.S. “I don’t think that the merit of a place can necessarily be deduced through a review or survey, but Ann Arbor, to me, has always been its own little world, and has always been home.” This city has infinite charm and character beyond the prestigious University of Michigan and impressive statistics above average education levels; my childhood memories are full of piano recitals in Kerrytown’s concert hall, S u n d a y excursions to the downtown F a r m e r ’ s M a r k e t , afternoons curled up reading in the many public libraries and school field trips to the Hands-On Museum. Having a conversation with any local reveals the fierce pride that we all hold for our city, and this arrival of its 200th birthday marks a new opportunity for us to remember and appreciate Ann Arbor’s rich history and what it provides for us on a daily basis. GRAPHIC BY ELLA YIP AND BRODY TURNER