Category Archives: The Michigan Pages: History

Michigan Historic Homes: Old Victoria Mining Village

"Tilted" by Tiffibunny
The picturesque ghost town of Old Victoria is one of the first sites ever mined for copper in the new world. This is where the famous "Ontonagon Boulder" was discovered that now resides in the National Museum of Natural Science at the Smithsonian Institute in Washington, D.C.
Four buildings have so far been [...]

When Carl Sandburg Called Michigan Home

Renowned author Carl Sandburg loved Lake Michigan. In many ways, it influenced his writing. From 1928 until 1945, Sandburg and his family, which included three daughters, called Michigan home. During these years, he lived in the sand dunes in the southwestern Lower Peninsula. It was there that he produced some of his best known [...]

Michigan Historic Homes: Loren Andrus House

"Loren Andrus Octagon House by Larry the Biker
Made with bricks that Loren Andrus himself made with local clay, the Andrus house is Michigan's most elaborate remaining example of the Octagon form, considered by many to be the first pure American housing style. The leading authority and promoter of these eight-sided wonders was Orson Squire [...]

Michigan Neighborhoods: Kalamazoo's Historic District

Henderson Castle, Effets de Neige
by John Clement Howe
The homes in the neighborhoods of Stuart, West Main Hill and South Street in Kalamazoo reflect both the individuality and also the economic status of their original owners. There are a variety of architectural styles examples here from the the turn of the century. The most [...]

Michigan Historic Homes: Kaleva Bottle House Museum

Bottle House by agilitynut
This home was built by John J. Makinen, Sr. using over 60,000 bottles laid on their sides with the bottoms toward the exterior. Most of the bottles were from his own company, The Northwestern Bottling Works. The house was completed in 1941 but sadly Mr. Makinen passed away before he [...]

Michigan Historic Homes: Wing House Museum of Coldwater

Wing House by KatheD
This impressive Second Empire style home with mansard roof sheathed in tin was constructed in 1875 for Jay Chandler (1850-1884) and his young bride Frances. This home has an open, two-bay porch along the front . The brick walls are covered with clapboard siding and a triple-bay porch with a [...]

Russell A. Algers House - The Moorings

Russell A. Alger, Jr., (1773-1930) son of Michigan's Governor Russell Alger and one of the founders of the Packard Motor Car Company, built this Italian Renaissance style mansion in 1910. Charles A. Platt of New York designed this elaborate structure, and Ellen Shipman of New York landscaped the grounds. The home is situated [...]

Michigan Historic Homes: The Pickle Barrel House

Pickle Barrel House by agilitynut
Here's a fun one!
Two huge barrels make up this unique and much-loved landmark that has been restored and opened back up as a museum. The house was built for William Donahey creator of the Teenie Weenie comic cartoon feature by a grocery distributor grateful for the attention that the Teenie [...]

Michigan Historic Homes: Governor's Residences

There are two official Governor's Residences in the state of Michigan. One is in Lansing and the other, a summer residence, is on Mackinac Island. Both residences are owned by the state of Michigan and are maintained with private donations.
The Governor's Lansing residence was built in 1957 for Howard and Letha Sober, who donated it [...]

Michigan Restaurants: Legs Inn of Cross Village

legs inn by 46137
The Legs Inn is a "monument to nature" built on a high bluff overlooking Lake Michigan. The fantasy-like atmosphere of this medieval looking stone, timber and driftwood landmark was created by Polish immigrant, Stanley Smolak who fell in love with Northern Michigan and its people and decided to settle in Cross Village [...]