Cross Village in Emmet County, Michigan — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

The Legs Inn

Registered Michigan Historic Site

Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., August 25, 2016

1. The Legs Inn Marker (Side A)

Inscription. Click to hear the inscription.

The Legs Inn, named for the stove legs that trim the roofline, is one of Michigan's most exuberant and unusual landmarks. The building reflects Stanley Smolak's creativity and the craftsmanship of local Odawa (Ottawa) Indians. A Polish immigrant, Smolak came to the United States in 1912 and settled in Cross Village in 1921. During the 1930s Smolak enlisted the labor of Odawa and other area residents to construct the inn from locally gathered timber and stones. A self-trained artist, Smolak used tree roots, limbs and driftwood to carve fantastical creatures into the furniture and decorative objects used in the inn. He called the carvings "nature's oddities." Until his death in 1968 at age 81, Smolak continued his creative work at the inn, which had become a social center for the community.

[Marker translated into Polish:]
Legs Inn jest jednym z najbardziej orginalnych i niezwykłych zabytków w stanie Michigan. Nazwa pochodzi od białych, żelaznych nóg pieców wmurowanych na froncie dachu. Budynek jest obrazem twórczości Stanisława Smolaka i artystycznego rzemiosła Indian

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szczepu Odawa (Ottawa). Smolak, polski emigrant przybył do U.S.A. w 1912 roku, w Cross Village osiedlił się w 1921. W latach 1930-tych, przy budowie Legs Inn pomagali Smolakowi Indianie Odawa i inni mieszkańcy okolicy, którzy wykorzystywali znalezione w pobliżu derwno i kamienie. Smolak, artystasamouk wyrźezbił z kamieni, gałęzi drzew i drewna wyrzuconego przez jezioro niezwykłe przedmioty i meble, które nazwał "osobliwościami natury." Legs Inn stało się centrum towarzyskim dla lokalnej społeczności. Smolak kontynuował swoją pracę do roku 1968, gdy zmarł w wieku 81 lat.

Erected 2003 by Michigan Historical Commission-Michigan Historical Center. (Marker Number S612.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Industry & Commerce • Settlements & Settlers. In addition, it is included in the Michigan Historical Commission series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1912.

Location. 45° 38.558′ N, 85° 2.204′ W. Marker is in Cross Village, Michigan, in Emmet County. Marker is on Lake Shore Drive north of Brady Street, on the left when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 6425 North Lake Shore Drive, Cross Village MI 49723, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers.

The Legs Inn Marker (Side B) image. Click for full size.

Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., August 25, 2016

2. The Legs Inn Marker (Side B)

At least 8 other markers are within 8 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Light Houses of Grays Reef Passage (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); The History of Redpath Memorial Presbyterian Church (about 300 feet away); Cross Village, Michigan (about 500 feet away); Cross Village Township Park (about 500 feet away); L'Arbre Croche (approx. 2 miles away); Area Of The Old Council Tree (approx. 2½ miles away); Pioneer Picnic Park (approx. 5.6 miles away); Middle Village (approx. 7.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Cross Village.

Also see . . .
1. The Leggs Inn. Restaurant homepage (Submitted on February 7, 2021, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)

2. Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians. Tribal website (Submitted on September 15, 2016, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)

3. Stanley Smolak. Find A Grave entry (Submitted on September 15, 2016, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)

The Legs Inn Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., August 25, 2016

3. The Legs Inn Marker

The Legs Inn Door image. Click for full size.

Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., August 25, 2016

4. The Legs Inn Door

Made from trees with burls

The Legs Inn image. Click for full size.

Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., August 25, 2016

5. The Legs Inn

Stanley Smolak Portrait in The Legs Inn image. Click for full size.

Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., August 25, 2016

6. Stanley Smolak Portrait in The Legs Inn

Jan Smolak Portrait in The Legs Inn image. Click for full size.

Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., August 25, 2016

7. Jan Smolak Portrait in The Legs Inn

Alex Smolak Portrait in The Legs Inn image. Click for full size.

Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., August 25, 2016

8. Alex Smolak Portrait in The Legs Inn

Credits. This page was last revised on August 1, 2023. It was originally submitted on September 15, 2016, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. This page has been viewed 1,147 times since then and 134 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8. submitted on September 15, 2016, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.