Finding Fun in Michigan's Thumb
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.
In 1831, two 26-year-old, French aristocrats, Alexis De Tocqueville, and Gustave de Beaumont, decided to strike out, in what today’s terms, would be the ultimate road trip. Namely, traveling overland from Detroit, to the last “white” settlement in the Northwest Territories, to Saginaw Michigan.
Michigan’s historical markers are one of the oldest state programs in the country for denoting historical , geographic or cultural events and places of significance. A website provided by the Michigan DNR gives details on each and every one of them.
Michigan Indian Place Names are important historical records of the Saginaw Valley and Upper Thumb, we have found this brief sketch about the original names from the Anishinaabeg to several places and rivers and discovered their meaning.
Harbor Beach native Frank Murphy was a political heavyweight in the 1930s-1940’s. Frank Murphy was born in Harbor Beach Michigan in 1890. He was the 39th governor of Michigan and was on the United States Supreme Court. He was the voice of anti racist dissent against Japanese American Internment during WWII.