In northern Crawford County, where the Kollke and Bradford Creeks converge, the Au Sable River begins its 138-mile journey to Lake Huron. The Anishnaabek called the river Mudaubeebetonagnce, which means "flowing from the interior to the lake." . . . — — Map (db m278833) HM
The origination of the Au Sale Riverboat at Grayling about 1872 by Reuben S. Babbitt Sr.
an early settler, guide and operator of fishing camps on the Au Sable and Manistee rivers.
Unique to the Au Sable the boat fitted a special need for fishing . . . — — Map (db m213394) HM
Chief Shoppenagon
Chief David Shoppenagon was born in Indianfields, a Chippewa Indian Village in the Saginaw River Valley. In 1795 his grandfather, also a Chippewa chief, was among the Indians who met with General Anthony Wayne at Fort . . . — — Map (db m200599) HM
The partnership between the City of Grayling and Camp Grayling remains strong after a hundred years. Established on May 2, 1913, under Michigan Public
Act 172, Camp Grayling exists because of the generosity of Rasmus Hanson, a Grayling resident who . . . — — Map (db m213401) HM
This trout stream was constructed to replace three straight channels, which were edged with broken concrete and rusty steel sheet piling, were silted over time to a shallow depth and were warming the water as they flowed slowly to their outlets . . . — — Map (db m230874) HM
This beautiful trout-like fish, with its sailfish-like dorsal fin, was plentiful in our local rivers in the middle and late 1800s. The grayling were easy to catch, fun to catch and tasted too good.
Wagon loads of grayling were caught and . . . — — Map (db m230790) HM
In 1872, the Jackson, Lansing and Saginaw railroad built "Crawford Station" to serve logging activities. It was located where the Crawford County Historical Museum stands today. In 1874, residents voted to rename their town Grayling in honor of . . . — — Map (db m278832) HM
December of 1872, Jackson, Lansing & Saginaw Railroad Company had laid track to Crawford and a freight house was built. In those days railroad companies named the Railway Stops, and in this instance the J.L. & S. Decided on Crawford. The present . . . — — Map (db m125498) HM
The Grayling Fish Hatchery was established in 1914 by local lumber baron Rasmus Hanson, together with several notable wealthy sportsmen (including Henry and Edsel Ford), as a private fish hatchery.
The native grayling fish were gone from the . . . — — Map (db m230716) HM
The M60 Tank, has been in service from 1959 until
present, it features a 105 mm main gun. The M60 was a cold war
staple for the U.S., and it was used to handily defeat the Iraqis in
Desert Storm. A crew of 4 is needed to operate the 50-ton . . . — — Map (db m213395) HM
In 1882, residents of Grayling built the town's first church for the Methodist Episcopal congregation that had organized in 1879. In 1918, local lumberman Nels Michelson donated funds to erect a large brick church in honor of his late wife, . . . — — Map (db m95652) HM
Side One
While now extinct in Michigan, members of the grayling family are found in Montana, Europe, and the Arctic. The grayling are related to the trout and salmon and are distinguished by a thyme-like odor and a long wavy dorsal . . . — — Map (db m200656) HM
The 75 MM Pack Howitzer (redesigned
the M116 in 1962) is an artillery piece that has been in service from
1927 to present. The gun has a 6-man crew and fires a shell that
weights over 18 pounds, with an effective range of 5.5 miles. It . . . — — Map (db m213397) HM
The Lockheed T-33 Shooting Star or T-Bird was first produced in 1948 and was last used by the
Bolivian Air Force in 2017. While mainly a "trainer" the T-33 saw some
usage later by other countries in combat. The T-33 could attain a . . . — — Map (db m213399) HM
The M4 Sherman, officially Medium Tank, M4 was
the most widely used medium tank by the United States and
Western Allies in World War II. The Sherman tank was manned by a
crew of 5, and featured a 75mm main gun, along with a .50 . . . — — Map (db m213400) HM
In 1871, the Jackson, Lansing & Saginaw Railroad (JL&SR) began laying track north from Bay City. One year later, JL&SR built a freight station called Crawford to aid nearby logging businesses that used temporary, narrow-gauge rail lines. In 1873, . . . — — Map (db m278835) HM
On May 8, 1968, two separate forest fires destroyed more than 6,200 acres of forest in this area. Smoke from both fires would have been visible from here.
The Crawford County Avalanche reported: "The first fire observed by county . . . — — Map (db m278918) HM
Forests contain a variety of plants that people use to meet their basic needs. Throughout history, communities evolved by sharing specific knowledge of both native and introduced plants.
Even today, plants continue to provide food, dyes, . . . — — Map (db m278912) HM
Camp Grayling is the largest National Guard training facility in the United States.
In 1913, lumber magnate Rasmus Hanson donated over 13,000 acres of cut-over land to the State of Michigan for military training. Originally named the Hanson . . . — — Map (db m251737) HM
Side 1
State forest advocate Charles William Garfield (1848-1934) spent his life studying trees and forests. His father taught him that trees were important because they were "one of God's most attractive creations." As a . . . — — Map (db m250734) HM
A wildfire can be devastating, but it can also be a natural disturbance that renews the landscape. While European settlers viewed fire as a menace to be controlled, the Anishnaabek burned land to make it more productive.
