Michigan Upper Peninsula

Michigan’s Upper Peninsula holds history and beauty. Copper country and the land of the Yoopers. A place where summers are short and winters are long. A place that once you have been here, you know that you are in God’s Country.

From hiking to snowshoeing the Upper Peninsula has it all.

It has it’s beauty in winter, spring, summer and fall.

A place where you can relax and leave behind your worries and the hustle and bustle of the city.

Fun on the Water

Michigan's Upper Peninsula ~ fishing — Fishing along canal in Houghton, MI

Hancock Beach - Upper Peninsula — Kayaking at Hancock Beach

Upper Peninsula~ Great Sand Bay — Swimming in cold but refreshing Lake Superior ~ Great Sand Bay

We will start our journey in the most northern-est part of Upper Peninsula ~ Copper Harbor

Spend some time learning about the everyday life on an military fort at Fort Wilkins, Copper Harbor

In the 1840’s the Copper Rush came to the Upper Peninsula. The Government was concerned about the need for increased protection and asked the army to be station there to help with local law enforcement. There duties were to help keep peace between the miners and the Chippewa and Ojibwa Indians. This in the end was unnecessary and the fort was abandoned expect for a caretaker two years later. The army then returned for 3 years in the late 1860’s as they needed a place for the men to serve out their time after the war. The army permanently left the fort in 1870. The fort and the adjacent lighthouse became a state park in 1923. To find out more information about Fort Wilkins Historical State Park click on this link.

Fort Wilkins ~ Upper Peninsula — Fort Wilkins

General Store - Fort Wilkins — The General Store

The boys hauling wood told us that they didn’t wear their shoes as they didn’t want to wear them out. So they went barefoot in the summer, keeping their shoes in the winter. During the summer months the fort is open to the public. The fort is staffed with people dressed up portraying the people who lived at the fort during the time the army was there.

Copper Harbor Lighthouse