How to Visit Turnip Rock in Port Austin, Michigan
A trip to see Turnip Rock in Michigan requires more than just a GPS destination. The iconic formation, located off the shore of Port Austin at the…
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 Silverwood Michigan – 12 Shots Of A Railroad Town Once Called Easy and Rollo
Silverwood began as Easy, became Rollo, then took its lasting name in 1892. Rail service, local businesses, churches and farm families shaped this small Tuscola County community.
Port Austin Travel Guide: Navigating the Tip of Michigan’s Thumb in 2026
A trip to Port Austin, Michigan, requires a different mindset than a typical beach vacation. Located at the northernmost point of Huron County, where…
New Mid-Michigan Guidebook Gives the Thumb a Larger Place in Michigan History
A new Mid-Michigan guidebook gives the Thumb a larger role in Michigan history, with regional tours and accounts of Shay Lake, agriculture, migration, labor and environmental change.
6 Notable Historical Events in Michigan that changed Everything
Michigan was once dismissed as a worthless swamp by early federal surveyors, a region supposedly too muddy and mosquito-ridden to support a growing…
Donuts & Cider – Fall Festivals in Michigan
Michigan orchards produced more than 1.3 billion pounds of apples last year, a harvest that secures the state’s position as the second-largest…
The History of Trout Creek Michigan – Sawmills, Railroads and Baseball
In 1912, Trout Creek had three operating sawmills. Each generated its own electricity. One company plant also supplied power to the town. That surprising arrangement says much about early Trout Creek. The mills did not simply employ their residents. They powered …
The Story of Indian Dave – A Legend in the Thumb 1803–1909
In 1866, two men paddled a canoe from Vassar to Caro carrying the official government records that would settle a heated dispute over the location of…