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.
This photograph from around 1900 showcases Kinde, Michigan’s Main Street, highlighting the brick and wood storefronts and a busy rural economy. It documents local businesses, transportation challenges, and the town’s role in agricultural development post-lumber boom.
Harbor Beach Resort Association in Michigan, founded in 1896, is a historic summer community with rustic cottages, active membership, and communal dining. It showcases Michigan’s elite vacation traditions, preserving family-oriented charm while providing various recreational amenities and maintaining exclusivity through selective membership.
The park first opened as a county park in 1925. In 1927 the state acquired the property and called it Huron State Park. In 1944, the park was renamed in honor of Albert E. Sleeper, governor of Michigan (1917-1920) and resident …
This early 1900s photo captures the rural railroad depot at Pointe Aux Barques, Michigan, taken by Louis James Pesha. The image includes a windmill-powered water tower, a wooden depot station, and both a horse-drawn buggy and early automobile, capturing a transitional …
Stanton’s Cottages was a small tourist resort of rustic cabins located along M-25 (formerly US-25) about two miles west of Port Austin, Michigan. The enterprise took its name from its proprietor, Carl Stanton, a resident who established the cottages with his …
Carl Peets was a familiar name along the Pigeon River in Caseville during the postwar years, known for running daily fishing trips into Saginaw Bay. His charter service drew locals and tourists alike—until a deadly explosion aboard his boat, Panteramarina, changed …
On April 23, 1907, the fishing tug Searchlight capsized in a storm off Harbor Beach, resulting in the loss of all six crew members. This tragedy shocked the community and remains a grim chapter in Huron County’s fishing history.
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.
