HISTORY and CULTURE by BICYCLE

SIOUX CITY TERRA COTTA

2012-02-18T23:32:00.007-06:00

At one time Sioux City was the terra cotta capital of Iowa. Different designs, pieces and styles adorned buildings no longer standing. A lot of the buildings still standing today have had to be saved from destruction, continue to proudly show their beautiful terra cotta, some of which has had to be cleaned and restored.

These past blog articles speak of some of the terra cotta from both past and what is still present today:

Sioux City History & Culture by Bicycle Part 32: Breaking the Mold, Sioux City's Terra Cotta
Sioux City History & Culture by Bicycle Part 33: Sioux City Terra Cotta, 4th St.
Sioux City History & Culture by Bicycle Part 36: Sioux City's Terra Cotta, Pearl St.
Sioux City History & Culture by Bicycle Part 37: Sioux City Terra Cotta, Douglas St.
Sioux City History & Culture by Bicycle Part 38: Sioux City Terra Cotta, Pierce St.
Sioux City History and Culture by Bicycle Part 39: Sioux City Terra Cotta, Nebraska St.
Sioux City History and Culture by Bicycle Part 43: Sioux City Terra Cotta, Historic 4th Street
Sioux City History and Culture by Bicycle Part 44: Sioux City Terra Cotta, Other Notable Buildings

Photos of information and terra cotta artifacts on display at the Sioux city Public Museum:

1930 INTERNATIONAL HARVESTER TRUCK

2012-02-18T17:05:00.003-06:00

On display in the Temporary Exhibit Hall at the Sioux City Public Museum is a 1930 International Harvester truck.

GRANDVIEW PARK WATER TANKS

2012-02-02T22:46:00.050-06:00

Chronology:

1850's - Sioux City is platted.

1885 - The first of 2 water reservoirs are constructed on the highest hill of what was to become Grandview Park. The reservoir was a very large pool that held about 2 million gallons of water.

January 1887 - Quote from the Sioux City Journal: "It has been written that the water-works system of Sioux City is in many respects unique, and in general one of the most perfect in the United States. It is entitled to this distinction whether considered as a protection against fire or as a motive power or as a supply of pure water in relation to private economy and to public health."

1906 to 1908 - 30 acres of land is purchased on Sioux City's north side where the first reservoir is located. The land is turned into Grandview Park.

1908 -As the city grew it was realized the reservoir would no longer be enough to provide an adequate water supply. The large pool with no lid was modified into a large 4 million gallon tank with walls.

1912 to 1914 - An identical 4 million gallon second tank was added on the south side of the north tank. This increased the water capacity to about 8 million gallons of water.

The tanks were a constructional undertaking for the time period and created an imposing site at the top of Grandview Park.

1934 -The Grandview Park Band Shell and amphitheater is constructed.

1937 -Grandview Park Rose Garden is created.

Late 1940's early 1950's - Tops added to protect water from contamination.

1993 - The south tank started bulging and cracking. It was closed, leaving the 4 million gallon north tank to provide water to a large number of residents on the north side of Sioux City.

January 2012 - The Sioux City City Council begin talks to demolish the water tanks to create a flat space for activities on the highest hill in Grandview Park. Many people oppose this because the band shell, amphitheater, rose garden, play ground and other areas of the park serve this purpose well.

Photos of water tanks under construction from the Sioux City Journal:

These are perhaps some of the last photos that will be taken of the water tanks before they are destroyed:

Info. source:
Grandview Park and Band Shell
Sioux City Council weighs demolishing Grandview Park water tanks
Grandview Park water tanks under construction

WORLD WAR II 70 YEARS LATER EXHIBIT

2012-02-01T23:23:00.056-06:00

On temporary display at the Sioux City Public Museum is the WORLD WAR II 70 YEARS LATER exhibit. The collection of artifacts were donated or are on loan from people in and around Sioux City, Iowa. At one time Sioux City had military bases and industries that supported the war effort.

DESERT ANGELS at RIVERSSANCE 2011

2011-11-05T23:54:00.051-05:00

The Sioux City Desert Angels Belly Dance Troupe performed at the 2011 Sioux City Riverssance Festival.

