On October 15, 1966, Congress designated this area as a National Lakeshore, making Pictured Rocks the very first in the nation. It wasn’t formally established as a unit of the National Park System until October 6, 1972. This stunning stretch of Michigan wilderness, with its towering sandstone cliffs painted in vibrant mineral hues, pristine beaches, waterfalls, and old-growth forests, was officially recognized as a place worth protecting forever.
Humans have called this area home for more than 10,000 years. The Anishinaabe people, the original inhabitants, continue to live on and care for the land. They carried forward deep traditions tied to the water and forests. The 1800s brought Euro-American settlers who turned to trapping, logging, and shipping. For a time it looked as though the area’s natural beauty might be lost to industry.
Spectacular Scenery
That began to change in the late 1950s when the National Park Service surveyed nearly 5,500 miles of Great Lakes shoreline. Their report singled out the “unique and spectacular scenery” of Alger County’s Pictured Rocks as unmatched anywhere else on the Great Lakes. Plans began to take shape, though not without debate—loggers and the forest products industry voiced concerns about lost acreage. The final compromise created two zones. A shoreline zone, designed to protect scenery and recreation. An inland buffer zone, where limited sustainable logging and land use could continue.
When President Lyndon B. Johnson signed Public Law 89-668 in 1966, the dream became reality. Six years later, in 1972, the park was officially dedicated at Bayshore Park in Munising. Roads, trails, campgrounds, and backcountry sites soon welcomed visitors eager to experience the 42-mile stretch of shoreline up close. Historic sites like the Au Sable Light Station, built in 1874, were preserved as reminders of the area’s maritime heritage.
Pictured Rocks Today
Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore spans more than 73,000 acres from Munising to Grand Marais. It’s a playground for hikers, kayakers, campers, and winter adventurers alike—welcoming over 400,000 visitors each year. Yet beyond its outdoor recreation, it remains a place of history, culture, and preservation. On this day, we celebrate the foresight that ensured its sandstone cliffs, waterfalls, and wild forests will inspire for generations to come.
