Rogers Township in Rogers City in Presque Isle County, Michigan — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

The International Hotel

Historic Site No. 3

Photographed by Mark Parker, June 24, 2025

1. The International Hotel Marker

Inscription. Rogers City's first hotel stood on this site. The International Hotel opened in 1872, only three years after the first settlers arrived here. It was owned by Captain Joseph Valentin, Sr. and his wife Catherine. Valentin was in charge of the U.S. Life Saving Service station at Hammond Bay, north of Rogers City.

The International was originally advertised as a hotel, bar room, and billiards room with stables and barns. Most of the occupants of the hotel worked in local sawmills. A series of local doctors also lived there and most also maintained their offices and operating rooms in the building. The original International burned in 1884, but was immediately rebuilt. The second International, shown in the photo from around 1910, was destroyed by fire in November of 1997

The Presque Isle County Historical Museum provided sign text and images. A Vibrant Small Cities Initiative (VSC) grant from MSHDA and the City of Rogers City funded this project. The City Council and Community Development Authority jointly obtained the VSCI grant. The Design Committee developed the concept. Sign design and engineering by Harry Wierengs of Fleis and VandenBrink Engineering Valley City Sign manufactured the signs in 2010. The Department of Public Works installed the signs in 2011.

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This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Industry & Commerce. A significant historical year for this entry is 1872.

Location. 45° 25.333′ N, 83° 49.024′ W. Marker is in Rogers City, Michigan, in Presque Isle County. It is in Rogers Township. It is at the intersection of East Huron Avenue and North 2nd Street, on the right when traveling west on East Huron Avenue. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 192 E Huron Ave, Rogers City MI 49779, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Northern Michigan Lower Peninsula

and in one of the Lake Huron 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 Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Presque Isle County Courthouse (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); Frederick Denny Larke General Store (about 400 feet away); Vietnam War Memorial Monument (about

Photographed by Mark Parker, June 24, 2025

2. The International Hotel Marker

400 feet away); Site of Frederick Denny Larke Home (about 400 feet away); That Freedom Might Live (about 400 feet away); Korean War Veterans Memorial (about 400 feet away); Presque Isle County Bank (about 400 feet away); Rogers Theater (about 500 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Rogers City.

Credits. This page was last revised on July 10, 2025. It was originally submitted on July 8, 2025, by Mark Parker of Hickory, North Carolina. This page has been viewed 100 times since then and 12 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on July 8, 2025, by Mark Parker of Hickory, North Carolina. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.