The changes this year include, but are not limited to: new members with the beginners, some of the beginners from last year moved up to be a part of the dance troupe, new outfits, a group beginner dance from last year is now a solo dance and new solo and group dance routines.

NEW IOWA HISTORY and CULTURE by BICYCLE BLOG

2011-11-05T23:50:00.001-05:00

The final part of the blog post moving project is done. Introducing the new Iowa History and Culture by Bicycle blog.

IOWA HISTORY and CULTURE by BICYCLE blog

NEW ILLINOIS HISTORY and CULTURE by BICYCLE BLOG

2011-10-30T21:30:00.002-05:00

The second part of the blog post moving project is done. Introducing the new Nebraska History and Culture by Bicycle blog.

Link: ILLINOIS HISTORY and CULTURE by BICYCLE blog

NEW NEBRASKA HISTORY and CULTURE by BICYCLE BLOG

2011-10-27T22:31:00.005-05:00

The second part of the blog post moving project is done. Introducing the new Nebraska History and Culture by Bicycle blog.

Link: Nebraska History and Culture by Bicycle

Next will be the the new Illinois blog.

NEW SOUTH DAKOTA HISTORY AND CULTURE BLOG

2011-10-21T23:54:00.000-05:00

Introducing the new South Dakota History and Culture by Bicycle Blog:
South Dakota History and Culture by Bicycle

This is part of the blog moving project. Next will be blog posts about history and culture in Nebraska. After that will be blog posts outside of Sioux City.

Moving blog posts.

2011-10-18T23:29:00.003-05:00

Blog Readers,

The author of this blog is moving some of the blog posts to another blog. As this process is done the blog posts that are moved and published to the new blog will be deleted from this blog. During this process the new blog will not available for viewing until it is completed.

Please accept the author's apology for any inconvenience this may cause.

LUSTRON HOMES

2011-10-13T10:34:00.020-05:00

As an answer and solution to the post World War II housing shortage caused by those who served returning, getting married and starting families, Chicago based entrepreneur Carl Strandlund started Strandlund’s Lustron Corporation. The plant was leased space in an former Navy airplane plant in Columbus, Ohio.

The Lustron Home was a prefabricated house built on the assembly line at the plant in Columbus, shipped to the site and erected on the foundation. The homes averaged 1,000 square feet in size, had two-bedrooms, one-bath,and had an efficient 31-by-35 foot floor plan and space-saving built-ins in every room that was deemed a critical success. All interior and exterior surfaces were porcelain-enameled metal, from the roof, gutters and down drains to the master bedroom’s built-in vanity.

Between 1946 and 1948, Lustron received orders for 20,000 homes through its nationwide dealership network The dealers included but were not limited to Sears and Roebuck. At a price averaging $55,00 to 8,500, not including land a new home owner could purchase their home directly from the Sears catalog for between $10,000 to $12,000 total. Only 2,498 of those orders were filled before Lustron Corporation declared bankruptcy in 1950.

The prefabricated housing industry is not a new concept. It dates back earlier than the late 1940's. The Lustron Home was another style in this industry. Despite Lustron's failure to stay in business after a short time some of the practices used by Lustron are no doubt still used today in the manufacturing of prefabricated homes.

There are several Lustron Homes found today all over the United States. Though these homes were touted as being almost maintenance free changes have been made to some of them. Perhaps because of deterioration or perhaps because the owner of one wanted a new look to the home. Some of the changes are siding and new roof which either covered up or replaced the original. Some of the houses also had an after market garage added that constructed of the same enameled steel panels the houses were built from.

Sioux City, Iowa has 3 Lustron Homes. All 3 have been modified. 2 Have either aluminum or vinyl siding and a garage added, similar to what is found on any other property that has a stick built home and one has a shingled roof.

For more info:
What is a Lustron?
Things you want to know about the Lustron Home
Iowa Lustrons

Photos:
3300 Dearborn Sioux City, Iowa

3325 Nebraska Street

100 Midvale Avenue

SIOUX CITY, CITY HALL

2011-10-09T22:45:00.019-05:00

Chronology:

1891 - Built at a cost of $122,000 by the Library Association, the first city hall in Sioux City was a library located at the NW corner of 6th and Douglas Streets. The library occupied the first floor and city offices were located on the upper floors.

