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.

Historical Landmarks to Visit in Caseville and Bay City

Tracing Caseville History: A Guide to Huron County’s Industrial Roots

Posted on July 29, 2026August 1, 2026 by Paul Austin

In the late 1800s, Caseville’s salt wells produced up to 50,000 barrels annually, a massive output that fueled the rapid growth of this Saginaw Bay…

What is Minnesota Known For – Foods and Traditions

Posted on July 28, 2026August 9, 2026 by Paul Austin

In the northern reaches of the Great Lakes region, Minnesota claims the title of “Land of 10,000 Lakes,” but the state actually contains 11,842…

Michigan Thumb Tourism: The Ultimate Guide to the Great Lakes’ Undiscovered Coast

Posted on July 27, 2026August 1, 2026 by Paul Austin

What if the most authentic Great Lakes experience isn’t found on the crowded boardwalks of the west coast, but in the quiet, rugged tip of Michigan’s…

Live Regional Webcams: Your Real-Time Window into Michigan’s Thumb

Posted on July 27, 2026August 2, 2026 by Paul Austin

Imagine you’re sitting in a quiet office in Detroit or Flint, dreaming of the 140 miles of freshwater shoreline that make up Michigan’s Thumb Coast….

Michigan Upper Peninsula Ghost Towns: A Travel Map and Historical Guide

Posted on July 26, 2026August 19, 2026 by Paul Austin

Imagine standing in the middle of a silent street where, a century ago, the air hummed with the roar of iron furnaces and the shouts of copper…

Sidnaw, Michigan History – Railroads, Logging and Roycroft Farms

Posted on July 24, 2026July 24, 2026 by Michael Hardy

Sidnaw, Michigan, began as a booming lumber town in the late 1800s. By the early 1900s, it had sawmills, factories, hotels, and a union depot where the Milwaukee Road and South Shore railroads crossed. Families arrived, stores opened, and farms replaced the forests.

Category: History

Tracing Caseville History: A Guide to Huron County’s Industrial Roots

What is Minnesota Known For – Foods and Traditions

Michigan Thumb Tourism: The Ultimate Guide to the Great Lakes’ Undiscovered Coast

Live Regional Webcams: Your Real-Time Window into Michigan’s Thumb

Michigan Upper Peninsula Ghost Towns: A Travel Map and Historical Guide

Sidnaw, Michigan History – Railroads, Logging and Roycroft Farms

Sikorsky S-38 Isle Royale Flight at Rock Harbor

Michigamme Falls Ghost Town: One Photo of a Vanished U.P. Camp

Iron Mountain Prohibition: 14 Wine Barrels Meet the Gutter

Pine Mountain Ski Jump – Iron Mountain’s 1943 Spectacle