Grayling . . . — — Map (db m278910) HM
In 1921, the state passed a bill creating the Michigan Department of Conservation. The bill consolidated management of game, fish, forests and state parks from other agencies to the new department.
During the early years of state forest . . . — — Map (db m251724) HM
Forests are an important part of this area's history and to the people who first lived here. To this day, the Anishinaabek engage with northern Michigan's forests because of their natural and cultural significance.
The Forest Heritage Trail . . . — — Map (db m250732) HM
Forests are an important part of this area's history and to the people who first lived here. To this day, the Anishinaabek engage with northern Michigan's forests because of their natural and cultural significance.
The Forest Heritage Trail . . . — — Map (db m251744) HM
For thousands of years, Michigan's forests have provided people with resources to meet their needs.
The Anishinaabek used trees to create tools, canoes and homes. Their deep knowledge of trees included knowing when and how to remove birch . . . — — Map (db m250733) HM
The Great Lakes Region was once covered by glaciers that were more than one mile thick. These heavy ice sheets advanced and retreated over time, exerting forces that sculpted the land below.
Approximately 10,000 years ago, after global . . . — — Map (db m251738) HM
Logging Museum
The Logging Museum was built in 1934-35 by the Civilian Conservation Corps. Exhibits in the museum include a bunkhouse, mess hall, company store and blacksmith shop. The museum is jointly managed by the Michigan . . . — — Map (db m251637) HM
Crawford County's forests are home to a variety of wildlife. The species pictured here are endangered or rare. What do their stories teach us about conservation and the effect of humans on the natural landscape?
Railroads and automobiles . . . — — Map (db m251718) HM
Engineer Soldier Martyr to his country
Lieut., 9th Cavalry, USA Spanish American War
Major, 20th Engineers, USA World War
That his name may be recorded and his virtues remembered, this remnant of the primeval pine forests which he loved is . . . — — Map (db m169875) WM
After the old growth timber was cut in the 1920s, many jobs at lumber camps and mills disappeared. Some Crawford County residents turned to outdoor recreation to make a living. Locals guided fishing and hunting trips, while resorts and lodges . . . — — Map (db m250724) HM
The Kirtland's Warbler was first identified in 1851 from a specimen collected on Dr. Jared Kirtland's Ohio farm. The birds originally depended on fire-created young jack pine forests for summer nesting. Such forests in northern Michigan became their . . . — — Map (db m182423) HM
Building this trail was fraught with proposal rejections and complex approval requirements. Many volunteers participated with Dave Frederick always at the center of the application process. It would not have happened without him. We are proud of . . . — — Map (db m251726) HM
A concern over the depletion of Michigan's forest led in 1899 to the creation of a forestry commission. In 1903 the first state forest was set up by the legislature on cut-over, burned-over lands in Roscommon and Crawford counties. The same year . . . — — Map (db m213393) HM
The soil here and in much of the northern lower peninsula is sandy and acidic. It is excellent for growing pine trees but makes for poor farming conditions.
After the white pine logging-era (1870-1900), most of Michigan's northern lower . . . — — Map (db m278921) HM
Forests are an important part of this area's history and to the people who first lived here. To this day, the Anishinaabek engage with northern Michigan's forests because of their natural and cultural significance.
The Forest Heritage Trail . . . — — Map (db m279033) HM
Originally a State Forest campground, camping began along the north shore of the lake around 1925. In 1963, the campground became North Higgins Lake State Park when it was transferred to the State Parks Division. The historic Higgins Lake tree . . . — — Map (db m279308) HM
Michigan's state forests and state parks both provide the public with opportunities to enjoy forests. However, each have notable differences in how they are managed.
State forests are actively managed by professional foresters and wildlife . . . — — Map (db m278928) HM
In the 1950s, Michigan foresters began experimenting to find the perfect amount of space a tree needs to grow. By removing, thinning, certain trees, those left have more room to grow and less competition for nutrients.
Thinning is one . . . — — Map (db m279026) HM
Forest tree improvement is by its very nature a long-term endeavor and requires a continuing commitment of resources to be successful....[it is] an investment that can pay broad dividends in forest adaptability and productivity in the face of . . . — — Map (db m279029) HM
Built in 1907 by Ed Kellogg and Gustav Ernst. Operated as a school until 1937. Moved from Jackson Hole, seven miles down Lovells Road in July 1991, and renovated. — — Map (db m182349) HM
Thomas E. Douglas
Born and raised in Canada, Thomas E. Douglas came to Saginaw as an adult to work as a bookkeeper in his uncle's lumber mill. Upon moving to Grayling with his wife, Martha, in 1893, Douglas managed the R. Hanson Lumber . . . — — Map (db m176147) HM
Thomas E. Douglas built a saw mill and an electric plant in 1896 on the banks of the North Branch of the Au Sable River in Lovells. The electric plant supplied power to the saw mill and the Douglas Hotel. A shingle plant was added in December, . . . — — Map (db m250796) HM
