Eagle River - Michigan's Upper Peninsula

<html> <head> <title>Eagle River - Michigan's Upper Peninsula</title> <meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html;charset=ISO-8859-1"> <META Pragma: No-Cache> <META name="Pragma" No-Cache> <META Cache-control: No-Cache> <META HTTP-EQUIV="expires" CONTENT="Wed, 26 Feb 1997 08:21:57 GMT"> <META name="description" content="A quaint store & a few old houses remain from once-raucous 1845 copper port after long-ago fire. Just above, inland, are Eagle River Falls (seen from bridge by M-26), pleasant porticoed courthouse of Michigan's smallest county, Keweenaw, pop. 2000. "> <base href="http://hunts-upguide.com/"> <link href="/style.css" rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" /> </head> <body bgcolor="#FFFFFF"> <center> <table width="100%" bgcolor="#F5F5D5" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 border=0> <tr> <td width="45%" colspan=2 height=82 bgcolor="#306799" valign="top"> <table width="100%" cellpadding=22 cellspacing=0 border=0> <tr> <td align="left" class="tinyfont"> We welcome your feedback & experiences.<br> <a class="whitelinkunderlined" target="_top" href="http://hunts-upguide.com/cgi-sys/cgiwrap/dehunt/feedback.pl">E-mail us</a> <br> <img src="images/1x1.gif" width=10 height=8 alt="---"><br> If you feel an ad<br> is inappropriate,<br> please say so! </b> </td> </tr> </table> </td> <td width="63%" height=82 bgcolor="#306799" align="center" valign="top"> <table cellpadding=22 cellspacing=0 border=0> <tr> <td align="center"> <img src="/images/online_words.gif" width=386 height=13 alt="The online version of the popular regional travel book""><br> <img src="images/1x1.gif" width=500 height=2 alt="---"><br> <nobr><font color="#FFFFFF" size="+2" face="Georgia,Times New Roman,Times"><b>Hunts' Guide to Michigan's UPPER PENINSULA</b></font></nobr><br> <img src="images/1x1.gif" width=500 height=7 alt="---"><br> <img src="/images/candid_words.gif" width=391 height=13 alt="A candid guide to enjoying and understanding the U.P."> </td> </tr> </table> </td> <td valign=top width="1%" bgcolor="#F5F5D5" rowspan=3>  <img src="images/1x1.gif" width=9 height=25 alt="|"></td> <td width="18%" rowspan=3 valign="top"> <table bgcolor="#99CCFF" cellpadding=6 width=160 height=418 style="border: 3px solid #000000; " > <tr> <td valign="top"> </td> </tr> </table> <p>  <a target="_top" href="http://www.wunderground.com/US/MI/Eagle_River.html?bannertypeclick=bigtemptr"> <img src="http://banners.wunderground.com/weathersticker/bigtemptr_both/language/www/US/MI/Eagle_River.gif" border=0 alt="Click for Eagle River, Michigan Forecast" height=94 width=185></a> <br> <img src="images/1x1.gif" width=20 height=3 alt="---"><br>  <center> <script type="text/javascript"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js"> </script> </center> </td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan=5 width="100%" height=9> <img src="images/1x1.gif" width=790 height=9 alt="---"></td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top" width="17%">  <table width="100%" cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0> <tr> <td width="100%" valign="top">  <table width="100%" cellpadding=10 cellspacing=0 border=0 bgcolor="#306799"> <tr> <td valign="top" bgcolor="#306799"> <font face="Verdana,Arial,Helvetica" size="-2"> <b> <a class="sidebar" href="/" target="_top">Home</a><br> <img src="images/1x1.gif" width="85" height="5"><br> <a class="sidebar" href="keweenaw_peninsula.html" target="_top">Back to Keweenaw Peninsula</a> <img src="images/1x1.gif" width="85" height="20"><br> </b> </font> </td> </tr> </table> </td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top" width="100%"> <table width="100%" border=0 cellpadding=0 cellspacing=10 bgcolor="#FFE09B"> <tr> <td align="left"> <img src="images/1x1.gif" width=100 height=10 alt="-"><br> <font face="Verdana,Arial,Helvetica" size="-1"> <center><font color="#C82F2C"><b>EAGLE RIVER<br>POINTS<BR>OF INTEREST</b></font><br> </center> <font color="#263692" size="-2"> <p> <a name="e1207"><b>M-26 from Eagle River to Eagle Harbor.</b></a> Follow one of the most idyllic highway landscapes along the <a href="http://hunts-upguide.com/munising_lake_superior.html" target="_top">Lake Superior</a> shoreline with deep blue water, crescent bays, beach after beach ... <a href="http://hunts-upguide.com/eagle_river_m_26_from_eagle_river_to_eagle_harbor.html"><font color="#C82F2C">more</font></a> <p> <a name="e1208"><b>The Jampot.