Central Upper Peninsula

Grand Island’s Journey to Recreation Area Status Tucked just off the shores of Munising in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, Grand Island is a place of rugged cliffs, lush forests, and serene lake views. On May 17, 1990, this stunning Lake Superior island officially earned its place as a National Recreation Area. Its status as a haven for outdoor lovers and history buffs alike firmly established. The island, covering about 13,500 acres within the Hiawatha National Forest, was purchased by the U.S. Forest Service from Cleveland Cliffs Iron Company. This move turned a once-private industrial holding into a publicly accessible natural retreat…. Read More »

The 1881 Discovery That Sparked Michigan’s Mining Dreams If you think Michigan’s Upper Peninsula is only famous for copper and iron, think again. On this day in history—May 17, 1881—Julius Ropes, a local chemist from Marquette, unearthed something that would ignite dreams of fortune and glory: gold. Ropes had been studying rock samples in the area and noticed traces of gold and silver. When he discovered a gold-bearing quartz vein just outside Ishpeming, it wasn’t long before the Ropes Gold and Silver Company was formed and the U.P. got its very own gold rush. The Ropes Mine was the only… Read More »

The Journey Begins On May 17, 1673, two unlikely adventurers—Jesuit missionary Father Jacques Marquette and French-Canadian fur trader Louis Joliet—pushed off from St. Ignace in canoes, beginning one of the most significant exploration journeys in North American history. Accompanied by five voyageurs and guided by Indigenous knowledge, their mission was to find and map the mighty river that Native peoples called the Messipi—“the Great River.” Their journey wasn’t just about maps and discovery. It was about connecting a continent. With little more than determination, their canoes, and guidance from Native tribes, they ventured across what would become Wisconsin and followed… Read More »

Defending His Honor History has its share of courtroom drama, but few moments are quite as delightfully petty—and noble—as when former President Theodore Roosevelt rolled into Marquette, Michigan, on May 13, 1913, to defend his honor. The charge? He was a drunk and a liar—at least, that’s what George Newett, editor of the Iron Ore newspaper in Ishpeming, claimed. Roosevelt, never one to take things lying down (unless he was posing for a hunt), took legal action. The scene was set in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, where Roosevelt traveled specifically to testify in a libel suit he’d filed against Newett. The… Read More »

Lost to the Storm Lake Superior has a long, dark history of claiming ships, sailors, and stories—many of which remain mysteries beneath her cold waves. But on this day in history, May 13, 1899, the sinking of the Schooner Nelson was one of those stories was written in heartbreak and heavy weather. The schooner Nelson, a 199-foot, three-masted vessel built in 1866, sank near Grand Marais, Michigan, taking her entire crew, including the captain’s wife and infant child, down with her. The Nelson was being towed west by Captain White’s steamer alongside the Mary B. Mitchell. The ships were caught… Read More »

The Short-Lived County Name That Didn’t Stick March 19, 1863, the people of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula successfully petitioned to rename Bleeker County to Menominee County. If you’ve never heard of Bleeker County, you’re not alone. The county only existed for two years and four days before locals decided they weren’t too fond of the name. Menominee County (/məˈnɒməni/ mə-NAH-mə-nee) is a county located in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. As of the 2020 census, the population was 23,502. The county seat is Menominee. Bleeker County to Menominee County Originally created in 1861 from part of Delta County, Bleeker County was officially organized… Read More »

A Forgotten Chapter of WWII History February 12, 1944, marked the arrival of German soldiers in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula (U.P.), bringing a piece of World War II history to this remote and rugged region. Members of Field Marshal Erwin Rommel’s Afrika Corps were transported across the Atlantic and the United States to POW camps such as Camp Evelyn and Camp Sidnaw. Eventually, approximately 1,000 German prisoners of war (POWs) would reside in five camps scattered across the U.P., with others sent to facilities in the Lower Peninsula. A Journey Across the Atlantic With Great Britain running out of space for… Read More »

The Day the Detroit Red Wings Played Hockey Behind Bars Detroit Red Wings Winter Classic: Red Wings vs. Marquette Prison Pirates In the winter of 1954, something truly extraordinary happened in Marquette, Michigan—a professional hockey game behind prison walls. The Detroit Red Wings return to play the first outdoor game in NHL history against the Marquette Branch Prison’s inmate team, the “Prison Pirates.” This story is a blend of sportsmanship, innovation, and a setting that’s as unconventional as it gets: a makeshift rink inside a prison courtyard. How it Began The tale begins with Red Wings General Manager Jack Adams… Read More »

The Snowshoe Priest When you think of the rugged landscapes of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, the image of a Slovenian priest trekking through snow-covered forests on snowshoes might not be the first thing that comes to mind. For 37 years, Frederic Baraga—fondly known as the “Snowshoe Priest”—dedicated his life to the spiritual and cultural enrichment of the Ottawa and Chippewa tribes. He also ministered to the immigrant communities of the region. His story is one of resilience, faith, and a relentless commitment to his mission. He earned the title “Apostle of the Lakelands” and, in recent years, the honor of being… Read More »

Capturing Michigan’s Frozen Beauty On January 18, 2020, Michigan’s stunning winter scenery took center stage. A new United States Postal Service (USPS) Priority Mail Express stamp featuring the Grand Island Ice Caves was released. These breathtaking natural formations, located near Munising in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, are renowned for their ever-changing ice curtains and stalactite-like icicles. These formations transform Grand Island’s sandstone cliffs into a magical winter wonderland. This stamp, designed by Greg Breeding and illustrated by Dan Cosgrove, immortalizes one of Michigan’s most picturesque winter travel destinations. Hiawatha National Forest Grand Island, part of the Hiawatha National Forest, sits just… Read More »

A Boundary Dispute That Shaped Two States In the early 19th century, a peculiar conflict arose between Ohio and the Michigan Territory. Known as the Toledo War (1835–1836), or the Michigan–Ohio War, this dispute wasn’t a war in the traditional sense but rather a heated political and economic struggle over a sliver of land called the Toledo Strip. The Roots of the Conflict The dispute centered around the 468-square-mile Toledo Strip, which included the mouth of the Maumee River, a vital shipping hub, and fertile farmland to the west. Both Ohio and Michigan saw the area as essential to their… Read More »

A Tragic Maritime Disaster on Lake Superior On November 27-28, 1905, the Great Lakes were engulfed by the Mataafa Storm. This was a weather event that became a haunting reminder of nature’s ferocity. With its powerful winds and heavy snowfall, this storm led to the destruction of 29 ships and claimed the lives of 36 seamen. The economic impact was a staggering $3.567 million in shipping losses (in 1905 dollars). The storm was particularly infamous for the fate of the bulk carrier SS Mataafa, from which it derived its name. The Meteorological Conditions The storm system initially moved across the… Read More »