By Corinne Devries
Special for The State News
Nearby, their mother, Lori Wheat, watched and asked them to imagine they were immigrating to Michigan.
"If you could only take one thing with you in this trunk, what would it be?" Lori Wheat said. "Think about it, it has to fit in here."
The trunk is part of a new exhibit at the Michigan Historical Museum, 702 W. Kalamazoo St. in Lansing, called, "Movers and Seekers: Michigan Immigrants and Migrants." The exhibit explores the lives of those who immigrated and migrated to Michigan in the late 19th and 20th centuries. The display opened to the public on Saturday and will continue through Oct. 9.
In addition to the trunks, the exhibit displays hundreds of artifacts from families in Michigan, coming from places such as Russia, Netherlands and Lebanon. The artifacts include recordings, paintings, photographs, faith-based items and tools, each with a label telling a story.
"When they see items that represent their heritage, that's a powerful learning experience," said Chris Dancisak, museum spokesman. "We had people crying in here the other night, which is not typical of exhibits."
Dancisak said more people were involved in this exhibit than any other. He added that he expects it to be more successful than other exhibits because, "people have been so emotional about it."
"People tend to think more of the early 20th century," Dancisak said, referring to immigration. "It's still happening today, and that's what this exhibit is all about."
St. Johns resident Jennifer Sochor hasn't forgotten her journey to America. Sochor, then known as Oh Ae Kyung, traveled to the United States from South Korea in 1972 when she was 7 years old. An orphan, Sochor was adopted by an East Lansing family.
"(Immigration) was very difficult," Sochor said. "At first it was very scary and different - and speaking a whole new language."
Sochor arrived in the United States wearing a long, brightly colored traditional Korean dress, which is displayed in the exhibit. Sochor's 7-year-old daughter Sarah Sochor had the chance to wear her dress.
"I wore it for my birthday when I was six to get my pictures taken," Sarah Sochor said.
She said it was "very cool" that her mother had flown all the way from Korea to America.
"Her being an orphan was probably pretty hard," she said.
Brittany Bradford, 8, of Charlotte, and Rebekah Davenport, also 8, of Olivet, met the Sochers by chance while visiting the exhibit on Saturday.
"My favorite part was when I saw the real-live Jennifer (Sochor)," Brittany said.
The families in the exhibit came to America for a variety of reasons. Some were seeking opportunities, others were fleeing ethnic or religious persecution and political unrest. They came by boat, train, airplane and some migrated to Michigan by car.
John Fisher, of Pleasant Lake, said the many reasons people came to Michigan were striking.
"It makes me think of my own family because my ancestors came from the Netherlands for different reasons," Fisher said. "People are still coming here and looking for freedom."