</b></a> Near Jacob's Falls, a small group of monks make delicioiusly rich muffins, brownies, rum cakes, as well as jams. Their elaborate, onion-domed Orthodox church is down the road. ... <a href="http://hunts-upguide.com/eagle_river_the_jampot.html"><font color="#C82F2C">more</font></a> <p> <p>   </font> </td> </tr> </table>  </td> </tr> <tr> <td>   </td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center">    </td> </tr> </table>  </td> <td valign=top width="1%" bgcolor="#F5F5D5">  <img src="images/1x1.gif" width="9" height=500 alt="|"> </td> <td valign=top width="63%">  <table width="100%" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 border=0> <tr> <td valign=top align=center bgcolor="#018650" colspan=2> <center> <img src="images/1x1.gif" width="30" height=8 alt="-"><br> <b><font color="#FFFFFF" face="Verdana,Arial,Helvetica" size="-1"><a class="whitelink" href="keweenaw_peninsula.html" target="_top">Region: Keweenaw Peninsula</a></font></b><br> <img src="images/1x1.gif" width="100%" height=3 alt="-"><br> <h1>EAGLE RIVER</h1> <img src="images/1x1.gif" width="30" height=8 alt="-"></center></td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top" width="63%">  <table width="100%" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=8 border=0> <tr> <td align="left">  <font face="Georgia"> <img src="images/1x1.gif" width=15 height=6 alt="-"><br> <table align="right" cellpadding=3 cellspacing=0 border=0 width=250> <tr> <td> <a href="eagle_river_map.html" target="_top"><img src="http://hunts-upguide.com/photos/158.gif" width=250 height=224 alt="Eagle River minimap" border=0></a> </td> </tr> <tr> <td> <font face="Verdana,Arial,Helvetica" size="-2"> <a href="eagle_river_map.html" target="_top"><b>Click to enlarge</b></a> </font> </td> </tr> </table> Driving through this little village and summer resort today, it isn't evident what a wild past Eagle River has had, going back to the beginning of the copper boom in 1845. Over a dozen copper mines sprang up to the east of here, including Cliffs Mine, the Keweenaw's first profitable copper mine. Although Eagle River had no good harbor, it became an <B>important port for provisioning the mines</B> and shipping copper. <B>Long docks had to be built</B> out to reach deeper water in <a href="http://hunts-upguide.com/munising_lake_superior.html" target="_top">Lake Superior</a>. Earlier, French-Canadian voyageurs camping here had given the place its name, after the <B>many eagles</B> they saw. <br><br><center> <table cellpadding=3 cellspacing=0 border=0 width=449> <tr> <td> <img src="http://hunts-upguide.com/photos/923.gif" width=449 height=263 alt="Eagle River aerial" border=0> </td> </tr> <tr> <td align="right"> <font face="Gill Sans Light,Verdana,Arial,Helvetica" size="-3"> Don Hunt </font> </td> </tr> <tr> <td> <font face="Verdana,Arial,Helvetica" size="-2"> <b>Copper itself never made a lot of money for Eagle River, but as late as the 1930s the village had a 70-year-old blasting fuse factory that made 25,000 feet a day to supply mines across the Keweenaw.</b> </font> </td> </tr> </table> </center><p> Eagle River, Copper Harbor, and Eagle Harbor, all near the Keweenaw's eastern tip, are among the oldest European settlements in the western Upper Peninsula. (L'Anse is much older.) Many Eagle River houses and churches date from well before the Civil War. They're simple frame or log buildings - without any fancy trim of the late 19th-century buildings in Calumet or Laurium, Houghton, or Marquette. <br><br><center> <table cellpadding=3 cellspacing=0 border=0 width=400> <tr> <td> <img src="http://hunts-upguide.com/photos/619.gif" width=400 height=558 alt="Eagle River Falls" border=0> </td> </tr> <tr> <td> <font face="Verdana,Arial,Helvetica" size="-2"> <font face="Verdana,Arial,Helvetica" size="-1"><b>...continued below...