80 years of ice on the Straits of Mackinaw

Winter Service, photo courtesy Mackinac Bridge Authority

The Michigan State Ferry Album says:

Winter service began in 1931 when the Highway Department arranged with the Mackinaw Transportation Company to carry cars across the Straits on a railroad icebreaker during the cold months. This arrangement turned out to be poor business for the State, so in 1936 the Highway Department leased the railroad icebreaker “Sainte Marie” for winter operations on a regular schedule.Winter service began in 1931 when the Highway Department arranged with the Mackinaw Transportation Company to carry cars across the Straits on a railroad icebreaker during the cold months. This arrangement turned out to be poor business for the State, so in 1936 the Highway Department leased the railroad icebreaker “Sainte Marie” for winter operations on a regular schedule.

In case you’re wondering, the ice on the Straits of Mackinaw hasn’t changed a whole lot in 80 years, as this photo from February of 2008 titled Triangles by Dominique shows. See it bigger in her Snow/Ice slideshow or check out the whole set.

US-27 In Michigan

US-27 In Michigan, photo by U.S. Highway 12

Ronnie writes:

For 76 years, from 1926-2002, US-27 was a primary highway in the state of Michigan. During the Postwar highway expansion era on the even of the Interstate Highway system, US-27 was extended to St. Ignace, Michigan, across the Mackinac Bridge. However, as I-75 was completed in sections north of Tri-Cities area, US-27 was eventually truncated to just north of Higgins Lake in 1961.

As Interstate 69 was completed in the 1970s around the Charlotte area, US-27 was moved onto the new Interstate freeway. In 1991, MDOT petitioned AASHTO, to have US-27 removed from the state of Michigan’s highway network. This request was denied because MDOT made no mention of their plans for US-27 north of Lansing. However, eight years later on in 1999, they submitted another application, and AAHSTO approved the request to truncate US-27 from south of Grayling to Fort Wayne, Indiana. The end finally came in 2002, when all of the old US-27 marker signs were removed.

When I think of US-27 and the many other U.S. Highways in Michigan, this two-lane photo from the Michigan State Highway Dept. comes to mind. This image was shot in Clare County, near the community of Harrison during Labor Day in 1955. I can just image driving along this hilly and winding highway at 105 km/h (65 mph), and having a deer run standing in the roadway as I crested the hill.

Image from the Michigan State Highway Dept. (MDOT) and is in the public domain.

Looking for more? Check out the US-27 group slideshow on Flickr and US Route 27 on Wikipedia.

Before the Mackinac Bridge: City of Munising

Mackinac MI UP Great Lakes Passenger and Auto Ferry City of Munising connecting Mackinaw City and St Ignace before the Mackinaw Bridge was built, photo by UpNorth Memories – Donald (Don) Harrison.

Before the Mackinac Bridge was built (check Absolute Michigan for lots more on that), going to or from the UP was by ferry. The City of Munising was the last of the breed:

Built by the American Ship Building Company of Cleveland in 1903 for the Pere Marquette Railway Company, the “Pere Marquette 20″ became the “City of Munising” in 1937. The Michigan Department of Highways used the ship to ferry autos across the Straits of Mackinac until 1959. The ship was used for potato storage by a Washington Island, Wisconsin firm until 1973.

Michigan State Ferry Album has some photos of the City of Munising and other ships that plied the Straits.

Check this out bigger and see some shots of the old ferry docks in Don’s slideshow of old Mackinac photos

Waterlife, Michigan’s Life

Sunset over Chicago, photo by kevindooley.

A search for “Great Lakes” from the Absolute Michigan pool on Flickr yields nearly 2,000 photos. A search for “Michigan Great Lakes” on all of Flickr, over 20,000.

