Northwest Lower Peninsula

History is full of fascinating characters, but few are as boldly unusual as James Jesse Strang. James was a lawyer, prophet, politician, and self-crowned king. If that sounds like something out of a Netflix mini-series, you’re not wrong. On this day, June 16, 1856, Strang was shot in the back on the docks of Beaver Island. His shooting ended one of the strangest religious-political experiments in American history. It all began after the assassination of Mormon founder Joseph Smith in 1844. The majority of Latter Day Saints followed Brigham Young westward to Utah. There was a smaller group that declared… Read More »

The Man Behind the Name Some of his descendants knew him as Neyas Bedosegay. Others called him Petosegay, Biidassige, or Peto-osega, names that translate to “Rising Sun” or “Light That is Coming.” The Jesuit missionaries knew him as Ignatius Petosega, and the Smithsonian Institution recognizes him as Chief Pe-to-de-gah. However you say his name, today we remember him as the man behind one of Michigan’s most beloved towns, Petoskey. Chief Ignatius Petoskey was born in 1787 during a family hunting trip near the Manistee River. His father, Antoine Carre (Neaatooshing), a French fur trader, is said to have lifted the… Read More »

Game, Set, Surprise History is full of battles fought with muskets, swords, and strategy. But, every now and then, a lacrosse stick plays a role too. Read more about the Ojibwe capture of Fort Michilimackinac. On June 2, 1763, a sunny spring day at Fort Michilimackinac turned into a pivotal moment in Pontiac’s Rebellion. The fort is perched on the northern edge of Michigan’s Lower Peninsula. British soldiers stationed at the fort were relaxed and unsuspecting. They were enjoying watching a friendly game of baggatiway (an early form of lacrosse) played by local Ojibwe warriors outside the gates. But this… Read More »

From Black Lake to Grand Traverse Bay Chief Peter Waukazoo led his band of Ottawa Indians on a remarkable journey northward. From the shores of Black Lake (now Lake Macatawa) near Holland, Michigan, to the tip of the Leelanau Peninsula. There they would found a new village called Waukazooville. This community would eventually be annexed into what we now know as Northport. The story of the Waukazoo band spans decades of adaptation, cultural preservation, and spiritual exploration. In the early 1830s, their village of about 300 people sat along the Black River. They balanced traditional ways with the pressures and… Read More »

Celebrating a Michigan Treasure There are few names as beloved in Michigan’s artistic and literary circles as Gwen Frostic. And on May 23, 1978, that admiration was made official when Governor William Milliken declared it Gwen Frostic Day across the state. The designation celebrated not only her incredible linocut block prints and poetic musings but also her deep love for Michigan’s natural beauty. Born April 26, 1906, in Sandusky, Michigan, Sara Gwendolen Frostic lived a remarkable life that fused creativity, resilience, and nature. Despite facing physical challenges due to a childhood illness, Gwen’s spirit and determination shaped her into one… Read More »

A Mysterious Disaster That Shook Northern Michigan On April 19, 1973, the quiet, rural community of Williamsburg, located just a few miles from Traverse City in Northern Michigan, was suddenly thrust into a nightmare. Hundreds of craters and geysers erupted without warning, turning the peaceful village into a dangerous disaster zone. The eruption, caused by a natural gas leak from a nearby drilling operation, forced the evacuation of most of the town’s 450 residents, leaving them displaced for months. The aftermath of the event not only changed the lives of the people who lived there but also set the stage… Read More »

Wexford County’s Decade-Long Fight for the County Seat The Battle of Manton, fought on April 5, 1882, was the dramatic conclusion to a decade-long struggle for Wexford County’s seat of government. It all started in 1881 when Manton became the county seat due to a compromise between Cadillac and Sherman, two neighboring towns that had fought bitterly over the honor. However, Cadillac residents were not ready to let go of their aspirations. In a county-wide vote on April 4, 1882, Cadillac triumphed, securing the coveted seat by a wide margin. This marked the beginning of the infamous Battle of Manton…. Read More »

A Bold Experiment That Paid Off On April 2, 1966, a golden bucket full of coho salmon was ceremoniously poured into the Platte River in Benzie County, Michigan. It may have seemed like an ordinary wildlife release, but this moment marked the beginning of one of the most ambitious and successful fishery experiments in history. Howard Tanner, the Michigan Department of Conservation’s new fish chief, had a bold vision: introduce salmon to the Great Lakes to control invasive alewives and create a thriving sport fishery. What followed was nothing short of spectacular. Michigan Outdoors did an episode about the salmon… Read More »

William Grawn Milliken born in Traverse City On this day in history, March 26, 1922, William Grawn Milliken was born in Traverse City. A man of integrity, civility, and dedication to public service, Milliken left an enduring mark on the state. He served as Michigan’s longest-tenured governor from 1969 to 1983. His leadership spanned a transformative period in Michigan’s history. He navigated economic challenges, environmental reforms, and shifting political landscapes. Path to Politics Milliken’s path to politics was deeply rooted in his family’s legacy. His father, James T Milliken, was a mayor of Traverse City as well as a Michigan… Read More »

March 22, 1878 On this day in 1878, one of the final mass nestings of the passenger pigeon took place near Petoskey, Michigan. Once numbering in the billions, these birds were a dominant presence in North America. They would darken the skies for hours as their flocks passed overhead. Early explorers and settlers frequently marveled at their abundance. Samuel de Champlain in 1605 described “countless numbers” and Cotton Mather witnessed a flight that took hours to pass. But by the late 19th century, relentless hunting and habitat destruction had pushed them to the brink of extinction. Petoskey Nesting The Petoskey… Read More »

A History of Names, Settlers, and Struggles On this day in history, April 1, 1840, Michigan’s legislature created what was originally called Tonedagana County, later renamed Emmet County in 1843. From its deep Odawa roots to a brief period under Mormon rule, Emmet County’s past is filled with fascinating twists. Emmet County, one of Michigan’s northernmost counties, has a history as rich as its scenic landscapes. From its early days as an Odawa stronghold to its brief time under Mormon rule, the county has seen its fair share of change, controversy, and resilience. From Tonedagana to Emmet On April 1,… Read More »

Once upon a time, Michigan had a county that no longer exists on the map: Manitou County. This fascinating “ghost county” came into existence in 1855, encompassing Beaver Island, the Fox Islands, and the North and South Manitou Islands in Lake Michigan. Its county seat, St. James, was nestled on Beaver Island, where the story of Manitou County intersects with an enigmatic figure: James Jesse Strang. The Curious Creation of Manitou County Manitou County owes its name, likely, to Henry Rowe Schoolcraft, the man behind the poetic naming of many Michigan counties. Schoolcraft had a penchant for weaving Native American-inspired… Read More »