MICHIGAN TRAVEL TIPS
FROM
THE HOLOGLOBE PRESS
(The 42nd 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 - - -
In the first paragraph that exists on this Web page, I hint that I have--"The Victor Swanson Fabulous Files of Places to See in Michigan and Wisconsin." Recently, I finally did another count of how many entities are listed under "museums" in the index of place in Michigan (the Lower Peninsula and the Upper Peninsula). I discovered under "museums," there are about four-hundred entities (or 400 entities). I do not have an exact count and I do not pass along to you an exact count because some of the entries are double entries and some entities that are listed are museums that no longer exist or are under construction, and there are other reasons (for example, the index for the Lower Peninsula has "The Henry Ford" and "The Henry Ford Museum and Greenfield Village," the former of which is the fairly new overall title for the latter). My decision to go through the listings of places that I have indexed under museums was so that I could show some facts about Michigan that I could put together as part of a big thought.
The general thought that is being presented in this edition of Michigan Travel Tips is the museums of Michigan give evidence of why the United States of America has become what it has in only a little more than two-hundred years--a country that is a leader, in relation to countries, in creating new inventions and technology--and the thought is presented so that foreigners can better understand what Michigan is and ultimately what the United States of America is.
For the Lower Peninsula of Michigan, my files show that the first listing under museums is "Ackerman Memorial Park." This park is at Elkton, which is in Huron County, which is the northernmost county in the "thumb" area of the Lower Peninsula. The park is listed for cross-reference, and it is listed because it is the park that is the home for the Elkton Log Cabin Museum.
For the Upper Peninsula, my files show that the first listing under museums is "A.E. Seaman Mineral Museum." This museum is a rock and mineral museum that exists at Michigan Technological University (also informally known as "Michigan Tech"), which is at Houghton (of Houghton County). The museum is named for a man named Arthur Edmund Seaman, who was a professor at the former "Michigan Mining School."
For the Lower Peninsula, my files show that the last listing under museums is the "Ziibiwing Center of Anishinabe Culture & Lifeways." The place is operated by the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe." The place is located at Mt. Pleasant, which is in Isabella County, which is sort of like in the middle of the peninsula.
For the Upper Peninsula, my files show that the last listing is the "Wakefield Historical Museum." This museum is located at Wakefield, which is in Gogebic County, which is the westernmost county in the peninsula. In essence, the museum focuses on the history of Wakefield, especially from 1884 to the 1960s.
There are museums listed in my files that focus on particular things, and I show here only a few examples. There is the "Bottlecap Museum and Gift Shop," which I have listed at Gaylord of Otsego County, which is in the Lower Peninsula. At Owosso, which is in Shiawasee County of the Lower Peninsula, is "The Movie Museum." Three Oaks is in Berrien County of the Lower Peninsula, and that place is where a museum dedicated to the bicycle can be found--"The Three Oaks Spokes Bicycle Museum." The "Top of the Lake Snowmobile Museum" is at Naubinway, which is in Mackinac County of the Upper Peninsula. The "Lee Conklin Antique Organ & History Museum" is listed as being at Hanover, which is in Jackson County of the Lower Peninsula.
A number of museums focus on specific individuals, and I show here only a few examples. At Port Huron, which is in St. Clair County of the Lower Peninsula, is the "Thomas Edison Depot Museum." "The Gerald R. Ford Museum" focuses on the life of a former president of the United States of America--Gerald R. Ford--and is located at Grand Rapids, which is in Kent County of the Lower Peninsula.
Many museums exist that record the history of towns and cities, and the museums often provide history or notes about the individuals who were instrumental in setting up the towns or cities, and I show here only a few examples. "The Grandville Historical Museum" is at Grandville, which is in Kent County of the Lower Peninsula. "The Onaway Historical Museum" is at Onaway, which is in Presque Isle County of the Lower Peninsula. "The Wyandotte Museum" is at Wyandotte in Wayne County of the Lower Peninsula. "The Negaunee Historical Museum" is at Negaunee, which is in Marquette County of the Upper Peninsula.
The files contain a number of listings for restored homes or historic homes related to individuals who did things, such as create businesses, and I show here only a few examples. "The Edsel & Eleanor Ford House" is at Grosse Pointe Shores, which is a place in Wayne County of the Lower Peninsula. "The Mann House," which is related to Daniel and Ellen Mann, is at Concord, which is in Jackson County of the Lower Peninsula. "The Whaley Historical House Museum" is located at Flint, which is in Genesee County of the Lower Peninsula. "The Ermatinger Old Stone House" is located at Sault Ste. Marie, which is in Chippewa County of the Upper Peninsula.
