On this day, October 21, 1970, Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, home to massive sand dunes along Lake Michigan and North and South Manitou Islands, was officially established. Administered by the National Park Service, the park preserves nearly 72,000 acres of stunning shoreline, dunes, forests, and islands. In 2011, Good Morning America even named it “The Most Beautiful Place in America.”
Cultural Roots
The area has deep cultural roots, including a captivating Anishinaabek legend. According to the story, a mother bear and her two cubs fled a Wisconsin forest fire by swimming across Lake Michigan. Exhausted, the cubs drowned, and the grieving mother climbed a bluff to wait for them. The Great Spirit Manitou commemorated her devotion by creating the North and South Manitou Islands for the cubs and transforming the mother bear into the Sleeping Bear Dune. Though the 2,000-year-old dune no longer resembles a bear, it remains a prominent landmark in the region.
Humans have long been drawn to the Sleeping Bear area. From 11,000–8,000 B.C.E., Native Americans used it as a seasonal hunting ground. As glaciers retreated, permanent settlements emerged between 8,000–600 B.C.E., and over the next 2,200 years, pottery and other artifacts indicate sustained habitation, as well as trade networks extending as far as Florida. By the 1600s, French explorers adopted Native agricultural methods and relied on birch bark canoes to navigate the Great Lakes. Eventually, the Chippewa and Ottawa ceded the land to the United States following the 1836 Treaty of Washington, although many were soon removed.
D.H. Day
One of the region’s most influential settlers was D. H. Day, known as the “King David of the North.” In the 1800s, Day owned extensive farmland, a lumber mill, and shipping operations in Glen Haven, connecting the area to Chicago, Milwaukee, and beyond. He promoted reforestation, canning, and tourism, intending to create one of the nation’s largest resorts before the Depression curtailed his plans. Today, visitors can explore his former properties, including the campground and farm.
Historic towns like Glen Haven and Port Oneida illustrate the area’s evolution. Glen Haven, founded in 1857, thrived on lumber, shipping, and tourism before becoming a historical area. Port Oneida transitioned from logging to farming before becoming part of the National Lakeshore, preserving the rural life of 19th-century settlers.
Manitou Islands
North and South Manitou Islands also have rich histories. North Manitou hosted Native Americans for centuries and later became a hub for European immigrants who logged, farmed, and built communities. Deer introduced in 1925 now thrive under regulated hunting to maintain ecological balance. South Manitou served as a harbor for ships and settlers, reflecting the islands’ role in Great Lakes shipping and trade.
The park also preserves maritime history, including the Sleeping Bear Point Life-Saving Station, built in 1901. Before the Coast Guard, crews used rowboats and Lyle Guns to rescue stranded sailors. Today, the station operates as a maritime museum, giving visitors a glimpse into early lake rescue operations.
Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore remains a testament to natural beauty, cultural heritage, and human ingenuity. Its sweeping dunes, forests, islands, and lakeshore continue to captivate visitors while honoring the people and legends that shaped the region.
