News & Fun in Michigan
Charity Island, sometimes called by locals as Big Charity Island, is the largest island in Saginaw Bay guarding the entrance of the bay from Lake Huron. The island is 222 acres and has about 3 miles of shoreline.
Michigan boasts 124 unique and functional lighthouses, drawing numerous visitors. Of these, Michigan’s Upper Thumb has four of them. Restoration efforts for the Port Austin Reef Light are in progress, but you can see Charity Island Light, Harbor Beach, and Pointe Aux Barques Light. Some of these lighthouses offer tours, climbs, and historical significance.
This picture of Charity Island Michigan Ruins was taken in 1993, about the time Standish real estate broker Robert Wiltse and a group of investors bought the island for development.
Henry Schoolcraft was asked to join an expedition organized by Governor Cass of Michigan in 1819. Its purpose was to locate the source of the Mississippi River’ and explore the Great Lakes region. As an expert mineralogist, he was tasked with describing Michigan’s significant topographical features, natural history, and mineral wealth. The expedition took approximately 40 men in five long voyageur canoes commonly used in the fur trade on the Great Lakes. At 35 feet long and 6 feet wide, the canoe had an amazing capacity of four tons. They started the journey on May 24, 1820.
This summer see Charity Islands Lighthouse and Gravely Shoals
Light or enjoy a Sunset Cruise from Caseville.
Its a different perspective from offshore.
Embark on a mini adventure to see one of the least visited lighthouses and islands on the Great Lakes.
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.
Top 15 “Must See” Michigan Upper Thumb Attractions.
A perfect recipe for a day trip or a week of exploring. Many are free to see and all are an easy drive to get to.
We encountered many folks who have come up to Michigan’s Upper Thumb for their entire lives but never have seen these top ten sites. They offer a glimpse of the history and beauty of native Michigan and its Great Lakes.
We took a unique and interesting cruise to the island in the middle of Saginaw Bay. Here is what we found.