1892 to 1897 - Designed by two prominent architects of the 19th century, Willoughby Edbrooke and William Aiken, the new and first Federal Building for Sioux City, Iowa is designed and built at a cost of nearly $240,000 on the NE corner of 6th and Douglas Streets. Construction was a slow process and it took nearly a year just to complete the foundation. Shipment of the gray limestone from Bedford, Indiana was slow and caused frequent construction delays. The building was used as a post office and government office building.

The building was an example of Richardsonian Romanesque architecture, a style developed in the last half of the 19th century. Richardsonian Romanesque buildings often had a massive stone appearance, arched openings and ornamental carvings. The Sioux City building included stone carvings and gargoyles. The interior featured four foot high mahogany wainscoting with hand-carved rosettes.

The building was patterned after the Plazzo Vechhio (old palace) in Florence Italy. Original plans did not include a clock.

1893 to 1944 - City offices remained in that building for more that fifty years until a fire damaged the structure.

February 14, 1897 - Sioux City's first Federal Post Office Building formally opened.

1900 - The clock tower on the Federal Building is was added. Congressman George Perkins, editor of the Sioux City Journal, was serving the 11th district in Washington at that time. He went to work to obtain a clock for the tower. He got a grant for the clock and an additional grant for the bell. The clock and bell cost $2,380. Now, there are only four clocks of that kind left in the country. Originally, the clock face was dark, with light numerals and hands.

March 8, 1913 - The library moved to a new facility at 6th and Jackson Streets. The building on 6th and Douglas became the official City Hall.

1915 - The clock was repaired. The light colored face and black numerals were installed.

1944 - After the fire, city offices moved to the Insurance Exchange Building, and officials looked for a suitable location for a new city hall.

At the same time, the old federal building and post office was scheduled to be torn down. Federal offices and the post office moved to a brand new building diagonally across the street and the old structure stood empty. The government sold it to the city for $30,000, less than the value of the land. City officials planned to tear it down to make room for possible future construction. However, the outbreak of WW II delayed those plans.

The distinctive old Federal Building with its clock tower stood in downtown Sioux City for fifty years, and many citizens were unhappy that the building was to be torn down. “The destruction of the Federal Building would remove a landmark. A feature of the downtown city skyline for years has been the gray tower of the structure and its large clock, often inaccurate, but a reminder of earlier days of the community,” stated an article in the Sioux City Journal.

The Woodbury County Pioneer Club was one group who thought that the old building should be preserved. Other groups agreed. Officials discussed turning the structure into a library, but library officials said that conversion to a library was impractical. Then, the American Progress League, a Sioux City organization, presented a resolution to the city council that showed most citizens were in favor of using the old post office building as a city hall. They indicated that it was well built of Bedford Limestone and was structurally sound. "Many Sioux Cityans have developed a fondness and tradition for this building," they said.

The City Council decided to convert the old building into city hall and the remodeling began. Workers soon discovered that the old building was indeed a well-crafted structure. The Sioux City Journal recorded: "The construction was a revelation to the workmen and others connected with the remodeling work. The construction is on the massive order, rare in modern buildings. Inside the heavy stone walls are inner walls of brick, a foot in thickness, and the partition walls also are of brick construction. The plastering was found to be one inch thick."

October 28, 1948 - The newly remodeled city hall opened and remained the official city hall until 1993.

Early 1990's - The structural stability of the old building was called into question. Plaster started falling from the ceiling. An inspection revealed that the building was settling and the clock tower was starting to lean. The city inspector said that if he had his way, the building would be red tagged as unsafe for occupancy. The city also needed more and more modern office space.

October of 1990 - The city council approved a study by two architectural firms that would recommend where and how to build a new city hall. A citizens advisory committee assisted them. A total of fourteen different sites were considered for a new city hall building. The possibilities included renovating or razing the old Warrior Hotel or building a brand new city hall in the downtown area. Those possibilities were studied and narrowed to four, but the council could not agree on what steps to take. Several council members began to favor rehabilitating the old building.

