Lecture and Book Signing Celebrate Mid-Century Modern Design in Mid-Michigan and Beyond
AM Public Talk and PM Book Event Spotlight Architectural Heritage of Midland, MI
Join the Alden B. Dow Home and Studio and Mid-Century Modern Midland for two events centered in the rich architectural legacy of Midland, Michigan on Saturday, May 16.
In the morning, Erin Hawkins, Director of Strategic Partnerships and Communications for Visit Columbus, will present her lecture “Different by Design: How Columbus, Indiana Became an Architectural Destination” at the Grace A. Dow Memorial Library Auditorium at 11 AM.
The Columbus, IN native has spent more than a decade sharing the city’s remarkable architecture and design legacy with people from around the world. She is passionate about telling the story of how her hometown became one of the most architecturally significant cities in the country and about the lasting impact of growing up in a place where thoughtful design shapes everyday life.
Her talk will explore the remarkable story behind one of America’s most celebrated collections of modern architecture and the vision that shaped it. Drawing on her extensive local knowledge and a passion for design, Hawkins will examine how a small Midwestern city transformed itself into a world-renowned hub for architecture. The parallels between Columbus, a city with 70+ Mid-Century Modern (MCM) structures driven by the 1950s Cummins Architecture Program, and Midland, home to more than 400 MCM homes, churches, civic and commercial buildings, rooted in the influence of Alden B. Dow, are many. This talk galvanizes how each community celebrates Modernism for both residents and visitors alike.
The lecture, which is free and open to the public, coincides with a book signing for Mid-Century Modern Midland, the recently released 244-page book by authors Craig McDonald and Carol Neff, at Barnes & Noble Midland, 6800 Eastman Avenue, from 3-5 PM. Mid-Century Modern Midland chronicles Midland’s unprecedented architectural legacy and validates Midland, MI as the Mid-Century Modern (MCM) City of America.
To register for the talk, please visit https://fareharbor.com/embeds/book/abdow/items/725005/calendar/2026/05/?flow=1113665&full-items=yes
If you have questions or would like to schedule an interview, please contact Chene Koppitz, Alden B. Dow Home and Studio PR & Marketing Coordinator, at (989) 839-2744 or via email at koppitz@abdow.org.
About Mid-Century Modern Midland
The mission of Mid-Century Modern Midland is to document, preserve, celebrate, share, and perpetuate the Mid-Century Modern architectural heritage of Midland, Michigan. In the early 1930s, Alden B. Dow FAIA (Fellow of the American Institute of Architects) introduced modern design to Midland, Michigan and created over 130 structures during his 50-year career. His innovative and dynamic structures initiated an architectural heritage that is unprecedented in the United States.
Grace A. Dow Memorial Library Parking Details
Ongoing exterior projects at the library have impacted both parking and the entrance to the building.
During construction, the main entrance of the library will be moved to its new exterior doors facing St. Andrews. Parking will be available on the West end of the parking lot. The library also recommends that attendees utilize the sidewalk running along St. Andrews to access the building during construction. Please look for event signage to direct you to the entrance to the library.
Do you have a Midland County story you would like to tell that aligns with our vision?