Did you know that the Jackson Train Depot in Michigan is the oldest continuously operating train station in our nation? In the mid 1800’s brave stories of strength had taken place here as the Jackson community had rallied around freedom seekers who had been escaping slavery. The founder of The […]
History and Culture
107 posts
As the Thea G. blew her horn, energy zipped through me as if I was seven years old. Being close to freighters has always given me a thrill! This aerial lift bridge at the Duluth-Superior Port had set my mind to wondering as Chuck and I observed freighters passing through. […]
At the very tip of the Keweenaw Peninsula, where Michigan juts into Lake Superior, sits a quiet secret of history. Between 1964 and 1971 NASA had launched missiles from this remote spot. Join us as we investigate this curious site. Chuck and I had rumbled down a dirt roadway for […]
Happy 150th Birthday, Spectacle Reef Light Station! This crib light station, the first of it’s kind, has been known as “the most spectacular engineering achievement” in lighthouse construction. This 1870’s model had set the standard for crib lights and had been featured at the 1893 World’s Fair in Chicago. Spectacle […]
The Grand River, Michigan’s longest waterway, stretches 262 miles from Jackson to Lake Michigan. This road of water has been the lifeline of commerce and transportation for over 10,000 years. Come along with us from Jenison to Grand Haven as we explore this entrancing river, the river boats and the […]
Have you ever wanted to explore like Indiana Jones? On our recent trip to Belize, Chuck and I had the opportunity to climb and swim through the “Actun Tunichil Muknal” sacrificial Maya cave. National Geographic has ranked this site as one of the ten most sacred caves in the world. […]
What? The border between Michigan and Indiana is still unsettled? How can this be? Join Chuck and I as we investigate this mysterious lack of demarcation. What’s life like living along this border? Why hasn’t this border been officially surveyed since 1827? How has surveyor, Jack Owens, built a legacy? […]
“Pere Marquette” names a river, a city, a railroad, several parks, a university and two high schools. Who was Pere Jacques Marquette and why are there so many places named for him? Why have some of his bones recently been relocated? Join Chuck and I as we investigate this fascinating […]
There’s a secret piece of history in the Mackinaw Straits! Join Chuck and I as we explore a boulder. Yes, you know I love to collect rocks, but this boulder couldn’t fit in anyone’s pocket. This serious stone has made a mark in history as an aid to navigation. But […]
Many of you are familiar with the settlement of Fayette, in Michigan’s upper peninsula. My husband, Chuck, and I uncovered a True Tales story which painted the picture of moral mishaps in the Fayette community. The residents had countered these ill behaviors with surprising human strength. Join us as we […]