1993 - The condition of the old building began to worsen and its safety was seriously questioned.

March of 1993 - The city council voted to abandon the building and seek offices elsewhere.

August 11, 1993 - City offices were relocated to the Orpheum Building.

Councilman Harry Keairns had an idea. He suggested a plan to tear down the old building and rebuild on the same site, saving the historic old clock tower. The council agreed to study the possibility of saving the clock tower and two existing walls.

1994 - The city council was still studying options for a new city hall building. Historians urged the council to preserve the old “Romanesque” building.

Autumn of 1994 - The City Council formally invited three contractors to create design plans for a new city hall. They could offer plans to restore the old building, build a brand new structure, or create a combination of both.

1994 to 1997 - The plan they chose was one that preserved the look of the old city hall. The plan was the design of the team of architects Ruble Mamura Moss Brygger and general contractor W.A. Klinger Inc. The plan called for the tower, stone façade, carvings, fixtures and molding to be saved and incorporated into the new building. By lowering the entrances, they were able to construct a five-story building, instead of the four stories that were there before. It preserved the historic walls of the south and west exteriors as much as possible, reusing much of the old limestone.

Workers carefully demolished the old city hall, removing each stone, one at a time. They marked and cataloged each stone so the limestone could be reused in the new city hall. After all the usable stones and salvageable interior materials had been removed, the building was demolished. The only thing remaining was the clock tower. Workmen pumped concrete under the tower to stabilize it. Sixty yards of concrete were used to stabilize the foundation.

The new building saved the Romanesque architecture of the earlier building, including the gargoyles and other stone carvings. The original limestone was used as much as possible, after it had been cleaned and repaired. It was a slow process. Reusing the stones actually added to the cost of the project. Behind the old facade was a brand new building. Wainscoting, marble and other materials from the old building were reused in the new interior. The clock tower clock was restored. Its mechanism was rebuilt and the faces cleaned and painted.

August 15, 1997 - The new city hall officially opened. The Sioux City municipal Band provided music for the grand opening ceremonies, and the people of Sioux City were able to tour their "old new" city hall.

Additional Information -
The minute hands on the clock are seven feet in length. The tips of the minute hands have traveled nearly 7,500 miles since the clock was installed.

Source: Sioux City History: City Halls of Sioux City

Photos:

LOREN D. CALLENDAR GALLERY AND CLOCKTOWER MUSEUM

2011-10-06T12:10:00.017-05:00

Inside the clock tower of Sioux City's City Hall is the Loren D Callendar Gallery and Clocktower Museum. The displays and exhibits include portraits of historic sites and scenes of the past in Sioux City, Iowa, terra cotta from a historical building building destroyed by fire, a beautiful scale model of Sioux City's Elevated Railroad, which no longer exists and a display from Sioux City's Sister City.

Photos:

MISSOURI RIVER BOATS

2011-09-27T00:50:00.013-05:00

On temporary display at the Sioux City Public Museum are the models of Missouri River boats from the past. They are normally found at the Sergeant Floyd Museum and Welcome Center. The Sgt. Floyd Museum is currently closed due to flooding on the river front. Some of its exhibits were moved to higher ground, the Sioux City Public Museum located in downtown Sioux City.

These models tell part of the history of a bygone era of life, commerce and travel on the Missouri River.

Photos:

RISING FROM TRADITION NAVAJO RUGS 1900-1977

2011-09-26T11:52:00.016-05:00

At the Sioux City Public Museum, in the Temporary Exhibit Hall, is a beautiful display of Navajo rugs. They depict the different styles and areas where the rugs were woven and sold from.

Photos:

Martin Luther King Jr. Transportation Center.

2011-09-01T19:28:00.008-05:00

Located in downtown Sioux City, Iowa is the Martin Luther King JR. Transportation Center. It was named such because of Dr. King's efforts with civil rights and its impact on the city public transportation systems all across the country, but especially in the SE part of the United States.

Completed and dedicated in 2003, the transportation center is multi-modal. Meaning it serves as a city parking ramp, the Sioux City Transit Center for the city bus system, a Jefferson Bus Line Depot and has bicycle parking.

