The Kalamazoo Historic Preservation Commission, Southwest Michigan Chapter of the American Institute of Architects and Kalamazoo Public Library have partnered to Celebrate National Historic Preservation Month with a pair of presentations you won’t want to miss.

At 4 pm on May 18th, Lynn Houghton, Regional History Curator at the WMU Archives and Regional History Collections, will lead a short walking tour from the Central Library that features some of the Kalamazoo architectural sculpture highlighted in historian and author Jeff Morrison’s new book, Guardians of Michigan: Architectural Sculpture of the Pleasant Peninsulas.

Then, at 5 pm in the Library’s Van Deusen Room, Mr. Morrison will speak about these and other examples from his book, which features 1200 pictures of building sculpture across Michigan. Building types include places of worship, Albert Kahn-designed newspaper buildings, skyscraper bank and academic buildings, county courthouses, and others. The presentation will be followed by a book signing.

Jeff Morrison’s first book, Guardians of Detroit: Architectural Sculpture in the Motor City, was published in 2019 and named a Michigan Notable Book by the Library of Michigan, received a Midwest Book Award from the Midwest Independent Publishers Association, and received a State History Award from the Historical Society of Michigan.