When I think about Michigan’s body & soul, at the very core are the Great Lakes that surround us and the rivers and lakes that feed our mighty sweetwater seas. There is no place in the world that is as blessed by water as we are, something that struck me when I watched Kevin McMahon’s brilliant movie Waterlife. This wonderfully shot and edited film explores the splendor and the imperiled state of lakes Superior, Michigan, Huron, Erie and Ontario. It shows threats like toxins, sewage, invasive species and falling water levels and the effect that each and all have on the lakes, all accompanied by solid and very accessible science.

One threat that the scientists who are working to save our Great Lakes can’t do much about is that of the profound apathy towards these threats that we all show. In this interview with Kevin McMahon from Circle of Blue, McMahon talks about the challenge of telling the story of the slow death of the Great Lakes through a mass media that is only interested in the latest crisis.

There has always been a feeling of permanence I’ve associated with Lake Michigan and its siblings. The width of North Beach, the color of the water under the Mackinac Bridge, the sunrise over Lake Huron or the waves hitting the Pictured Rocks can all change from day to day or season to season, but you always know that you can return another time for a fresh experience.

Waterlife made me question that.

I really enourage you to explore Waterlife and to watch it.

And, if it’s not too much trouble, to do what you can to preserve one of the world’s greatest treasures.

This photo is part of Kevin’s Book set (slideshow). Check it out bigger.

52nd Annual Mackinac Bridge Walk ~ September 7, 2009

2008 Mackinac Bridge Walk, photo courtesy Michigan Department of Transportation & Mackinac Bridge Authority

The annual Mackinac Bridge Walk is a Michigan tradition that has been held every year since the Bridge opened in 1957. This year is the 52nd annual and it takes place (as always) on Labor Day  (September 7) from 7-11 AM. The walk is free and you can get all the details from the official Mackinac Bridge web site.

There’s more info available on Wikipedia and you can learn all about the Mackinac Bridge over at Absolute Michigan.

Boating the Straits of Mackinac with the Stempkis

Mackinac Bridge, photo by Ross Nave.

#737 on the list of Fun Things You Could Do in Michigan This Weekend is Boating with the Stempkis!

Be sure to check this photo out bigger and here’s Ross’s Michigan slideshow.

Hope your weekend is great!!

2009 Ice Breaking Cruise on the Straits of Mackinac

Mackinaw Bridge, photo by SMCphotography.

Shirley was lucky enough to be aboard the USCGC Biscayne Bay out of St. Ignace as she opened a channel under the Mackinac Bridge early last week. She writes:

Ever have one of those days that you wouldn’t trade for anything? This is it. Unbelievable cold weather , well below zero. Traveled in an Army bus with little to no heat, broke down, froze for 2 hrs, 2nd bus rescued us, little to no heat. Finally made it to the cruise, froze everything, ate medium warm food, met lots of great people and shot over 700 photos. So much fun. The views of the ice and Mackinaw Bridge in the dead of winter are absolutely beautiful. Thanks to ESGR Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve for giving me this absolutely wonderful day.

You can view photos from the ice breaking cruise and definitely check out the slideshow!

Read more about the Coast Guard Cutter Biscane Bay from Hunts UP Guide.

Castle Rock: Another (Michigan) Roadside Attraction

MI, St Ignace-U.S. 2 (Old) Castle Rock Sign / Castle Rock Curios, photos by Alan C of Marion,IN

This photo is just one of very many in Alan ’s Roadside Finds set (slideshow) and you’ll also want to wander through his Michigan pics!

Michigan’s Roadside Tourist Attractions will be showcased in a special exhibit opening at the Michigan Historical Museum in Lansing on January 10, 2009.

Michigan’s Roadside Attractions, set to run through Sept. 14, 2009, features more than 50 roadside attractions that grew up as Michigan expanded its highway system from the 1930s through the 1970s. Many of these attractions still provide fun and excitement for millions of tourists each year.

“Deer parks and dinosaur gardens are just a couple travel experiences that take center stage again in this exhibit. Places like Castle Rock in St. Ignace, the Soo Locks Boat Tours and the multiple locations where Paul Bunyan has been spotted are also featured through photos, artifacts and souvenirs,” said Phillip C. Kwiatkowski, director of the Michigan Historical Museum System. ” Michigan’s Roadside Attractions is about treasured mementoes, from miniature Paul Bunyan statues and plastic purses to dinosaurs, seashells and even ceramic doll dish sets.”

