Littlefield Township near Oden in Emmet County, Michigan — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Luring Visitors

— Oden Hatchery Visitors Center —

Photographed by J. J. Prats, September 24, 2023

1. Luring Visitors Marker

Inscription.
You are looking at the original 1920 Oden Hatchery. The main floor was used to hatch eggs into fry, which were then moved outside into rearing ponds. The second floor was the manager’s residence.

Michigan's Department of Conservation (now the Department of Natural Resources) encouraged people to visit state hatcheries. Show ponds featuring large fish created a park-like atmosphere that attracted visitors.

In 2002, the hatchery building was renovated into a visitor center. Today, guided tours and public programming enhance hatchery visits.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Natural Resources • Parks & Recreational Areas. A significant historical year for this entry is 1920.

Location. 45° 25.498′ N, 84° 50.773′ W. Marker is near Oden, Michigan, in Emmet County. It is in Littlefield Township. It is on Oden Road (U.S. 31) 0.9 miles west of Luce Street, on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 3377 Oden Rd, Alanson MI 49706, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Northern Michigan Lower Peninsula

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and in one of the Lake Michigan Shore counties. It is also in the American Midwest

and on the Great Lakes.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Great North Woods,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Viceroyalty of New France

and also the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 3 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: State Board of Fish Commissioners / State Game and Fish Warden (a few steps from this marker); Passenger Pigeons (a few steps from this marker); Fish and Rails (within shouting distance of this marker); Welcome to Oden State Fish Hatchery (within shouting distance of this marker); Oden Gazebo Park (approx. 0.9 miles away); Hiawatha Pageant (approx. 2.1 miles away); Round Lake (approx. 2.1 miles away); Horace McKee Huffman, Jr. ~ 1914-1996 (approx. 2.1 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Oden.

Also see . . . Oden State Fish Hatchery Visitor Center. Excerpt

The Oden Hatchery Visitor Center, located on the grounds of the Oden State Fish Hatchery, is the
Photographed by J. J. Prats, September 24, 2023

2. Oden Hatchery Visitors Center and Marker
site of the original fish hatchery building, which began operations in 1921. In 2002, a new hatchery was built one quarter-mile northeast of the current visitor center. ...

The hatchery buildings are not available to the public unless on a guided tour. Free public tours are offered daily between Memorial Day and Labor Day and begin at the gazebo in the hatchery parking lot. ...

(Submitted on May 25, 2024.)

“Ring of Bright Water II” image. Click for full size.

Bronze by Kent Ullberg photographed by J.J. Prats, September 24, 2023

3. “Ring of Bright Water II”

This sculpture is at the Oden Hatchery Visitor Center. Text of plaque on its base: “Knox Galleries gifted this artwork, created by world-nenowned wildlife sculptor Kent Ullberg. The inspiration came from a best-selling book, Ring of Bright Water. which describes a relationship between a man and his otter companions.”

Credits. This page was last revised on May 25, 2024. It was originally submitted on May 25, 2024, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio. This page has been viewed 248 times since then and 24 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on May 25, 2024, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio.