Oddball Michigan by Jerome Pohlen

Author:Jerome Pohlen
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Chicago Review Press
Published: 2014-03-15T00:00:00+00:00

Could it be Magic?

Breslin Student Events Center, 534 Birch Rd., East Lansing, MI 48824

Phone: (517) 432-1989

Hours: Always visible

Cost: Free

Website: www.breslincenter.com

Directions: North on Birch Rd. from Shaw Ln., on the south side of the building.

Sparty, the World’s Largest Terra Cotta Statue

When it was first sculpted by professor Leonard D. Jungwirth in 1945, The Spartan was made from terra cotta. Jungwirth had no choice—all the nation’s bronze was being used for the war effort. But far from being a lesser monument, people soon realized that the 10½-foot hunky Greek warrior broke the record for tallest terra cotta statue in the world. It was installed along the Red Cedar River for State fans to venerate on their way to games. And venerate they did.

Unfortunately, terra cotta doesn’t hold up well to Michigan winters and rival Big Ten vandals. Sparty, as he became known, was restored in 2005 and moved indoors to the Spartan Stadium annex. A sturdy bronze replica has been placed at the original statue site.

Terra Cotta Sparty, 1 Spartan Way., East Lansing, MI 48824

Bronze Sparty, E. Kalamazoo St. & Red Cedar Rd., East Lansing, MI 48824

Phone: (800) GO-STATE

Hours: Terra cotta, game days; Bronze, always visible

Cost: Free

Website: www.msuspartans.com/trads/msu-trads-sparty.html

Directions: Terra cotta, inside the stadium annex; Bronze, northwest of Spartan Stadium.

MSU Creepy Crawlies

Calling all insect lovers—crawl on over to Michigan State for two bug-themed attractions. First and foremost is Bug House, run by the university’s Department of Entomology. Though open primarily for elementary school groups by appointment, the Bug House does have several open houses each year, so check the website.

And what will you see? Thousands of dead creatures pinned to cork-board and scientifically labeled, a live butterfly room, and terrariums filled with walking sticks, hissing cockroaches from Madagascar, and— ohmigod—whatever that thing is that looks like a giant leaf. The exhibit is maintained and hosted by student volunteers who will enthusiastically fish out the grossest squirming specimens for you to hold. Yikes!

Bug House, 146–147 Natural Science Building, 288 Farm Ln., East Lansing, MI 48824

Phone: (517) 355-4662

Hours: Check website for open house dates

Cost: Free, but donations encouraged

Website: www.ent.msu.edu/bughouse

Directions: South of E. Circle Dr. on Farm Ln.

If your love of insects only extends to the colorful, nonthreatening, nonbiting kind, come to Butterflies in the Garden. Open seasonally, visitors walk through a room filled with caterpillars, cocoons, and butterflies sucking nectar, munching on host plants, and flitting around in the warm greenhouse. The indoor exhibit is just one of the 25 themed gardens that are part of the school’s 4H Children’s Gardens, so even if you find butterflies icky, let the kids have fun while you visit the cactus exhibit. Wimp.

Butterflies in the Garden, 4H Children’s Gardens, A240-B Plant & Soil Science Building, 1066 Bogue St., East Lansing, MI 48824

Phone: (517) 355-0348

Hours: Summers, Monday-Friday 2-4 PM, Saturday-Sunday 10 AM-4 PM

Cost: Free

Website: http://4hgarden.cowplex.com/Butterflies/

Directions: Southwest of the intersection of Wilson Rd. and Bogue St.

Elsie

Elsie the Bull

Elsie might be a milk cow in other parts of the country, but in Elsie, Michigan—originally named after Elsie Amelia Tillotson, the first child born to settlers in the area—Elsie is a bull.

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