MICHIGAN TRAVEL TIPS
FROM
THE HOLOGLOBE PRESS
(The 12th Edition)by
Victor Edward Swanson,
Publisherwww.hologlobepress.com
RULES OF USE
The reports and stories contained on this Web page have been put together with information taken from "The Victor Swanson Fabulous Files of Places to See in Michigan and Wisconsin" and with information obtained from operators and staffers of tourist attractions and from press releases, Web sites, and other sources. The reports and stories are provided as a public service by Victor Swanson and The Hologlobe Press. Almost all persons and entities, such as staffers of radio stations, may freely use the materials; neither AAA Michigan nor any employee of AAA Michigan may use, distribute, download, transmit, copy, or duplicate any of the material presented on this page in any way or through any means.
- - - Travel Thoughts for Everyone - - -
So I got the mail out of the mail box one day last month. From time to time, I get unexpected mail, and this time, I did get unexpected mail. The unexpected mail was a postal card. The postal card had a color photograph on the front. The photograph immediately made me think someone sent me information about a place in Michigan that I did not know about, and if I did not know about the place, that was bad, since two objects in the photograph were rockets, and I am interested in letting people know about such things. For a moment, while I worried some place in Michigan had two rockets on display that I did not know about, I examined the photograph more closely. The two rockets were related to the Gemini space missions of the U.S. I remembered how the tenth edition of Michigan Travel Tips had information about real space-related items, such as those that had been housed at the old Michigan Space and Science Center. Both rockets in the photograph reminded me of the Saturn V plastic model that I had put together at one time in the 1960s. (The Saturn V was used to launch Apollo space capsules and lunar landers in to space.) I could not fully see the rockets in the photograph, since they were in the background and since other things were in the way. Much of what seemed to be the main building of the place was hidden by trees. I turned the postal card over. The postal card was from the U.S. Space & Rocket Center. Really, the postal card was from one of my brothers, Clay, and the card was associated with the U.S. Space & Rocket Center. The description of the scene on the front of the card was: "The 363 foot Saturn V replica towers over Space Shot and the Saturn 1B at the Space Center." The postmark of the postal card was Huntsville, Alabama. So, through unexpected mail, I learned Huntsville, Alabama, has a place called the U.S. Space & Rocket Center.
Here are some general statistics about the U.S. Space & Rocket Center. The address is One Tranquility Base, Huntsville, Alabama 35805. Really, the place is located at exit 15 off of I-565 (sort of near Sparkman Drive). It is open most days of the year.
Now I have news, which I was able to obtain through the mail. Last month, I sent a "Michigan Travel Tips Questionnaire" to an address listed on the Internet for Teysen's Woodland Indian Museum, Mackinaw City. A few days after sending the questionnaire, I received a letter from Kenneth Teysen. That means I received a quick response. Here is the essence of the response from Kenneth Teysen: "Thank you for writing us. Our museum was dismantled and the artifacts stored several years ago. It no loner exits. Currently, the Mackinaw Area Historical Society in partnership with the Village government is creating a Historic Mackinaw City Village, circa 1880-1939. It will be open in 2007." What you should see in that quoted material is Teysen's Woodland Indian Museum is closed and no longer exists, and you should see that something new is being made. If you did not know till now Teysen's Woodland Indian Museum no longer exists, I have helped you, and now you need not go looking for the museum this summer and wonder what happened to the museum.
Remember: People who are members or staffers of museums or other tourist attractions in Michigan are urged to send information about any changes, such as improvements or additions, to their places to The Hologlobe Press so that the information can be used within editions of Michigan Travel Tips.