Of course, there are many art museums and historical museums, and I show here only a few examples. "The Bay City Historical Museum" is at Bay City, which is in Bay County of the Lower Peninsula. "The Elk Rapids Historical Museum" is at Elk Rapids, which is Antrim County of the Lower Peninsula. "The Kresge Art Museum" is at East Lansing, which is in Ingham County of the Lower Peninsula. "The Tecumseh Area Historical Museum" is at Tecumseh, which is in Lenawee County of the Lower Peninsula. "The Les Cheneaux Historical Museum" is at Cedarville, a town in Mackinac County of the Upper Peninsula. "The University of Michigan Museum of Art," which is a part of the University of Michigan, is at Ann Arbor, which is in Washtenaw County of the Lower Peninsula.
And the range of museums goes from maritime museums to science museums, and I show here only a few examples. "The Great Lake Lore Maritime Museum" is at Rogers City, which is in Presque Isle County of the Lower Peninsula. "The Fire Barn Museum" is at Muskegon, which is in Muskegon County of the Lower Peninsula. "The Motown Historical Museum" is at Detroit, which is in Wayne County of the Lower Peninsula. "The R.E. Olds Transportation Museum," which focuses on automotive history, especially the Oldsmobile, is at Lansing, which is in Ingham County of the Lower Peninsula. "Tuskegee Airmen National Museum," which is at Detroit (of Wayne County in the Lower Peninsula), is a World War II-themed museum. "The Upper Peninsula Children's Museum and Investigative Station" is at Marquette, which is in Marquette County of the Upper Peninsula.
What a foreigner must understand is no museum exists within Michigan that notes that people made direct investments in the state (the State of Michigan government) to make the state what it is or that celebrates the "State of Michigan" and what the state has done; however, a few museums are operated by the state, such as Fort Wilkins (built in 1844) of Fort Wilkins State Park, which is located at Copper Harbor, which is in Keweenaw County of the Upper Peninsula. In essence, museums celebrate or report on individuals and what the individuals did, such as in times of war or in order to make communities grow (maybe by creating a business, an early example of which is Historic Mill Creek, which I talked about in the previous edition of Michigan Travel Tips, which can be reached now by hitting this link: Travel #41). The United States of America has become what it is today because individuals in Michigan and the forty-nine other states started up businesses or commercial enterprises and created or invented or made things--they were able to because the federal government structure has not been a dictatorship, designed around kings or emperors, or based on communism or a particular religion, formats that have been the commonplace styles of government for many peoples of the world over the last two-hundred years or so.
To a foreigner I can report: A chance for a better future is not done through an "investment"--officially a tax--in any state or government, such as the government of Michigan, as a politician might hope you believe, and you will understand that idea by visiting museums in Michigan and seeing the thousands and thousands and thousands and thousands of artifacts and photographs and pieces of memorabilia, almost all of which have ties to individuals and businesses working independent of government to make lives better and living conditions better in the United States of America.
Your travel tips of Michigan in this edition of Michigan Travel Tips are:
Ackerman Memorial Park, Elkton, Huron County, the Lower Peninsula.
The A.E. Seaman Mineral Museum, Houghton, Houghton County, the Upper Peninsula.
The Bay City Historical Museum, Bay City, Bay County, the Lower Peninsula.
The Bottlecap Museum and Gift Shop, Gaylord, Otsego County, the Lower Peninsula.
The Edsel & Eleanor Ford House, Grosse Pointe Shores, Wayne County, the Lower Peninsula.
The Elk Rapids Historical Museum, Elk Rapids, Antrim County, the Lower Peninsula.
The Ermatinger Old Stone House, Sault Ste. Marie, Chippewa County, the Upper Peninsula.
The Fire Barn Museum, Muskegon, Muskegon County, the Lower Peninsula.
The Gerald R. Ford Museum, Grand Rapids, Kent County, the Lower Peninsula.
The Grandville Historical Museum, Grandville, Kent County, the Lower Peninsula.
The Great Lake Lore Maritime Museum, Rogers City, Presque Isle County, the Lower Peninsula.
The Kresge Art Museum, East Lansing, Ingham County, the Lower Peninsula.
The Lee Conklin Antique Organ & History Museum," Hanover, Jackson County, the Lower Peninsula.
The Les Cheneaux Historical Museum, Cedarville, Mackinac County, the Upper Peninsula.
The Mann House, Concord, Jackson County, the Lower Peninsula.
The Motown Historical Museum, Detroit, Wayne County, the Lower Peninsula.
The Movie Museum, Owosso, Shiawasee County, the Lower Peninsula.
The Onaway Historical Museum, Onaway, Presque Isle County, the Lower Peninsula.
The Negaunee Historical Museum, Negaunee, Marquette County, the Upper Peninsula.
The R.E. Olds Transportation Museum, Lansing, Ingham County, the Lower Peninsula.
The Tecumseh Area Historical Museum, Tecumseh, Lenawee County, the Lower Peninsula.
The Thomas Edison Depot Museum, Port Huron, St. Clair County, the Lower Peninsula.