Despite being a smaller city, less than 100,000 people, Sioux City does have an ugly past when it comes to civil rights of minorities and certain groups of people. At one point in the city's history because of what was considered the moral majority laws were actually passed in the state of Iowa and Sioux City that discriminated against a certain part of the population because of their sexual orientation.

It could be said this structure and its name stand as a testament to the work of Martin Luther King Jr., the civil rights movement and the continued efforts to guarantee no one is discriminated against because of the color of their skin, their religious faith, gender or sexual orientation.

At the entrance to the transportation center in Sioux City stands a pedestal with a bust of Dr. King and a plaque with his most famous quote, "I have a dream".

Photos:

The English Mansion

2011-08-31T17:04:00.011-05:00

The English Mansion is located in the only residential historic district in Sioux City, Iowa, called Rose Hill Historic District. It is one of the largest and best preserved homes of its style.

Chronology:
1894 - Designed by architect William McLaughlin, Elzy G. Burkham had the home built. The original address was 1449 Douglas.

After 1894 - The address is changed to 1525 Douglas.

1897 - The house is sold to Jacob Stackerl.

1913 - Catherine Stackerl, daughter of Jacob married Odil English and inherited the home. This is where the mansion got its name.

1994 - The mansion is bought by George and Cynthia Wakeman and opened a bed and breakfast.

1995 - George and Cynthia turned the mansion into a bed and breakfast.

1998 - The English Mansion is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

2005 - The Wakeman's closed the bed and breakfast and reclaimed the restored mansion as their personal home.

The architectural style involves more than one type. Colonial Revival, Queen Anne, Romanesque and Rococo Richardsonian.

The interior boasts 7 original untouched hand painted murals, original woodwork. pocket doors, original front stair case, fluted columns and a conservatory room on the south side of the house.

The mansion has 3 floors. The third floor has a beautiful ballroom. There are 5 bed rooms and 3 baths on the second floor. The master suite has its own private bath. The lower level has a 6th bed room and a bath, full kitchen and the conservatory.

Some notable exterior features are the first floor arch windows, decorative foliate detailing over the front porch and conservatory and fluted ionic columns. The original carriage house is now attached to the house with a covered porch or breeze way and used as a garage.

Photos:

Video:

Addition to Sculpt Siouxland

2011-08-31T11:24:00.005-05:00

Two new pieces to the sculptures on 4th Street in downtown Sioux City for the Sculpt Siouxland art work:

Founding Father's at a sporting goods store.

2011-08-30T19:51:00.017-05:00

Flanking the outside entrance of a sporting goods store in Sioux City, Iowa are 2 of the Founding Fathers of the United States of America, they were also the first two Presidents of the United States, George Washington and Thomas Jefferson. Both are sitting on their own bench, George is to the left and Thomas is to the right of the entrance as a person approaches the building from the outside.

George is holding and looking at the first page of the U.S. Constitution and Thomas is holding and looking at the first page of the Bill of Rights. Next to each seated statue is a large plaque with facts about each founding father.

The sporting goods store in question is a chain store called Scheels. The Scheels store in Sioux City is one of the anchor stores at Southern Hills Mall. This blogger inquired with the employees of Scheels about the statues. They advised this blogger each of the Scheels stores has 2 different Founding Fathers or historical people of the United States at the outside entrance. This blogger looks forward to visiting the different Scheels stores within a 200 mile radius to see which historical figures are on display.

Photos:
George Washington

Thomas Jefferson

Warrior Hotel

2011-08-20T02:15:00.014-05:00

On the NW corner of Nebraska and 5th Streets in downtown Sioux City sits a beautiful Art Deco style building called the Warrior Hotel. At the moment it is empty, it has been since 1972. The building has an interesting history in Sioux City and has been through many owners.

Part of the buildings interesting history is from the mid 1950's. Near or at the end of McCarthyism there were a couple of children murdered in Sioux City. The murders were thought to have been committed by a sexual predator. The moral majority in Iowa, charged by the events of McCarthyism, passed laws stating if a person did things outside of the social norm, like listen to the Liberace Show, they could be charged with a sexual crime if suspected of such a thing, even if what ever crime they were thought to have committed did not have any sort of sexual behavior as part of it.