Another piece of mail that I received recently came from the Schoolcraft County Historical Society, specifically Miss M. Vonciel Le Duc, the president. For a number of years, I have known about the Schoolcraft Country Historical Society (of Manistique, Schoolcraft County, in the Upper Peninsula) and its tourist attraction, Pioneer Park. Pioneer Park is located at Manistique, which is along US-2 in Schoolcraft County. The piece of mail gave me new information about Pioneer Park. By the way, the last contact that I had with the Schoolcraft County Historical Society was a couple years ago when I talked on the telephone with Carol Dixson, the wife of Darryl Dixson (a former Michigan State Police sergeant), and, during the telephone call with Carol Dixson, I learned that the Water Tower that the Schoolcraft County Historical Society had was being restored. The letter that I received in the mail noted that the Water Tower, which was built in 1922, has been restored, and it will be used as a place for special exhibits and a gift shop from now on. The Water Tower was closed for about thirty years. Near the Water Tower are several buildings. There is what is called a "Mother-in-law House," which was built in the 1890s, and there is a log cabin, which was built in the 1880s, and the other main building is a Fire Engine Building. At the Fire Engine Building, a visitor will find a 1951 fire engine, fire equipment, and uniforms. I shall not pass along information about all that can be seen in the exhibit areas of this tourist attraction, but I shall pass along information about some general exhibits. A visitor will find a collection of photographs related to the Chicago Lumber Company and advertising memorabilia from the 1870s to 1910. The buildings of Pioneer Park are not open to regular visitors during the winter and the early spring. The 2005 tourist season is coming up, though, and this tourist attraction will be open from June 15 to August 31, and it will be open from Tuesday through Saturday, and the hours will be from noon to 4:00 p.m. The park is easy to find. When you get to Manistique, look for what appears to be a brick silo with a dome. That will be the restored Water Tower.
A little afer I received the piece of mail from the Schoolcraft County Historical Society, I telephoned Carol Dixson. She reported more news to me. She said that the famous Siphon Bridge, which is at Manistique, has been completely restored. It is something worthwhile that people can see again at Manistique. I also learned from Carol that she and her husband were well, and she mentioned that her husband, Darryl, will have a "singing booth" set up at the Marquette County Fair this year, particularly on August 13.
For this edition of Michigan Travel Tips, I had plans to talk about the Andrew J. Blackbird Museum, Harbor Springs (the Lower Peninsula). I found an address through the Internet for the Andrew J. Blackbird Museum, Harbor Springs, and then I sent a letter. A few days later, the letter was returned, and on the envelope was stamped "RETURN TO WRITER. NOT DELIVERABLE AS ADDRESSED. NO FORWARDING ORDER ON FILE." So it is "back to the drawing board" for me--I have to send another letter. I do have another address to use. At least, I now know "Box 192, Harbor Springs, MI 49740" is a useless address for the Andrew J. Blackbird Museum.
And now I have additional information about the Belle Isle Aquarium, which was one of the topics of the prevision edition of Michigan Travel Tips. The Belle Isle Aquarium has yet to be officially closed forever. Some people--working together as the "Friends of the Belle Isle Aquarium"--are trying to keep it open by raising money to keep it open. To learn more about the Belle Isle Aquarium, hunt down the Web sites for the Belle Isle Aquarium and the Friends of the Belle Isle Aquarium. (On Tuesday, March 8, 2005, I learned that at least $15,863.49 had been raised so far to keep the aquarium open.)
Your travel tips are:
Pioneer Park, of the Schoolcraft County Historical Society, Manistique, Schoolcraft County, the Upper Peninsula.
Your special news reports cover:
The Belle Isle Aquarium, Belle Isle, Detroit, Wayne County, the Lower Peninsula.
Teysen's Woodland Indian Museum, Mackinaw City, the Lower Peninsula.
Your unexpected travel tip is:
The U.S. Space & Rocket Center, Huntsville, Madison County, Alabama.
- - - Public Service Copy for Broadcasters (four pieces) - - -
Number One:
Michigan has too many tourist attractions for a person to see
each year or even over several years. For example, you may not
have seen what is at Pioneer Park of Manistique for several years
or ever. Pioneer Park has four historic structures for you to see.