The Three Oaks Spokes Bicycle Museum, Three Oaks, Berrien County, the Lower Peninsula.
The Top of the Lake Snowmobile Museum, Naubinway, Mackinac County, the Upper Peninsula.
The Tuskegee Airmen National Museum, Detroit, Wayne County, the Lower Peninsula.
The University of Michigan Museum of Art, Ann Arbor, Washtenaw County, the Lower Peninsula.
The Upper Peninsula Children's Museum and Investigative Station, Marquette, Marquette County, the Upper Peninsula.
The Wakefield Historical Museum, Wakefield, Gogebic County, the Upper Peninsula.
The Whaley Historical House Museum, Flint, Genesee County, the Lower Peninsula.
The Wyandotte Museum, Wyandotte, Wayne County, the Lower Peninsula.
The Ziibiwing Center of Anishinabe Culture & Lifeways, Mt. Pleasant, Isabella County, the Lower Peninsula.
Special note: In the previous edition of Michigan Travel Tips, I noted that I was going to talk about "letterboxing" in this edition, but since the previous edition was published, I decided to postpone the talk about "letterboxing," though you will see the fourth PSA (which is below) does cover the topic of "letterboxing."
- - - Public Service Copy for Broadcasters (four pieces) - - -
Number One:
Scattered about Michigan are some restored or reconstructed
old-time forts, one of which is Fort Wilkins, which is at Copper
Harbor, and another of which is Fort Wayne, which is at Detroit.
When you hear the name "Fort St. Joseph Museum," you might think
the museum is a fort, but the Fort St. Joseph Museum is in Chapin
Mansion at Niles. The museum does focus on Fort St. Joseph,
which was built in 1691. Although people have done archaeological
digs at the site of the old fort since 1998, no fort has been reconstructed.
There is much to see at the Fort St. Joseph Museum, which in conjunction
with Western Michigan University, recently won a 2007 "State History
Award" for "educational programs." The Fort St. Joseph Museum is
open during the day on a Wednesday -through-Saturday basis. There
is no admission. When you drive to Niles to see the museum, watch
for deer on the roads ahead, and enjoy your safe traveling.
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Number Two:
This September, the History Society of Michigan, which was founded
in 1828, handed out its annual "State History Awards"--in fact, fifteen
awards were given out at the 133rd State History Convention, which
ran from September 28 through September 30. One award went to
the Presque Isle Country Historical Museum, which is located in the
Bradley House at Rogers City. It was Mark Thompson who accepted
the award. He is the curator for the museum and could be your greeter
when you enter the museum. As a rule, the regular visitor season for the
museum is from about June to October. But the museum can be seen
through special arrangements and during special times, such as the event
called "Christmas at the Bradley House," which begins on November 23.
Contact the Presque Isle County Historical Museum for more information.
Remember: Avoid alcohol before driving, and enjoy your safe traveling
in Michigan.
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Number Three:
The fall is a good time to check your vehicles so see that they are
ready for winter; for example, you should check the status of the
antifreeze. A person should not only check on any vehicles that the
person owns but also any trailers. For instance, if you are a hunter
or fisherman who will be using a trailer to haul things soon, such as an
ice shanty, you should check to see that the lights work properly
and see that the bearings are in good shape and are well greased.
If you take a vehicle with a trailer on the road, remember these
safe-driving hints. From time to time, make sure the hitch and safety
chains are set well. Allow other motorists to pass safely on those
two-lane roads--that is, watch for motorists trying to pass and slow
down a bit when a motorist is passing. Also--when it is daytime--have
those headlights on. And if you are passing on a road that has any
snow or that looks wet, be careful, and enjoy your safe traveling in
Michigan.
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Number Four:
Think about this! People who go to Alpena may be people who
go to Alpena to see the Jesse Besser Museum, and people who go
to Munising may be people who like to use the Munising Ski Trail,
and people who visit St. Johns may be people who like to use Sleepy
Hollow State Park. In addition, some of the people who go to Alpena,
Munising, or St. Johns might be taking part in trips to find hidden
"letterboxing boxes," which contain logbooks, rubber stamps, and
other items. "Letterboxing boxes" are like "geocaching treasure boxes."
In general, people look for hidden "letterboxing boxes" to stamp the
logbooks contained within them, and to stamp their logbooks.
Numerous "letterboxing boxes" are hidden in Michigan, and if you
wish to learn more about Michigan and "letterboxing," see
"letterboxing.org" on the Internet. And when you travel in Michigan,
such as to Gulliver to find a "letterbox," enjoy your safe traveling.
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- - - Contact Information - - -
The Hologlobe Press
Postal Box 20551
Ferndale, Michigan 48220-0551
The United States of Americacopyright c. 2007
File date: 10 October 2007To see the next edition of Michigan Travel Tips,
click on: Travel #43.
To see the previous edition of Michigan Travel Tips,
click on: Travel #41.
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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