Bad Axe, MI Travel Guide: History & Local Attractions
In 1861, surveyor Captain Rudolph Papst stumbled upon a discarded, rusted tool at a deserted hunting camp and decided the site needed a name. He…
Category: History
We examine stories and events that shaped the history of the Upper Thumb and Michigan. While we focus on the Thumb region, other Great Lakes historical events are covered. Major events include the lumbering era and the 1871 and 1881 great fires. We cover major pioneers and personalities that shaped the region. To hear many of our best stories, visit and subscribe to our Podcast, “The End of the Road in Michigan.”
Our best Michigan history posts are found below.
History of Fitchburg Michigan – Why a Busy Farm Village Grew Quiet
The History of Fitchburg Michigan follows a sawmill village that served Ingham County farms with stores, blacksmiths, a church and a school. Better roads and machinery later weakened its business center while nearby farms became more productive.
History of Maple City: A Guide to the Traverse City Area
Long before it became a quiet residential hub in Leelanau County, Maple City was known to Michigan loggers and laborers simply as "Peg…
Before Michigan Had Towns: 10 Indigenous Villages, Fish Camps and Farm Earthworks
Long before Michigan had county seats and surveyed townships, Native communities had villages, fishing stations, sugar camps, farm fields, trade routes and ceremonial places across the Great Lakes. The record is especially rich around Saginaw Bay and the Thumb.
Best Live Lake Erie Webcams: Detroit & SE Michigan Views
Lake Erie is the shallowest and most volatile of the Great Lakes, where a sudden shift in wind direction can transform a calm morning into a wall of…
Michigan Dark Sky Parks: A 2026 Guide to the State’s Best Stargazing Locations
Driving six hours to the tip of the Keweenaw Peninsula doesn’t guarantee a view of the Milky Way if you aren’t prepared for the logistical realities…
Barnes-Hecker Mine Disaster – 51 Men Lost in Michigan’s Deadliest Underground Catastrophe
The Barnes-Hecker Mine Disaster struck near Ishpeming on Nov. 3, 1926, when a collapse sent water, mud and rock into the underground workings. Fifty-one men died. Only Wilfred Wills escaped, climbing an 800-foot ladder as the mine filled beneath him.
Saginaw Bay’s Northern Arc: Five Towns Along Michigan’s Working Shore
Follow five towns along northern Saginaw Bay where timber, rivers, railroads, gypsum, cheese and tourism shaped local life. This Michigan history hub gathers videos, photographs, supporting articles and travel stops from Pinconning through Omer, Au Gres and Alabaster to Tawas Bay.