Learn more about the exhibit from the Michigan Historical Museum.

I know you’re all wondering about Castle Rock – here’s what Roadside America has to say:

Castle Rock is an abrupt, geologic protuberance just north of the Mackinac Bridge on Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. The nearly 200-ft. column of rock was long ago augmented with a man-made ramp and walkway to provide tourists a climb for an unparalleled view of Lake Huron and distant Mackinac Island.

At the base of the Castle Rock lookout is an amusing Paul Bunyan statue accompanied by his mythical sidekick, Babe the Blue Ox. This Bunyan is rare. Instead of standing, ready to deforest Michigan, Paul sits, staring googly-eyed towards the lake. With a newspaper in his hands, we’d complete the visual that Paul is halfway through one of his mighty bowel movements.

OK, probably should have cut that one sentence earlier. Read more about Castle Rock from Hunt’s UP Guide (I learned that it only costs 50¢ to climb – definitely stopping next time!)

Old Mackinac Point Lighthouse – Mackinaw City

Mackinac Point Lighthouse at sunset, photo by the pentax hammer.

Gary asks that you please view this the way it should be viewed: Large On Black. See this photo (and many more) larger in his Junk on Explore slideshow.

On his Seeing the Light entry for Old Mackinac Point Lighthouse, Terry Pepper writes that as the connecting passage between Lake Michigan and Lake Huron, the Straits of Mackinac have always been critical to maritime commerce. As the Straits are frequently shrouded with fog, Mackinac Point was an ideal location for a fog signal building and lighthouse and an effort to build a facility began in 1888 and was completed with the installation of a red Fourth Order Fresnel lens in 1892:

As the use of automobiles became increasingly widespread in the early 1900’s, Midwesterners began to take increasing advantage of the newfound freedom that their automobiles provided, driving ever increasing distances to vacation. The unspoiled beauty of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula beckoned, and regular car ferry service began to ply the waters between Mackinaw and St. Ignace. With large amounts of vessel traffic now moving through and across the Straits, the Old Mackinac station became increasingly important as the light enabled the car ferries to operate throughout the night.

When the Mackinac Bridge opened in 1957, the car ferries were out of business, and with the brightly illuminated bridge serving as a navigation aid par excellence, the old light station was immediately rendered obsolete and was decommissioned.

The facility is now part of Mackinac Island State Historic Parks, and you can visit their Old Mackinac Point Lighthouse pages for history of the light and some great old photographs and educational resources for kids.

Michigan Lake Monsters, Sea Serpents & Serendipity

at Mackinac :: a composite from -3 and -43 by Emery Co Photo

Last night I was looking for Creative Commons photos* with the appropriate license of the Mackinac Bridge so I could photoshop up a little something for Weird Wednesday: Michigan Sea Monsters (be sure to go back and read this!). I love it when the last Wednesday of the month rolls around as I get a chance to indulge my love of fooling with Photoshop. I was especially fired up as this month’s feature from Weird Michigan by Linda S. Godfrey because it was the feature that I had hoped to run last year as the debut of Weird Wednesdays on Absolute Michigan.

In my search, I saw this photo of the Bridge and thought “Now that looks cool & misty.” Then I came upon this photo of a rock and said “Sea serpent ahoy!” The coolest part was that both photos were taken by Emery Co Photo (emerycophoto.com). I contacted her and she graciously allowed me to use them.

Hope you all get some time on the water this weekend and that everyone remembers that on the list of things we should be worrying about, sea serpents in Michigan come in somewhere around #23,432,555. ;)

*That would be the Attribution-ShareAlike Creative Commons license. There are also a number of people in the Absolute Michigan pool who have told me that they are OK with me manipulating their photos for features on Absolute Michigan.