</b></font> <br clear="all"> <hr> <center> <script type="text/javascript"> </script> <script type="text/javascript" src="http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js"> </script> </center> <hr> <b>Just east of M-26 right above the town is a pleasant vista of pretty Eagle River Falls. </b> </font> </td> </tr> </table> </center><p> Eagle River soon became the county seat, first of Houghton County, then of Keweenaw County after Houghton County was split off. It grew to have two breweries and the well-known Eagle River Hotel that hosted American President James Garfield and influential newspaperman <B>Horace Greeley</B>, he who advised, "Go west, young man." Greeley was a <B>shareholder and director of a Keweenaw mining company</B>. By 1880 an Eagle River company that made fuses for mining explosives was making 50,000 feet of fuses a day. <br><br> <table align="right" cellpadding=3 cellspacing=0 border=0 width=250> <tr> <td> <img src="http://hunts-upguide.com/photos/617.gif" width=250 height=215 alt="Eagle River courthouse" border=0> </td> </tr> <tr> <td> <font face="Verdana,Arial,Helvetica" size="-2"> <b>Modest in size, as befits a county with a tiny population, the Keweenaw County Courthouse is nonetheless one of the state's most handsome. Enter its narrow central hallway and you'll find it lined with cases displaying copper, iron, and quartz specimens as well as Indian arrowheads.</b> </font> </td> </tr> </table> Clarence Monette's interesting booklet on Eagle River tells how on Sundays the town attracted many workers from the surrounding mines. Lethal fights were common. Animosity between the skilled Methodist miners from Cornwall and the Irish Catholic laborers was tremendous. Eventually a sturdy attic jail was built in an attempt to quell the violence. But even that wasn't enough to hold a notorious brawler, a miner of Herculean strength named Jemmie Tresize. Desperate, the town council ordered a 200-pound ball from Detroit and attached it by chain to Tresize's ankle before he became too inebriated. He was left in a yard, but was later seen at a saloon, a drink in one hand, the iron ball in the other.<br><br><center> <table cellpadding=3 cellspacing=0 border=0 width=299> <tr> <td> <img src="http://hunts-upguide.com/photos/880.gif" width=299 height=457 alt="Sand Hills Lighthouse" border=0> </td> </tr> <tr> <td align="right"> <font face="Gill Sans Light,Verdana,Arial,Helvetica" size="-3"> Courtesy <a href="http://michigan.org" target="_new">michigan.org</a> </font> </td> </tr> <tr> <td> <font face="Verdana,Arial,Helvetica" size="-2"> <b>Sand Hills Lighthouse south of Eagle River. Now a B&B, it's one of the most unusual lighthouses on the Great Lakes.</b> </font> </td> </tr> </table> </center><p> Here are some interesting places in Eagle River today:<BR><br><B>•</B> The worn monuments in the rustic <B>EAGLE RIVER CEMETERY</B> attest to the many dangers and accidents that cut short miners' lives. <I>On M-26 south of town.</I> <BR><br><B>•</B> <B>DOUGLASS HOUGHTON MONUMENT</B>. Douglass Houghton, Michigan's state geologist and an early Detroit mayor, first drew attention to the Upper Peninsula's mineral riches in combining the region's land survey with a <B>geological survey</B>. In a storm on one such expedition he drowned off the shore of Eagle River. He had <B>ignored the recommendations of his French and Indian guides</B> and decided to continue their canoe trip to keep an engagement. (His dog survived, and so did two guides, who told the story.) This dull monument commemorates his foolhardy death. The side street crosses the river to town and passes the <B>1874 Eagle River Lighthouse</B>, now a private home, built in from the shore by the river. <I>On a corner on M-26 at the south entrance to Eagle River</I>. <BR><br><B>•</B> <B>KEWEENAW COUNTY COURTHOUSE & JAIL.</B> Extensively remodeled in 1925, the courthouse resembles a frame Southern mansion, with massive columns and portico and a fanlight over the door. Inside, you can get a <B>useful map of county highways and byways</B> and, for people with a serious interest in land use planning, a small plat book of the two counties. <br>Government in this tiny county is an exercise in small-scale thrift and ingenuity. The jail next door, behind the sheriff's pleasant frame house, was temporarily closed for remodeling to bring it up to code so that the tiny county would no longer be forced to pay to transport prisoners considerable distances and jail them at approved facilities. Here prisoners (mostly arrested on alcohol-related charges) still eat good food prepared by the sheriff's wife for family and staff. <I>Where M-26 bends west after the falls and bridge, continue up the hill for one block. (906) 337-2229. Open weekdays</I>. <BR><br><B>•</B> <B>EAGLE RIVER FALLS.