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
Under the leadership of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, Civilian Conservation Corps camps were established during the early thirties. FDR recruited thousands of unemployed youth and sent them into battle against the destruction and erosion of . . . — — Map (db m213553) HM
This museum tells real stories of the more than 100,000 young men
who lived and worked in 125 Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC)
camps in Michigan. The CCC was one of many nation-wide
programs that gave work to the unemployed during the . . . — — Map (db m213554) HM
Many Higgins Lake Nursery workers spent the fall
and winter months in this building where they stored
and processed each autumn's harvest of pine cones.
Employees stirred the cones daily to prevent mold
before extracting the seeds from the . . . — — Map (db m213556) 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
The fire protection system which has been built in Michigan is one of the
most highly developed and efficient organizations of its kind in the country.
-History of State Fores, 1947
This is just the top part of the fire tower from Hale, . . . — — Map (db m213539) HM
This is Higgins Lake Nursery's ice house.
It was built in 1912 on the northern shore
of Higgins Lake to store ice and tree seeds.
It was used until 1953, when nursery workers
installed modern coolers in the packing house
for seed storage. . . . — — Map (db m213543) 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
Forest fires are a CALAMITY and rank properly with flood,
pestilence, famine, earthquakes.... [it is] estimated that by
1912, forest fire had destroyed more timber than was logged.
-Annual Forestry Report of the Game, Fish, and Forestry . . . — — Map (db m213541) 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
Constructed in 1935, this building was the heart of Higgins Lake Nursery. From here, hundreds of millions of tree seedlings were packed and shipped all over Michigan.
To protect the four- or five-year-old trees' delicate root systems during . . . — — Map (db m285372) HM
This ram pump supplied the Higgins
Lake Nursery with up to 18,000 gallons
of water a day. The water was used to
irrigate all the seed beds, first by hand
and then through a system of piping
installed in the 1930s.
The nursery was . . . — — Map (db m213552) HM
[Higgins Lake Nursery] is one of the best forest
nurseries in the country.
-Professor Filbert Roth
Biennial Report of the Public Domain Commission, 1915-1916
At Higgins Lake Nursery, trained workers grew
hundreds . . . — — Map (db m213546) 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
In 1903 this site, like much of Northern Michigan, was barren. During the logging era (1850 - 1900) Michigan's forests had been almost entirely cut down. Fires ravaged what was left.
Professor Filibert Roth opened Michigan's first state nursery . . . — — Map (db m213538) HM
