Cathy LaPointe of the Underground Railroad Society of Cass County kicks off the Dowagiac Area History Museum’s Spring Lecture Series on Wednesday, March 5 at 6:30 p.m. with her program, “The Underground Railroad and the Bonine House.” LaPointe is the treasurer of the Vandalia-based group that is working to restore the Bonine House and educate residents and visitors about Cass County’s role in the Underground Railroad.

Future programs in the series will be David Baker of Southwestern Michigan College and the Dogwood Fine Arts Festival Visual Arts Committee presenting “Because Beauty Matters: The Dowagiac Sculpture Collection” on April 2; Author Vic Eichler of Three Rivers will examine the “1914 Extinction of the Passenger Pigeon” on May 7; and Robert Nelson of the Dowagiac Fire Department will close out the series on June 4 with his program “A History of Fire Fighting In Dowagiac.”

The programs are free to museum members and costs $5 to non-members. Children under 18 years of age are also free. Membership will be available at the museum for those interested. The museum is located at the corner of Division and West Railroad Streets. For more information, call the Dowagiac Area History Museum at 269-783-2560 or visit www.dowagiacmuseum.info.