The event that occurred in the mid 1950's after the second child was found dead was police rounded up what they called the "usual suspects" that were thought to have been a part of Sioux City's almost "invisible" gay community, from a place called the Tom Tom Club, which was in the Warrior Hotel. The Tom Tom Club was thought to be an "unofficial" gay bar or club. These men were sent to the state mental institution at Mount Pleasant, Iowa. After the doctors there figured out there was nothing wrong with them they were released, but the damage to their reputations by the moral majority in Sioux City, Iowa had been done and even though they did not commit any crime a lot of them left Iowa, never to return.

The future of the Warrior Hotel is unknown and uncertain. At one time it was thought it would be turned into low rent apartments or even retirement apartments. For now this beautiful building stands empty.

Architect's Biography:
The architect of the Warrior Hotel was Alonzo H. Gentry. He was well known for designing hotels. Alonzo used different styles of architecture. Art deco, beaux-arts, renaissance revival, art moderne and chicago school. Born in Independence, Missouri about 1887 he has many buildings to his credit. The Harry S. Truman library in Independence, the Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City, the Truman Library along with several hotels, the Warrior Hotel included. Alonzo passed away in 1967.

Chronology:

1930 - Constructed as the Fontenelle Hotel.

1931 - Became known as the Warrior Hotel by the time it opened.

Mid 1930's - Eugene C. Eppley purchased the Warrior. It became part of the Eppley Hotel chain.

Mid 1950's - Police arrested about 20 gay men who frequented the Tom Tom Club, located in the Warrior Hotel because they were thought to be suspects in the murder of a child at the time.

1956 - Eppley Hotels sold the Warrior to the Sheraton Corporation of America, after which time it was called the Sheraton-Warrior.

Late 1960's - Sioux City contractors Joseph and Frank Audino purchased the hotel and renamed it the Aventino Motor Inn.

1972 - The Aventino Motor Inn closed and the building has been empty since.

1985 - The Warrior Hotel building was added to the National Register of Historic Places.

December 1996 - The Sioux City City Council approved the demolition of the building.

1997 - A lawsuit filed to prevent the destruction of the warrior Hotel succeeds.

Web sites:
Emporis - Warrior Hotel

Nebraska St Walking Tour
Owners of Warrior Hotel dispute city claims

Oddball Iowa: A Guide to Some Really Strange Places

Trickle-down McCarthyism

Photos:

RockN Rods

2011-08-15T20:39:00.027-05:00

This past July 15 - 17 there was the first annual RockN Rods in downtown Sioux City. The event included drag racing, concerts, food vendors, skate board exhibition, pinewood derby races, cruising in classic cars, swap meet and classic car show and shine.

Web site:
Sioux City RockN Rods

Photos of the classic cars from the show and shine:

The Corner Bar

2011-08-14T18:17:00.004-05:00

Another important piece of Rockford, Michigan history is a place called The Corner Bar. It is in the oldest building in town and has its own unique history along with good food, friends and fun.

The Corner Bar

Rockford Dam and Peppler Memorial Park

2011-08-14T18:14:00.002-05:00

The town of Rockford, Michigan is full of important history. Part of which is the dam:

Rockford Dam and Peppler Memorial Park

The White Pine Trail

2011-08-12T00:43:00.001-05:00

If a person wants to ride bike 92 miles form Grand Rapids to Cadillac, Michigan they can easily do so on the White Pine Trail.

The White Pine Trail

Riverside Trail

2011-08-10T12:20:00.002-05:00

Along the Grand River, in Riverside Park is the 3.2 mile Riverside Trail. Uses can connect to the famous White Pine Trail and continue 92 miles north to Cadillac, Michigan.

Riverside Trail

Monroe Avenue Filtration Plant

2011-08-10T12:11:00.004-05:00

The first public water filtration plant in the U.S. to add fluoride and one that helped eradicate Typhoid Fever deaths in located in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Monroe Avenue Filtration Plant

The Leonard at Logan House

2011-08-10T12:07:00.001-05:00

A beautiful Heritage Hill home is now a bed and breakfast.