</B> As you pass over the M-26 bridge across the Eagle River gorge, pull over to the right, walk over onto the old iron bridge, and look upstream for a view of the waterfall rushing down the steep hillside and the ruined dam of the <a href="http://hunts-upguide.com/munising_lake_superior.html" target="_top">Lake Superior</a> Fuse Company. Downstream, see the dramatic wood arches supporting the new bridge. <BR><br><B>•</B> The <B>EAGLE RIVER STORE</B> was built in 1867 as the growing mining village's general store. After a string of summer businesses, it is not at the moment open for business. <I>On Main St. at M-26, just east of the Eagle River.</I> <BR><br><center> <table cellpadding=3 cellspacing=0 border=0 width=450> <tr> <td> <img src="http://hunts-upguide.com/photos/618.gif" width=450 height=337 alt="Garden City Creek mouth" border=0> </td> </tr> <tr> <td> <font face="Verdana,Arial,Helvetica" size="-2"> <b>After the droughty 2005 summer, the Graden City Creek on Eagle River's northside is reduced almost to a trickle where it flows through the rocky shoreline into Superior.</b> </font> </td> </tr> </table> </center><p> <B>•</B> <B>TOWN BEACH.</B> Just south of the Eagle River Inn and north of the Eagle River mouth is this simple public beach on <a href="http://hunts-upguide.com/munising_lake_superior.html" target="_top">Lake Superior</a>.<I> At the foot of Main St. Turn at the Eagle River Store and continue down to lake. <p align="right"><a href="keweenaw_peninsula.html" target="_top">Back to Keweenaw Peninsula</a></p> </font> </td> </tr> </table> </td> <td width="37%" valign="top"> <table width="100%" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=8 border=0> <tr> <td height="4" width="37%">  <img src="images/1x1.gif" width=15 height=1 alt="-"></td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top" align="center" bgcolor="#C7302D" width="37%">  <font face="Verdana,Arial,Helvetica" color="#FFFFFF"> <b> <img src="images/1x1.gif" width=15 height=8 alt="-"><br> <font size="-1"> EAGLE RIVER<br> RESTAURANTS,<br> LODGINGS<br> & CAMPGROUNDS </font> <br><img src="images/1x1.gif" width=15 height=6 alt="-"><br> <font size="-2">These are our choices, not ads.</font><br> <img src="images/1x1.gif" width=15 height=8 alt="-"><br> </b> </font> </td> </tr> <tr> <td valign=top bgcolor="#FFE09B" width="37%">  <img src="images/1x1.gif" width=15 height=9 alt="-"><br> <font face="Verdana,Arial,Helvetica"> <center><font size="-1" color="#C82F2C"><b>EAGLE RIVER<br>RESTAURANTS</b></font></center> <br> <font size="-2"> <a name="e1209"><b>FITZGERALD'S RESTAURANT & LOUNGE</b></a><br> (906) 337-9959 <br><img src="images/1x1.gif" width=15 height=5 alt="-"><br> is a destination because it's a beautiful place to watch the sun set over <a href="http://hunts-upguide.com/munising_lake_superior.html" target="_top">Lake Superior</a> and enjoy the area's dinner specials ($13-$25.50) include whitefish tostadas, Jamaican-style marinated chicken brest, smoked trout pate, and tenderloin steak. Dinners include a starch, bread basket, and soup or salad. "Not as good as they think they are," complain some diners, but others are most grateful for being able to dine with "a great lake view and decent food. Seems overpriced only by local standards. They have a wonderful deck outside, where they only serve drinks. Truly awesome if the lake breeze isn't too strong. Closes mid-Oct. <br><img src="images/1x1.gif" width=15 height=5 alt="-"><br> <i>From M-26 just east of the Eagle River, turn down toward the lake. In two blocks turn right at the end. Hours: June thru color season: dinners daily 5-9:30. Closed from mid-Oct to spring.</i> <p> </font> </font> </td> </tr> <tr> <td bgcolor="#CDCCAD" valign="top"> <font face="Verdana,Arial,Helvetica"> <img src="images/1x1.gif" width=15 height=9 alt="-"><br> <center><font size="-1" color="#C82F2C"><b>EAGLE RIVER<br>LODGINGS</b></font></center> <br> <font size="-2"> <a name="e1210"><b>EAGLE RIVER INN</b></a><br> (800) 352-9228; (906) 337-9959; fax (906) 337-9959 <br><img src="images/1x1.gif" width=15 height=5 alt="-"><br> Fitzgerald's restaurant and bar occupies most of the downstairs of this contemporary building on the Eagle River beach. Each of the 12 pleasant, simple guest rooms has a lake view, phone, satellite TV, and 2 double beds or a double and queen. Summer rates are $85 to $115 with free self-serve breakfast. Closes middle of October. 