Deep in the basement of the Leddy Library lies a fascinating collection of manuscripts, photographs, and special published works. These archives will welcome the public to see historical highlights spanning from the 1600s to the 2000s during Doors Open Windsor.

The free event invites local residents to be tourists in their own city and features 30 sites to visit Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 24 and 25.

The campus library’s Rare Books, Archives and Special Collection will be open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, giving visitors a chance to see a selection of books, photographs, and original handwritten documents reflecting the history of Southwestern Ontario and the art of book publishing since the invention of the printing press.

Professor Jason Grossi, co-ordinator of the Visual Art and the Built Environment program, will also participate in Doors Open, with presentations Sunday on two projects for which he served as architect.

At 1:30 p.m., he will discuss the renovation of the Sandwich firehall into the John Muir Branch of the Windsor Public Library and lead a tour at 363 Mill St.

At 2:30 p.m., he will guide a walk around Mackenzie Hall to point up its conservation and the recent restoration work to its masonry, 3277 Sandwich St.