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Hunts' Guide to Michigan's UPPER PENINSULA
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JUST OUT!
A new edition of Hunts' Mapguide to Michigan's Upper Peninsula.
Over 300 entries, all conveniently located on maps and chosen because we think they are the coolest things to do in the U.P. (No ad tie-ins!) Great choices for restaurants, hikes, shops, adventures, museums, boat trips, waterfalls, vistas, road trips, and much more!
To learn more click UP MAP GUIDE
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BARAGA
POINTS
OF
INTEREST
Baraga State Park. A great place for a pleasant break from one's trip along U.S. 41, at the beach with picnic area and bathhouse on Keweenaw Bay—or on an interesting 3/4 mile trail along old beach ridges and past a beaver pond, away from highway noi ...
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Ojibwa Recreation Area
Many Keweenaw residents are familiar with the side of the recreation area that's under the pines, where the popular POWWOW or Maawanji-iding (906-353-6623) is held on the last full weekend in July. It attracts Native Americans from near and far. For outsiders, it's a wonderful window on a living culture.
The Powwow has Grand Entry processions, drumming and open dancing, plus crafts, recordings, books, and other merchandise and food booths. At some powwows elsewhere, dance competitions overwhelm the community aspect of the get-together, but not here. There's only one small dance competition, and several dance segments where all ages, male and female, dance together. Grand Entires and dances are held at 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and at 1 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
At Powwows it is interesting to see the diversity among self-described Native Americans, and to see the bumper stickers in the parking lot. For instance, "Alcohol is not traditional," "I was Indian before Indian was cool," and "The BIA [Bureau of Indian Affairs] hates competition."
In the Powwow part of the Ojibwa Recreation Area is a little bay where motocross events are held. On the other side of the recreation area, the right-hand drive leads to the newish It's an open area right on the bay, with a very good view and a wonderful sense of being surrounded by water.
The drive to the campground entrance continues farther and ends at the SAND POINT LIGHTHOUSE. Built in 1878, it has been acquired by the tribe. It's a trim brick lighthouse with a square tower. Now, after many years, it can be seen from land without trespassing. It is not now open to the public.
Baraga County Historical Society Museum. Picnic area with a grand bay view. Seasonal museum with interesting artifacts, photos, and books on area Ojibwa, Father Baraga, English/Ojibwa town founders stranded by an early winter storm. logging, railroads, Arvon slate, Finnish homesteads, James Oliver Curwood, Pettibone Cary-Lift. ...
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Baraga County Historical Society Museum
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This seasonal museum energetically collects artifacts and papers pertaining to Baraga County's wide-ranging history. Railroading and logging are major themes of the permanent collection, as are displays on Father Baraga and his admirers, town founders Captain James Bendry, an English Catholic and ship owner, and his resourceful Ojibwa wife, Charlotte. The most striking artifact is a beautiful handmade globe almost five feet high, constructed and painted by Francis Jacker, a German immigrant, at his home at Portage Entry.
Each year there's a special theme exhibit. For 2008 it's about early saloons in Baraga County.
A recent exhibit about funeral customs was so popular, evoking so many reminiscences, that it's now permanent. Descendants of the Saginaw lumberman Thomas Nestor, a major Baraga County lumberman, have donated Nestor log marks and even made a photo collage of lumber era photos. The children's room has dolls and baby clothes, furniture and gear for baby dolls and human babies.
Next to the museum is a picnic area with a grand view of Keweenaw Bay. Here are parts of a lumber-era big wheel once used with horses to move logs over frozen ground. It was pulled out of a river where logging companies kept their equipment submerged when not in use. That way the wood spokes and axles would remain swollen and tight.
The museum shop has a good selection of books on Baraga County's wide-ranging history. The historic photo display is interesting. A good, short county history is online at baragacountyhistoricalmuseum.com, useful in augmenting the museum's artifact-centered display. The museum site also tells about engaging local research services through the museum. And its links are most worthwhile.
Another wonderful online source of historic Baraga County photographs is one section of Clyde Elmblad's interesting site, highway41north.com
(—May, 2008)
In a newish log building on U.S. 41 in Baraga, just north of the Best Western Lakeside Inn. (906) 353-8444. Open from June through September. Tues-Sat 11-3. Tours available at other times with at least two weeks' notice. Call Jim at (906) 353-6810. $2/adult, $1 for ages 12 to 18. Large family discount. Wheelchair-accessible.
Return to Baraga
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