Northeast Lower Peninsula

The Rise and Fall of the Alpena Motor Car Company For a brief but ambitious moment in the early 20th century, Alpena believed it was on the verge of becoming something entirely new—an automobile manufacturing hub in a rapidly motorizing America. Long before Alpena became known primarily as a vacation destination and lakeside retreat, the city placed a bold bet on the future of transportation. That bet came in the form of the Alpena Motor Car Company. This short-lived but fascinating enterprise produced the Alpena Flyer, one of Michigan’s many forgotten early automobiles. Though the company operated for only a… Read More »

From Offshore Hazard to Hometown Icon At the mouth of the Cheboygan River, where it meets Lake Huron, stands one of Northern Michigan’s most distinctive navigational lights. Known as the Cheboygan Crib Light, this small but storied beacon has guided vessels for well over a century. Today, it sits proudly at the west pier head in Gordon Turner Park. This location is a familiar landmark and symbol of Cheboygan’s deep maritime roots. Where the Cheboygan Crib Light Is Located The Cheboygan Crib Light marks the west pier head at the entrance of the Cheboygan River into Lake Huron. It stands… Read More »

Exploring the History of Bois Blanc Light: A Quiet Sentinel of Lake Huron Tucked away on the serene shores of Bois Blanc Island, the Bois Blanc Light has witnessed nearly two centuries of Great Lakes history. Though privately owned and closed to the public today, its story is one of resilience, reconstruction, and dedication to preservation. As part of our Northern Michigan lighthouse series, let’s take a closer look at the lighthouse that has guided mariners across Lake Huron since the early 1800s. The Many Faces of Bois Blanc Light Bois Blanc Light is a name that has applied to… Read More »

Survivor of Fire and Change Where the Au Sable River meets Lake Huron, a lighthouse once stood watch over one of Michigan’s most bustling lumber towns. The Au Sable Pierhead Lighthouse was established to guide vessels safely into the mouth of the Au Sable River at Oscoda. It served as a vital harbor along Michigan’s northeastern shore. Though the river winds gently for 138 miles through the state’s northern Lower Peninsula, its meeting with Lake Huron was anything but tranquil. This was especially true in the days of lumber, mills, and massive ships. Lighting the Way for Lumber and Trade… Read More »

Standing proudly at the mouth of the Thunder Bay River is the Alpena Light—affectionately known as “Little Red” or the “Thunder Bay River Lighthouse”. The light has guided ships in and out of Alpena’s harbor for more than a century. While it may not be the tallest or most ornate of Michigan’s lighthouses, this small, bright red beacon holds a big place in the region’s maritime story. Lighting the Way for Alpena’s Lumber Industry The history of the Alpena Light is closely tied to the rise of the local timber industry. As Alpena boomed in the mid-1800s, the Thunder Bay… Read More »

Tragedy, Survival, and Rebuilding in Presque Isle County On this day in history, October 15, 1908, a series of massive fires swept through the pine forests of Presque Isle County, Michigan. Fueled by strong winds and dry conditions, the flames spread rapidly, engulfing the village of Metz. The fire continued eastward, threatening Rogers City, reaching the outskirts of Alpena, and even jumping across Grand Lake before finally burning out along the Lake Huron shore. While it became known as “The Metz Fire” due to its severe impact on the village, its destruction extended far beyond Metz itself. The Detroit &… Read More »

On October 7, 2000, Thunder Bay made waves in history when the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) officially designated it as the first National Marine Sanctuary in the Great Lakes and 13th in the nation. Known as “Shipwreck Alley,” this stretch of Lake Huron off Alpena, Michigan, has claimed hundreds of vessels over the past two centuries, some lost to fierce storms, others to heavy fog, rocky shoals, or Thunder Bay Island itself. What was once a mariner’s nightmare is now a diver’s dream and a historian’s treasure chest. 116 Shipwrecks Thunder Bay’s reputation for danger began early. Its… Read More »

🎉 Paul Bunyan Day: Celebrating Oscoda’s Legendary Logger On August 20, 1971, the small town of Oscoda threw a big party, the Paul Bunyan Festival. With pancakes stacked high, folklore flying thick, and a papier-mâché giant lumberjack at the center of it all. Oscodans were on a mission to stake their claim as the true birthplace of Paul Bunyan. And they had receipts. Oscoda’s claim rests on the first known published story of Paul Bunyan. The story written by journalist and former lumberjack James MacGillivray in the Oscoda Press on August 10, 1906. Titled “Round River,” the story was based… Read More »

🚗🚢 Michigan’s First State Ferry Service Ariel made her maiden voyage Before the Mackinac Bridge connected Michigan’s peninsulas, crossing the Straits of Mackinac was a challenge. This was true especially for the growing number of automobile owners in the early 20th century. On July 31, 1923, the State of Michigan stepped in to solve this problem by launching a state-operated ferry service. The ferry service would soon become an essential lifeline for travelers and commerce alike. A week after the service was officially established, on August 6, 1923, the first car ferry, the wooden-hulled Ariel made her maiden voyage across… Read More »

Treaty of Greenville On this day in history, August 3, 1795n Chippewa Chief Matchekewis ceded Bois Blanc Island to the United States as part of the Treaty of Greenville. Described as an “extra and voluntary gift of the Chippewa nation,” but the reality of the treaty came in the shadow of military defeat and expanding settler colonialism. Along with Bois Blanc, the treaty forced Native American tribes to give up most of present-day Ohio, part of Indiana, Mackinac Island, and sixteen strategic sites across Michigan. The Treaty of Greenville followed the Native American loss at the Battle of Fallen Timbers…. Read More »

A Lumberman’s Gift That Built a Military Legacy Camp Grayling was officially founded July 20, 1913 thanks to the foresight and generosity of Grayling lumber baron Rasmus Hanson. What began as a gift of land to the State of Michigan has since grown into the largest National Guard training facility in the United States. Rasmus Hanson understood the importance of national defense and believed Michigan’s vast northern forests could serve a greater purpose beyond logging. He donated land near Grayling to the state specifically for military training, laying the foundation for what would become Camp Grayling. By 1914, troops began… Read More »

Mio records record temperature of 112 degrees In the middle of the Dust Bowl and Great Depression, the summer of 1936 brought with it an unforgiving heat wave that left much of North America sweltering. And on July 13, 1936, a small Northern Michigan town etched its name into the weather history books. That day, Mio, tucked in the Au Sable River valley hit an unbearable 112 degrees Fahrenheit, making it the record for Michigan’s hottest day. 🌞 And Mio wasn’t alone. That same day, Saginaw sizzled at 111°F, while other cities weren’t far behind: Kalamazoo – 109°F Grand Rapids… Read More »