One is a recently restored 1922 Water Tower, which can now be
used as a place to set up special exhibits. The other main
structures are a fire-engine building, an 1880s log cabin, and an
1890s mother-in-law house, and some of the exhibits are a 1951
fire engine and advertising memorabilia from the 1870s to 1910.
The historic structures of Pioneer Park at Manistique will be open
for regular visits from June 15 through August 31, and the open
times will be from noon to four from Tuesday through Saturday.
Keep in mind: This year, a trip to the Upper Peninsula can include
a visit to the Water Tower and the other special features of
Pioneer Park at Manistique.
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Number Two:
With help from The Hologlobe Press, I'm going to conduct a test
of your memory now. Yes, this is a test! Remember this: Acme is
a town in the Traverse City area, and at Acme is a place called
"The Music House." And that's that for the moment. Here's some
information. Musical performer Nanette Fabray took part in a test
of RCA's compatible color television system on Monday, September
10, 1951. On Tuesday, February 22, 2005, Nanette Fabray was
seen in compatible color on the show entitled "The One Day at a
Time Reunion." That means Nanette Fabray yet has the record for
being seen in compatible color on television over the longest
stretch of time--from roughly September 1951 to February 2005.
That's a fact! Now it's time for a test. If you remember "The
Music House" is at Acme, you pass this "Michigan Travel Tips"
memory test. That's it! Drive carefully, and enjoy your safe
traveling in Michigan.
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Number Three:
Michigan has a number of museums or tourist attractions that
have train-related materials for people to see, and one such place
is the Tri-Cities Historical Museum, which is at Grand Haven. If
you drive to one of the museums or tourist attractions that have
train-related materials this year, it is possible you could come
across railroad tracks. If you come to a railroad track that has a
stop sign, you are required by Michigan law to stop--whether or
not a train is coming down the track. If a train is coming down a
track, you should not stop any closer than 15 feet from the track.
Any time the lights of a railroad crossing signal are flashing red
and the crossing gates are down, you may not cross the track. If
you come to a railroad track that has no gate or signal, you should
not cross the track till you are sure the way is clear and safe. And
those are some of the rules about railroad crossings in Michigan
to help you enjoy your safe traveling.
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Number Four:
[Note: Announcers do not say the hyphens in this story, and,
remember "Ocqueoc" is pronounced "AH-key-ock."]
It is easier to remember a place when you can pronounce the
name of the place. The Old Mill Museum is easy to remember,
because all the words are easy to say. By the way, the Old Mill
Museum is at Dundee--a place in Monroe County. Now try this!
There is a famous falls in the Rogers City area. The name is
spelled "O - c - q - u - e - o - c." Do you have it? That's:
"O - c - q - u - e - o - c." It is Ocqueoc. Try it yourself. Say:
"Ocqueoc." Add the word "falls" to "Ocqueoc." Say: "Ocqueoc
Falls." You've got it! Ocqueoc Falls is easy to find. Ocqueoc
Falls is along the Ocqueoc River, and it is a little north of Ocqueoc
Falls Highway, which is a short stretch of road that is west of
Rogers City. Near the falls is the Ocqueoc Falls Pathway, which
has hiking trails. Nearby is also the Ocqueoc Falls Campground.
Now, you should have a hard time forgetting about Ocqueoc Falls
and all the other "Ocqueoc" things in the Rogers City area.
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- - - Contact Information - - -
The Hologlobe Press
Postal Box 5455
Dearborn, Michigan 48128-0455
The United States of Americacopyright c. 2005
File date: 10 March 2005
To see the next edition of Michigan Travel Tips,
click on: Travel #13
To see the previous edition of Michigan Travel Tips,
click on: Travel #11
To see the catalog page for Michigan Travel Tips,
click on: Travel
To go to the main page of The Hologlobe Press,
click on: www.hologlobepress.com
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