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.

Grand Lake History: 15 Remarkable Images Reveal Presque Isle’s Resort Boom

Posted on July 11, 2026July 11, 2026 by Michael Hardy

Grand Lake near Presque Isle, Michigan, was once valued for timber, cordwood, and access to Lake Huron shipping. By the

Davison Michigan History: 8 Rare Photos Show a Town on the Move

Posted on July 10, 2026July 11, 2026 by Michael Hardy

Eight rare photographs show Davison, Michigan, during an era shaped by railroads, brickmaking, local commerce, horse racing and the arrival of automobiles.

Eye-Opening History of Watersmeet Michigan – 7 Remarkable Reasons This UP Rail Town Still Fascinates

Posted on July 9, 2026July 9, 2026 by Michael Hardy

Watersmeet Michigan history begins with Lac Vieux Desert Ojibwa homelands and grows into a story of railroads, logging, hotels, fish hatcheries and forest recovery. This small Upper Peninsula town became a true crossing point of water, timber and steel.

Port Hope Museum Honors Michigan Lighthouse Hero With 1 Powerful Barn Quilt

Posted on July 9, 2026July 9, 2026 by Michael Hardy

A Port Hope museum will dedicate “Catharine’s Guiding Light,” a new barn quilt honoring Catharine Shook, Michigan’s first woman lighthouse keeper. The public ceremony is set for July 18 at the Port Hope Lumberyard Museum, with the quilt later appearing at the Heritage Festival.

Bigfoot Sightings in Michigan – Cass River Video, Thumb Reports and New Cases

Posted on July 8, 2026July 8, 2026 by Michael Hardy

The Michigan Thumb newspaper Tuscola Today carried a story, “Bigfoot Roaming the Cass? Video Raises the Question.” on July 21. It shows a screenshot and short video clip of the alleged Sasquatch from a person kayaking on the Cass River.

Bigfoot sightings, while unique are not uncommon. The online newspaper the Sun reported that more than 10,000 people have insisted they’ve seen the mythical being over the past 50 years.

Glen Arbor Michigan History – From Lumber Camps to Sleeping Bear Tourism

Posted on July 7, 2026July 9, 2026 by Paul Austin

Step into the heart of northern Michigan with this stunning cinematic look at Glen Arbor. A montage from rare early 1900s photos, this short video showcases the charm, scenery, and rhythm of one of the most beloved towns along Lake Michigan’s Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore.

History of Charlevoix Michigan – 21 Vintage Photos Show A Working Harbor Transformed To A Resort City On Three Lakes

Posted on July 5, 2026July 5, 2026 by Michael Hardy

The History of Charlevoix Michigan is more than a resort story. Pine River’s channel, working docks, steamship arrivals, railroad service, grand hotels and fishing trade turned a small harbor town into one of northern Michigan’s most memorable summer destinations.

1900s Small Town Michigan 4th of July – 13 Vintage Photos From a Lost Holiday Era

Posted on July 4, 2026July 5, 2026 by Michael Hardy

Early 1900s photos show how small-town Michigan celebrated the Fourth of July with parades, brass bands, horse races, decorated cars, church picnics and crowded Main Streets.

Fort Drummond – Britain’s Last Stand In Michigan (1812 – 1828)

Posted on July 3, 2026July 3, 2026 by Michael Hardy

Fort Drummond Michigan was not just an old ruin on Drummond Island. It was a British military village that remained after the War of 1812, until surveys and politics forced Britain to leave in 1828.

History of The Fishing Village of Leland Michigan – How Fishtown Kept Its Working Waterfront

Posted on July 1, 2026July 9, 2026 by Michael Hardy

Leland, Michigan evolved from a sawmill and iron-smelting town into one of Lake Michigan’s last commercial fishing villages. Its historic Fishtown, weathered docks and family fisheries continue to tell one of Michigan’s most remarkable waterfront stories.