Schoolcraft College is hosting a special traveling exhibit, "Ildlewild: The Black Eden of Michigan," through Friday, Feb. 15, 2013. The exhibit, on loan from Michigan State University, features photographs and historical information about this unique resort community that welcomed African-Americans from the 1920s-60s.
Located in rural northwestern Michigan, Ildewild was one of only a few resorts in the United States where African-Americans could vacation and purchase property during a segregated time in the nation's history. Idlewild was an active year-round community and was visited by well-known entertainers and professionals. In fact, at its peak it was the most popular resort in the Midwest with as many as 25,000 people visiting at the height of summer. When the 1964 Civil Rights Act opened up other resorts to African-Americans, Idlewild's boomtown period subsided, but the community continues to be an important place for vacationers, retirees, and a special place for younger generations of African-Americans seeking to learn about their heritage.
The exhibit, which is open Monday-Friday from 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. in the Lower Waterman area of the VisTaTech Center on the college's main campus in Livonia, traces Idlewild's history from its inception in the early twentieth century to present day. Through words and images, it glimpses beyond the often told stories of Idlewild's entertainment scene during its heyday to tell the full story of a community that has survived the challenges of historical change.
The "Idlewild: The Black Eden of Michigan" exhibit is hosted by Schoolcraft College's Bridging Barriers group, the Student Activities Office and is made possible by a grant from the Schoolcraft College Foundation.