By the 1840s, tens of thousands of settlers arrived yearly in Buffalo, New York, in search
of passage and opportunities further west. Fast, reliable and often opulent steamers,
such as the sidewheeler Albany, carried these passengers across . . . — — Map (db m236525) HM
Starting in 1883, the Fame sailed the Great Lakes for 34 years. Still, it was considered
an unlucky vessel. It sprang a leak less than a year after it was built, ran aground
several times; was struck by lightning twice; and collided with . . . — — Map (db m236522) HM
On October 22, 1881, a fierce storm descended on Lake Huron. Violent northwest
winds and a blinding snowstorm caused havoc. The heavy weather stranded 14 ships
in this area. Remarkably, there was not a single loss of life, and all of the ships . . . — — Map (db m236528) HM
The Bronze Bell was taken from the old Lansing City Hall clock tower when the building was torn down in 1959… It weighs 3425 lbs. 60% heavier than the Liberty Bell.... It was cast in 1896. — — Map (db m155625) HM
People have traveled on the Great Lakes for thousands of years. During the “Shipwreck Century” (1825-1925)
technology transformed maritime travel and small wooden sailing vessels evolved into giant steel steamers.
Millions of trips were made . . . — — Map (db m236520) HM
John Kauffman
In 1858, German immigrant John C. Kauffman (1833-1913) left Buffalo bound for Chicago aboard a ship that later ran aground near Bell Bay. John walked ashore and made his way to Burnham’s Landing at Presque Isle Harbor, . . . — — Map (db m120786) HM
Presque Isle Harbor is one of Lake Huron's safest harbors of refuge. Its name comes from this peninsula which, translating from the French, is "almost and island." Indians and Frenchmen portaged across the peninsula to avoid several miles of open . . . — — Map (db m40149) HM
In 1869 the U.S. Congress appropriated $7,500 to build two range lights marking the channel into Presque Isle Harbor. Orlando M. Poe submitted plans in May 1870, and by August the range lights were in operation as seafarers aligned the lights to . . . — — Map (db m120784) HM
Presque Isle, which means “almost an island,” was
named by French voyageurs in the 1600s. It refers to
the peninsula north of the harbor and the surrounding
area. Long before the French arrived, Ottawa people
from the North Channel Islands of . . . — — Map (db m236567) HM
This lighthouse, built in 1870 by Orlando M. Poe, is one of three Great Lakes towers built from the same plans. It replaced the smaller 1840 harbor light. The conical brick tower rises 113 feet from a limestone foundation. The Third Order Fresnel . . . — — Map (db m40062) HM
Lake Huron mariners of the early 1800s considered
Presque Isle the best natural harbor between Port Huron
and Mackinac. Because many ships anchored here for
shelter and cordwood to fuel their boilers, Congress
appropriated $5,000 to build a . . . — — Map (db m236569) HM
Newell Avery Eddy Jr., who built the Presque Isle Lodge, was born in Bay City in 1880 to a lumbering family that had relocated from Maine to Michigan's Saginaw Valley in the early 1850s. In addition to the Eddy Brothers and Company lumber operation, . . . — — Map (db m120788) HM
Shipwreck Alley.
For more than 12,000 years, people have traveled on the Great Lakes. From Native American dugout canoes to wooden sailing craft and steel freighters, thousands of ships have made millions of voyages on the Inland Seas. The . . . — — Map (db m236831) HM
Like many lighthouses, the Presque Isle lights were in a remote area that was
inaccessible by road. The U.S. Lighthouse Establishment operated boats, called
lighthouse tenders, to bring materials and supplies to these remote outposts.
The . . . — — Map (db m236895) HM
1905 Keeper’s House.
This 1,800-square-foot residence provided housing for additional keepers needed
to run the lighthouse fog signal. In 1905, a crew from Alpena, Michigan, constructed
the house using cement block from a specialized machine . . . — — Map (db m236840) HM
Frederick Burnham settled in Michigan in the 1840s. In 1850 he married Julia Clark in Ann Arbor. Beginning in the 1850s, the Burnhams acquired large tracts of Presque Isle County's rich timberlands. Among their holdings was the land purchased in . . . — — Map (db m66627) HM
Dedicated to the Citizens of Presque Isle Township in Memory of
Lester R. Nichols II.
As an Urban Planner for the Department of Natural Resources,
Les developed public parks and recreation areas, throughout
northern Michigan.
His . . . — — Map (db m236966) HM
Sanctuary Sentinels.
As the nation’s population and economy rapidly expanded throughout the 19th century, so did the shipping traffic on the Great Lakes. Violent storms, thick fog, shifting sandbars, rocky reefs and heavy vessel traffic made . . . — — Map (db m236876) HM
