News & Fun in Michigan
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.
In September 1837, Henry Rowe Schoolcraft created a manuscript map of Michigan illustrating Indigenous nations, U.S. Indian agency posts, military forts, and reservations. It reflects the aftermath of the 1836 treaty, detailing tribal bands, populations, and significant geographic changes.
On June 9, 1909, a mechanical failure at Canada’s Soo Locks led to the sinking of two ships, halting Great Lakes commercial traffic. This disaster exposed infrastructure vulnerabilities, prompting modernization efforts and highlighting potential economic repercussions from similar incidents today.
The Smith-Culhane House, a historic 150-year-old Victorian home in Port Austin, Michigan, reflects the region’s lumber boom heritage. Once a family residence, it now serves as a private home after its revival into a Bed and Breakfast, preserving local history and architecture.
The 1800s pamphlet promotes Bay Port resort, highlighting transportation via Flint & Pere Marquette Railroad, luxurious accommodations, fresh water sources, and recreational activities. It showcases Bay Port’s appeal as an accessible summer destination with scenic views and high standards of service.
The Lakeside Inn in Port Austin, Michigan, served as a courthouse, Prohibition speakeasy, and big band hotspot before its fiery demise in 1967.
The waters near Michigan’s Thumb are home to many shipwrecks, including notable incidents like the Philadelphia and Albany collision. This area, once a vital shipping route, is now an underwater preserve safeguarding maritime history and mysteries of the Great Lakes.
Pontiac, Oxford & Northern Railroad (P.O. & N) ran from September 1889 until the last service run of the full length of the line on February 9, 1984.
