Western Upper Peninsula

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 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… 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 »

Michigan’s Northernmost Gem with a Rich Past On this day in history, Keweenaw County was officially organized. The copper rush that shaped Michigan’s northernmost county was in full swing and folks came to work! Keweenaw County, a rugged and beautiful stretch of the Upper Peninsula, saw thousands of miners, investors, and adventurers flock to its shores in the 1840s in search of valuable copper. While the industry has faded, its rich history lives on in the region’s preserved mining towns, maritime landmarks, and stunning landscapes. Tucked away in the rugged Upper Peninsula, Keweenaw County is Michigan’s northernmost and least populated… Read More »

On this day in history, March 3, 1931, Congress authorized the establishment of Isle Royale National Park. The purpose was to preserve its rugged wilderness and deep historical roots. From ancient Indigenous copper mining dating back over 6,500 years to 19th-century fishing settlements and failed mining ventures, Isle Royale has long been a place of human resilience and natural beauty. Now a protected national park, its stories live on through preserved artifacts, historic sites, and even the shipwrecks resting beneath Lake Superior’s waters. A Storied Past in the Heart of Lake Superior Long before it became a national park, Isle… Read More »

Ski Jumps and Slopes In the heart of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula lies a small town with big history: Ishpeming. Known as the “birthplace of organized skiing in America,” Ishpeming’s legacy is steeped in snow, speed, and soaring ski jumps. If you’re a fan of winter sports, this is a story you’ll want to hear. It all began on February 21, 1905, when ski enthusiasts from Ishpeming, Minneapolis, Red Wing, and Eau Claire gathered to form the National Ski Association. This groundbreaking meeting was led by Carl Tellefsen, a Norwegian immigrant and founder of the Ishpeming Ski Club. Tellefsen, an early… Read More »

The Gipper Few athletes leave a legacy so enduring that their name becomes synonymous with inspiration. George Gipp, affectionately known as “The Gipper,” is one of those rare figures. Born on February 18, 1895, in Laurium, Michigan, on the Keweenaw Peninsula, Gipp’s story is one of raw talent, grit, and a little bit of myth-making. Gipp rose from humble beginnings to become one of Notre Dame’s most celebrated athletes. George Gipp initially enrolled at Notre Dame with dreams of playing baseball. Gipp caught the eye of the legendary coach Knute Rockne, who convinced him to join the football team despite… Read More »

A Leap Through History in Ishpeming Few traditions in Michigan match the boldness and spectacle of ski jumpers launching themselves off the imposing Suicide Hill in Ishpeming. This iconic ski jump has been the heart of winter sports in the region since February 26, 1926, when brave souls first tested its daring heights. But the story of Suicide Hill goes back even further. It is rooted in the passion of early ski clubs and the adventurous spirit of a community united by winter. Before Suicide Hill came into existence, the Ishpeming Ski Club (formerly the Norden Ski Club) was already… Read More »

Soaring Through History Nancy Harkness Love, a trailblazer in aviation, was born Hannah Lincoln Harkness on February 14, 1914, in Houghton, Michigan. From an early age, her adventurous spirit and passion for flying set her on a path that would forever change the role of women in aviation. At just 16, Nancy took her first flight and earned her pilot’s license within a month, a clear indication of her determination and skill. Her journey into the skies continued while attending Vassar College, where she famously earned the nickname “The Flying Freshman.” Nancy not only transported passengers for income but also… 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 »