Many visitors come into the Upper Peninsula by crossing the Mackinac Bridge then turn left and head west down US-2 for the western part of the U.P. I wonder how many travelers notice the cemetery a few miles west of St Ignace. The Gros Cap cemetery is one of the oldest contiguously operating cemeteries in
The town of Kewadin sits at the northern end of Elk Lake. North of town next to the Cairn Highway is a stone pyramid also known as a cairn. It’s a Scottish term used to describe a man-made stack of stone used as a monument. On the front of the monument is a plaque dedicated
The worlds largest weathervane is in the town of Montague. It is north of Muskegon near Lake Michigan. constructed from aluminum, it stands 48 feet tall with a 26-foot wind arrow which is decorated with a sailing schooner. The ship on top of the weathervane represents the Ella Ellenwood, a Great Lakes lumber schooner whose
This abandoned shell of a building sits along the Huron River in Peninsular Park in Ypsilanti. It is not hard to figure out what it was used for since there is an enormous sign on top of the roof that reads: PENINSULAR PAPER CO. This was the old powerhouse at the end of the dam.
This old depot was one of only a few train depots in Michigan with “Witch’s Hat” design. It was built in 1907 and stands in the town of Saranac between Ionia and Grand Rapids. It has been a while since any train has stopped at the old depot. It now serves as a history museum
I saw this old house, or hotel, or saloon, or whatever it used to be, near the Pigeon River between the towns of Wolverine and Afton. It looks as if it has had a hard life living among the trees enduring the harsh Michigan weather. It’s just barely standing, but it has not totally given up
Between Seney and Grand Maris is a state forest campground along the Fox River. I needed to stop for a break on my travels around the Upper Peninsula and found this nice little quiet campground. I also found a pipe sticking out of the ground with water flowing out of it. I filled up my
The Muskegon Breakwater Light stands at the end of the south breakwater. It sits out there taking the brunt force of Lake Michigan waves and wind all year long. It was built in 1929 and has worked in conjunction with the light at the end of the pier. They are like two brothers that work
Roaming the back roads in the middle of the thumb I came across the small town of Deford. The Grand Trunk Railroad came through the area in 1883 and a station was named Bruce for local landowner Elmer Bruce. Arthur Newton founded the village around the station and renamed it after his friend Mr. Deford.
I saw this old house in the small town of McMillan west of Newberry. I don’t know anything about it but it caught my attention. The community of McMillan was first settled in 1881 when the railroad built a depot named the McMillan Station to serve the area. The station was named after railway executive
