13 Extraordinary Mansions in the United States
We like to explore estates and mansions in the United States. Amazingly Michigan has 4 of the top 13 on this list of estates where one can tour the property.
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.
Lindbergh Kidnapping Grips Michigan Thumb News For Months
Charles Lindbergh’s 20-month-old son was kidnapped on March 1, 1932. The news shocked and gripped the entire nation, with updates occurring almost every week in newspapers, including the Harbor Beach Times in Michigan’s Upper Thumb
The Restored 1890 Marlette Railway Depot Faces Uncertain Future
By 1910 Marlette Railway depot was a twice a day stop for passengers and freight between Port Huron and Saginaw. During World War I, the depot saw service by sending freight and troops to fight in the Great War. However, will it survive the pandemic?
10 Unique Words For Place Names In Michigan
Historian and writer Mark Putman explores ten unique Native American words that derive place names in Michigan. A fascinating history of our evolving language.
Why Are There 5 Quirky Houses in the Middle of Indiana Dunes National Park
Tucked among the Indiana Dunes National Park on the shores of Lake Michigan is a bit of an anomaly; five model homes from the 1933 Chicago Worlds Fair. They look out of place among the wilds of the park, but they …
Opening Lake Huron Beach Access in 1937 Was To Attract Tourists
We almost take it for granted that beach access near the lake in Huron county that your a short walk or drive away from being able to put your toes into the water. That was not always the case.
A Day In Hell – The 1911 Oscoda and AuSable Fire
The devastation of the 1911 Oscoda and AuSable fire that wiped out these eastern Michigan towns would be compared to the Great Peshtigo Fire in 1871
These two bustling shoreline towns were wiped off the map in one day.
Pointe Aux Barques Resort Noted in the Standard Guide to Mackinac Island & Northern Lake Resorts 1899
Excerpt on the Pointe Aux Barques Resort taken from the Standard Guide to Mackinac Island and Northern Michigan Resorts 1899.
The Standard Guide; Mackinac Island and Northern Lake Resorts. It is a visitors handbook written in 1898 detailing early tourism to Mackinac Island. For 25 cents it gave the potential visitor a glimpse of what to expect at Michigan’s premier tourist destination. However, the ads and descriptions of the other northern Michigan resorts of the day are fascinating.