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.
The Great Lakes Storm of 1913, also known as the White Hurricane, was a catastrophic event that claimed 19 ships and resulted in over 248 fatalities. This severe blizzard, marked by hurricane-force winds and heavy snowfall, devastated areas around Lake Huron and Michigan’s Thumb, leading to significant changes in maritime safety and weather forecasting.
Bay Port Michigan is known for the paranormal. Bay Port is the site of a publicly acknowledged haunted Bed & Breakfast Inn and you can walk through a cemetery of a vanished religious colony, and see the site of a haunted hotel that was never rebuilt.
The former B&B has been featured on Pure Michigan, two Haunted Michigan travel books and highlighted in a paranormal documentary and a movie.
Indigenous Peoples of Michigan, the Anishinabeg, view the White Rock on the edge of the Lake Huron shore as a sacred site. The rock was much, much larger than it appears today. (Which is 2019 is mostly underwater). The Indian ensured that fresh game and food items were placed on the site as an offering. Gitchie Manitou or Great Spirit would recognize the offering by the Anishinabeg as a token of thanks for the bounty and richness of the peninsula.
In 1909 the Michigan state legislature changed the name of Bad Axe to Huron subject to a referendum of the voters of the city. That vote has yet to happen.
Dive into the rich history of Wenona Beach Amusement Park, once dubbed the Coney Island of the Great Lakes. Discover its rise to fame, iconic attractions, and why it eventually had to close its doors. A must-read for history buffs and Michigan locals alike.
A faded black and white image of the Caseville Mercantile, found in a historical museum, highlights its absence in public records. The store, representing 19th-century community hubs, may now exist as the Helping Hands Resale and Thrift Store, fostering local connections.
Golfing on Mackinac Island, has its roots firmly planted in the late 19th century when interest in golf rapidly grew across America. These courses are a nod to their historic and idyllic location.
