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 […]
History and Culture
114 posts
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 […]
The Great Lakes sea monster, Michepezhoo of Lake Superior, has threaded its way through centuries of legends and remains the center of Ojibwa culture. My husband, Chuck, and I journeyed to Lake Superior Provincial Park in Ontario, Canada to see several ancient pictographs along the Agawa Rock, which included Michepezhoo. […]
Just south of Saranac in Ionia County sits the first roadside table. Allan Williams’ vision in 1929 has enhanced our travels even today. Join my husband, Chuck, and I as we stop at this site and learn more about how a single individual can make a difference for our nation. […]
The Battle Creek Cereal War had been a trifecta between the Kellogg brothers; John and William along with a previous patient, C.W. Post. Join my husband, Chuck, and I as we learn about this cereal war and how these men have shaped our nation’s morning habits. The First Cereals For […]