Museum’s annual Spring Lecture Series to kick off March 8

        The National Museum of the Great Lakes (NMGL) will kick off its annual spring lecture series Wednesday, March 8 at 7 p.m. by exploring the life of 19th century surveyor Admiral Henry Wolsey Bayfield.
        “Considered a Master Chart Maker of the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River, The Admiral’s navigational charts saved countless lives and literally mapped the way for settlement into our continent’s interior,” said Carrie Sowden, the museum’s Archaeological and Research Director, who also oversees the museum’s lecture series.
        “A naval officer, explorer, naturalist and polymath, Bayfield was one of the most extraordinary individuals of the 19th century and spent 40 years of his life mapping Canada’s vast coasts and inland waterways,” Sowden said.
        The presenter, David Yates is an award-winning author and semi-retired teacher who resides in Goderich, Ontario. In addition, since 2007, his local history column has appeared regularly in Huron County (Ontario) newspapers and he has written several books on local Huron County History.
        Yates will be presenting virtually, but individuals who register for the lecture will have the option to watch him at the museum during an in-person watch party and live-streamed question-and-answer session following the presentation.
        NMGL will continue the lecture series on Wednesday, March 29, in partnership with Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Libraries and Museums with “From Mouse to Dart – President Hayes Family History on the Great Lakes.”
         The final series presentation, scheduled for Wednesday, April 19, will explore individuals working to make the Great Lakes watershed cleaner by featuring scholar John Hartig, who authored the book “Great Lakes Champions: Grassroots Efforts to Clean Up Polluted Watersheds.”
        Over the past two years, since transitioning the lecture series to a hybrid-event format, the in-person lecture has regularly sold out and, at the same time, the museum has had up to 500 devices streaming the presentations live. Because of their popularity, registration for all lectures, although free, is required. Donations are encouraged and may be given upon registration.             
        For more information or to register to join the events, visit nmgl.org/events.
        The National Museum of the Great Lakes is located at 1701 Front St., Toledo.