Petoskey area

For starters, the Little Traverse Historical Society’s book, “A Look Around Little Traverse Bay,” offers an abundance of information about the area’s formation and significant spots. Among them:

Chief Petoskey statue, near the Perry Hotel
At a time when Native Americans were struggling out West, Petoskey was naming its town after a Native American. The statue, erected in July 2005, honors Ottawa Chief Ignatius Petoskey, for whom the city was named in 1873. Funding for the statue was donated by Mr. and Mrs. Robert Dau.

Little Traverse History Museum
The history museum at Petoskey’s waterfront is historically important itself. It was built in 1892, home of the Pere Marquette Railroad. Since then, the integrity of the building has not changed, though it fell into disrepair and was nearly razed — saved by one vote on the city council — in the 1960s. At that time, the historical society restored it and today it is the keeper of the region’s history, including the first local post office that included three boxes: “Going north, going south and a blank one for incoming mail,” said Michelle Hill, the museum’s executive director.

Gaslight District, Petoskey
It’s a draw to the region for many visitors: Petoskey’s downtown shopping district that bears the hallmarks of its earliest days. “It’s really a great adapted re-use of a historic resource, when the knee-jerk reaction through the decades has been to tear down and build new stores,” said Hill. “They have really made the Petoskey downtown a destination. It’s so attractive and unique.”

Native American quillwork, baskets
“One thing that I would highlight is the incredible collection here of really beautiful Native American artifacts,” said Hill. She noted the displays of quillwork, created by local Indians, as particularly telling of the region’s history, along with baskets that have preserved the skills passed down among native families.
Little Traverse Bay
The National Register of Historic Places has included the bay itself as an historic site, for its role as home for centuries of the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians. A marker indicating the historical significance is located at Sunset Park, off U.S. 31.

Perry Hotel
A number of huge downtown hotels burned to the ground in the late 19th century, prompting the city council to mandate in the code that all hotels be built with brick.
The all-brick Perry was built in 1899 and is also on the National Register of Historic Places. Across the street was a railroad depot, keeping  the hotel a happening place through the decades of rail travel and into today, where the depot is home to many offices.
Bay View Association
Also a National Historic Places landmark, Bay View has been a defining community for the Petoskey region. Of the 440 brightly decorated and ornately designed cottages, 420 were built before 1900.
People may drive through the association, established by Methodists in 1875 though nondenominational today, to see the beautiful cottages and partake in public events, such as concerts and Sunday worship services.

Other places worthy of note:
• Legs Inn, Cross Village
• Mackinac Bridge
• Fort Michilimackinac, Mackinaw City
 

Charlevoix area

The keepers of Charlevoix County’s considerable historical information are the staff at the Harsha House Museum, the city’s history museum, at 103 State St. Historical highlights include:

Railroad Depot, on Depot Beach, overlooking Lake Charlevoix
It’s the last train station built in Northern Michigan and opened 19 years after Petoskey’s, because Charlevoix was easy to get to by boat. Charlevoix boomed after the railroad’s arrival in 1892. The depot is preserved and owned by the historical society today.

Earl Young architecture
Earl Young was a unique individual who put Charlevoix on the map, and his creations are known around the world. A self-trained architect, his design style is most evident at the Weathervane restaurant at the lift bridge. Other Young-designed structures are found in a cluster of private homes in the area of Grant and Clinton streets, and in the area near the hospital.

Loeb Farms/Castle Farms
Bon Jovi scratched his name in the rock at Castle Farms and big-name stars used to rock the house there as well, including Tina Turner and Willie Nelson. That was in the 1970s and ’80s; today the remarkable buildings of Castle Farms have been carefully maintained by owners Linda and Richard Mueller. The buildings were constructed by Albert Loeb in 1916-1918 and are patterned after a French estate. Weddings, conventions and exhibits take place at the facility.

Lighthouse
Charlevoix has had a lighthouse since 1885. The present structure arrived in 1948 and was painted white in 1968. The Charlevoix Historical Society maintains and preserves it, museum director David Miles said, though it is owned by the city of Charlevoix.
 
Beaver Island
The island has a unique historical story due mostly to the initial influence of “King” James J. Strang, who founded the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. In 1848, Strang moved his followers to Beaver Island and today, it’s a popular destination for day and overnight trips.
 
More historically significant spots:
Horton Bay General Store and Horton Bay
Big Rock Nuclear Power Plant site
Ironton Ferry, in operation since 1876