8-person whirlpool overlooks lake. Sauna. Sun deck. Ask about the one-bedroom condo. Not far from Eagle Harbor and Calumet ski trails. <br><img src="images/1x1.gif" width=15 height=5 alt="-"><br> <i> From M-26 just east of the Eagle River, turn down toward the lake. In two blocks turn right to inn. Open year-round.</i> <p> <a name="e1211"><b>SAND HILLS LIGHTHOUSE INN</b></a><br> (906) 337-1744 <br><img src="images/1x1.gif" width=15 height=5 alt="-"><br> After 30 years of working to restore one of the Great Lakes' largest and newest (1919) lighthouses, retired Dearborn portrait photographer Bill Srabotta has fulfilled his vision: to turn it into a luxurious B&B with outstanding food. The plain, almost modernistic exterior is quite a contrast to the grand Victorian interior decor, aimed at high drama. It has lots of reds and purples, and a few photographs of seductive beauties who were Srabotta's portrait models. Among assistant innkeeper Mary Mathews's duties are baking for breakfast and evening treats and sometimes playing soft background music on the grand piano in the cushy living room overlooking <a href="http://hunts-upguide.com/munising_lake_superior.html" target="_top">Lake Superior</a>. The 35-acre property includes 3,000 feet of stony but accessible shoreline. Guests can climb to the lighthouse tower and linger on the sizable roof outside it. Because it faces north, both sunrises and sunsets can be seen. In the works: small reading areas on the landings. Five of the 8 rooms (mostly $125/night) face the lake; the sixth has a side view. Two whirlpool rooms with balconies are $150. Two-night minimum from May through October. Air-conditioned and smoke-free. No TV - anywhere. One phone is for guests' use. An elegant breakfast is served at 9:30. Reserve well in advance, especially for specific dates. This place has been so popular through word-of-mouth and lighthouse fans that it's been full midweek in April. 4 miles west of Eagle River on the shore road. Open year-round. <br><img src="images/1x1.gif" width=15 height=5 alt="-"><br> <i>4 miles west of Eagle River on the shore road. Open year-round.<br><br><U>The information above</U> is being updated. The revised entries will be available by the middle of July, 2005, if not earlier. <U>So be sure to check to get current prices and hours.</U></i> <p> </font> </font> </td> </tr> <tr> <td bgcolor="#B6DBA4" valign="top"> <font face="Verdana,Arial,Helvetica"> <img src="images/1x1.gif" width=15 height=9 alt="-"><br> <center><font size="-1" color="#C82F2C"><b>EAGLE RIVER<br>CAMPGROUNDS</b></font></center> <br> <font size="-2"> <a name="e1212"><b>SUNSET BAY RV RESORT & CAMPGROUND</b></a><br> (906) 337-2494; Oct. thru May: (941) 923-2378 <br><img src="images/1x1.gif" width=15 height=5 alt="-"><br> Right on <a href="http://hunts-upguide.com/munising_lake_superior.html" target="_top">Lake Superior</a>, four miles south of Eagle River but away from summer's busy roads, this small (35 sites), low-key campground is a real find. The 70 acres include an <a href="http://hunts-upguide.com/toivola_agate_beach.html" target="_top">agate beach</a> and picturesque point; old logging trails lead back into the woods for miles. Campsites are under the pines, within view of the lake (most are on the other side of the drive, however) without shrubby natural buffers between sites. RV sites ($25/night in 2008, $30 if over 30') have electricity and water. Tent sites ($20/night) are larger. There are showers, a laundry, a dump station, and a fire pit, but not a lot in the way of entertainment other than nature (no playground, game room, etc.). Three cottages ($600/week, 3-day minimum) book very early. Visit the website for photos galore. Many family groups get together here each year; reservations are advised for July and August. <br><img src="images/1x1.gif" width=15 height=5 alt="-"><br> <i>From Ahmeek and U.S. 41, turn north onto 5 Mile Point Road (marked by a brown sign). Sunset Bay is in about 7 miles. Or, from Eagle River, go south along the lakeshore 4 miles. It's a mile beyond the Sand Hills Lighthouse. Open from June through Sept. Rates cover 4 persons/site; $2/extra person up to 6.</i> <p> </font> </font> </td> </tr> </table> </td> </tr> </table>  </td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan=5 align="center">  <br> <center> <font size="+1" color="#454545" face="Verdana,Arial,Helvetica">Copyright © 1997-2007 Midwestern Guides</font> </center> </td> </tr> </table> </center> </body> </html>