Western Upper Peninsula

Fire on Isle Royale Summer of 1936 was hot, dry, and tense on Isle Royale. On July 25, a fire broke out near the Consolidated Paper Company’s lumber mill camp on Siskiwit Bay. What began as a localized blaze quickly escalated into the largest wildfire in Isle Royale history. The island, already home to Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) camps building the newly authorized national park infrastructure, became the frontline for a fierce battle against the flames. Back then, Isle Royale was experiencing a drought that gripped the northern Midwest, and the tinder-dry mossy ground combined with strong winds created the… Read More »

The 1913 Calumet Miners’ Strike On July 23, 1913, children marched in Calumet, Michigan, amid one of the most turbulent labor disputes in Copper Country history—the miners’ strike of 1913-1914. This strike wasn’t just about wages or working hours; it highlighted the growing impact of automation, the harsh paternalism of mining companies, and the fight for dignity by hard-working families in the face of industrial change. Over a century later, this strike offers valuable insights into the ongoing struggles between labor, technology, and corporate control. Copper mining in Michigan’s Keweenaw Peninsula was once dominated by a handful of powerful companies,… Read More »

💡 Lighting the Way North Tucked in the remote waters of Lake Superior, just off the northeastern tip of Isle Royale, Passage Island Lighthouse blazed to life for the first time on July 1, 1882. It stands as the northernmost lighthouse in the United States. The lighthouse’s powerful beam served as a crucial guidepost for ships navigating the narrow, treacherous passage between Isle Royale and the Canadian shore. But the story of how this iconic light came to be is as rugged and resilient as the rocky outcrop it rests upon. In the late 1860s and early 1870s, copper and… Read More »

The Steamer, the Bridge, and the Snag Heard ‘Round Hancock Just one day before the grand dedication of the brand-new Houghton-Hancock Bridge in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, a near-disaster reminded everyone that no matter how strong a structure is, it’s the little things—like communication—that keep things running smoothly. On the evening of June 24, 1960, the 435-foot steamer J.F. Schoellkopf approached the lift bridge spanning Portage Lake. Captain Albert Wilhelmy dutifully signaled for the vertical lift to rise, allowing his vessel to pass safely underneath. But nothing happened. The bridge didn’t budge. Collision Avoided! Acting quickly, Captain Wilhelmy ordered the engines… Read More »

Exploring the Unknown – Michigan’s Upper Peninsula In the early 1800s, Michigan had a bit of an image problem. The eastern folks weren’t eager to settle there—rumors of swampy land, poor soil, and an unpleasant climate didn’t exactly scream “dream homestead.” So Michigan Territorial Governor Lewis Cass decided to do something about it. On May 24, 1820, Cass teamed up with geologist Henry Schoolcraft and launched the first major American expedition to explore Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, aiming to rewrite the narrative—and maybe pick up a few useful minerals along the way. The Cass/Schoolcraft Expedition was more than just a sightseeing… 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 »

A Pioneer in Michigan’s Political and Social Landscape Cora Reynolds Anderson’s was born in L’Anse on April 10, 1882. Her journey from the remote Upper Peninsula to the Michigan House of Representatives marked a monumental shift in Michigan’s political landscape. Anderson grew up within a rich tapestry of English, French, and Chippewa heritage. Her upbringing would deeply influence her advocacy for public health and social justice. She was among the few women and Native Americans who pursued an education during her time. She eventual earned a teaching diploma at the Haskell Institute in Kansas. Anderson’s educational foundation shaped her life’s… Read More »

From Authorization to Reality Last month, we highlighted March 3, 1931, as the day Congress authorized the establishment of Isle Royale National Park and the park’s history. But authorization was just the beginning. It wasn’t until April 3, 1940, that President Franklin D. Roosevelt officially designated Isle Royale as a national park. Why the delay? Like many things in government, the process was anything but simple. After Congress authorized the park, the government had to define its boundaries, acquire land, and put the necessary infrastructure in place. This took time, especially considering Isle Royale’s remote location and the interests of… Read More »

Rolling Into History March 29, 2013, was a big day—literally—for Michigan Technological University. On that chilly spring day, a group of determined students took to the softball field with a singular mission: reclaim their Guinness World Record for the largest snowball ever made. With 30 students rolling in unison and help from professional surveyors, they spent two and a half grueling hours crafting a giant snowball that would go down in history. When the final measurements were taken, the giant snowball stood at an impressive 32.94 feet in circumference, 10.45 feet in diameter, and 9.28 feet tall. Estimates put its… Read More »

A Stage for the Ages On this day in history, March 20, 1900, the Calumet Theatre opened its doors to an eager audience. The first show was a touring Broadway production of The Highwayman by Reginald DeKoven and Harry B. Smith. It was a momentous occasion for the village of Calumet, a community built on copper and ambition. As the first municipally built theater in the country, the Calumet Theatre was more than just a venue; it was a declaration that this mining town could rival the cultural sophistication of major cities. At the turn of the 20th century, Calumet was… Read More »

Michigan’s Copper Country Boomtown Houghton County, nestled in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, has a history as rich as the copper veins. Those veins once made it a national mining powerhouse. From its earliest settlers in the 1840s to its booming copper industry after the Civil War, this county played a pivotal role in shaping the region’s economy and culture. The Rise of Copper Country On March 19, 1845 Houghton County was organized. Named after Douglass Houghton, Michigan’s first state geologist, the county quickly grew into the heart of the Copper Country. By the 1870s, the Calumet & Hecla Mining Company was… Read More »

A Legacy in Clay In the world of American ceramics, few names carry the weight of Mary Chase Perry Stratton. Born March 15, 1867 in Hancock, Michigan, she transformed a love of art and craftsmanship into one of the most enduring legacies in architectural ceramics: Pewabic Pottery. From her early days exploring the Upper Peninsula’s copper mines to her later years shaping Detroit’s artistic landscape, Stratton’s impact on ceramic arts is impossible to ignore. Her artistic journey began in Detroit, where she took her first formal art classes before heading to the Art Academy of Cincinnati. There, she studied under… Read More »