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.

Marlette Train Depot – Beautifully Restored History

Posted on September 2, 2021October 30, 2021 by Michael Hardy

The Marlette Train Depot is a beautiful and well-restored example of a late 1800s rural Michigan railway train station. Today its a historical marker and museum.

Fascinating Stories from Ora et Labora Colony Near Bay Port Michigan 1862 – 1898

Posted on July 30, 2021June 16, 2026 by Michael Hardy

The Letters from Ora Labora 1862 – 1898. Offers a glimpse of the challenges of being a religious pioneer in Michigan’s Wilderness.

This is a collection of stories written through the years.

On Watch During the Cold War – Port Austin Air Force Station

Posted on July 22, 2021November 2, 2021 by Michael Hardy

Port Austin Michigan Air Force Station was a major radar site during the Cold War. It was one of nine radar stations in Michigan that were part of the SAGE line of radar defense.

Caseville Mystery – Was The Mouth of the Pigeon River an Orchard Before Caseville was Settled?

Posted on July 13, 2021November 25, 2025 by Michael Hardy

It’s becoming commonplace. I’m researching something and encountered an entirely new and interesting story I’ve never heard before. In this

4 Amazing Stories About the Michigan Indian Trails of The Upper Thumb

Posted on July 13, 2021May 11, 2026 by Michael Hardy

The first major highways were based on trails Native Americans has used for centuries throughout Michigan.

Here are four tidbits about those trails in Michigan’s Upper Thumb.

5 Mysterious Little Facts About Michigan’s Historic Fort Gratiot

Posted on July 6, 2021November 7, 2021 by Michael Hardy

The site of the mysterious fort was first built in 1686 by the French. The Americans rebuilt the fort in 1814 and it was used until 1879. The exact location of the fort is listed as “restricted” by the US National Archives.

Is There a Great Lakes Stonehenge Version In Lake Michigan?

Posted on June 25, 2021December 22, 2024 by Michael Hardy

Does Michigan have an underwater rock circle from over 10,000 years ago hidden in the Great Lakes?

Actually Michigan has several.

Charity Island History Is Mysterious and Remote

Posted on June 11, 2021November 7, 2021 by Michael Hardy

The Charity Island History spans 100’s of years. Today the island is a wildlife sanctuary and visited by only a few people each year. We cover a bit of this mysterious remote island located in the middle of busy Saginaw Bay.