The Leonard at Logan House

Meyer May House

2011-08-08T23:37:00.002-05:00

A beautiful example of the work of Frank Lloyd Wright:http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif

Meyer May House

Gerald R. Ford Boyhood Home

2011-08-08T23:34:00.003-05:00

Of his homes as a child the 38th President of the United States vividly remembers this one the most:

Gerald R. Ford Boyhood Home

Heritage Hill Historic District

2011-08-08T23:29:00.001-05:00

In the 1960's and 1970's this important historic district was set to be destroyed and lost forever. Thankfully a group of forward people came together and prevented it from happening.

Heritage Hill Historic District

Mackinac Bridge

2011-07-30T11:28:00.002-05:00

Here is, what this blogger thinks is the best part of the Straits of Mackinac. The Mackinac Bridge.

Mackinac Bridge

Mackinac Bridge Museum

2011-07-30T11:24:00.003-05:00

Retired iron worker, Mr. J.C. Stilwell created the Mackinac Bridge Museum as a tribute to the men who built the bridge:

Mackinac Bridge Museum

Fort Mackinac

2011-07-21T15:20:00.003-05:00

The British spent 2 years moving the former fort, Michilimackinac to Mackinac Island during the American Revolution. The fort is called Fort Mackinac.

Fort Mackinac

Mackinac Island

2011-07-21T15:17:00.001-05:00

There are several historical sites and stops on Mackinac Island.

Mackinac Island

Mackinaw City

2011-07-21T15:14:00.002-05:00

The village of Mackinaw City has 54 historical stops and 11 historical sites along and within the Mackinaw City Historical Pathway Walking Map & Bike Map.

Mackinaw City

Lake Huron, Michigan and Superior, The Straits of Mackinac

2011-07-21T15:11:00.001-05:00

Lake Huron, Michigan, Superior and The Straits of Mackinac are historically important.

Lake Huron, Michigan and Superior, The Straits of Mackinac

Michilimackinac

2011-07-21T15:05:00.004-05:00

The village of Mackinaw City was once a fort called Michilimackinac. It was moved to Mackinac Island during the American Revolution.

Michilimackinac

Old Mackinac Point Lighthouse

2011-07-21T14:59:00.000-05:00

The men of the lighthouse service once helped protect against shipwrecks on the Great Lakes. Today the light towers and lighthouses stand as testimonies to a proud history.

Old Mackinac Point Lighthouse

Ice Breaker Mackinaw

2011-07-14T13:11:00.003-05:00

The United States Coast Guard Cutter Mackinaw, WAGB-83 proudly serhttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifved for over 60 years helping to keep the shipping lanes open during the frozen winter months on the Great Lakes. She is now on display as a museum and continues to serve her community by helping to teach people about her legacy.

Ice Breaker Mackinaw

St. Ignace

2011-07-14T13:07:00.002-05:00

St. Ignace was founded by a Jesuit Priest, Father Jacques Marquette. It has a long and extensive history:

St. Ignace

Museum of Ojibwa Culture

2011-07-14T01:47:00.002-05:00

Important native American history and culture:

Museum of Ojibwa Culture

Fort De Buade

2011-07-14T01:43:00.004-05:00

This museum displays history from pre-contact to when the Americans took control of the Straits of Mackinac.

Fort De Buade

Father Jacques Marquette

2011-07-10T23:41:00.002-05:00

Before Michigan was a state and before military occupation a Mission was established by Father Jacques Marquette in the area of St. Ignace, Michigan:

Father Jacques Marquette

Tahquamenon Falls State Park

2011-07-10T23:37:00.001-05:00

Some of the most beautiful water falls west of Niagara Falls and east of the Mississippi River:

Tahquamenon Falls State Park

Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum

2011-07-10T23:28:00.002-05:00

Please click the link to find out more about the ship wrecks of the Great Lakes:

Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum

New history and culture by bicycle blog site.

2011-07-10T10:03:00.003-05:00

There is a new history and culture by bicycle blog site.

Here is the main link:
Michigan History and Culture by Bicycle

As posts are published on it the blogger will post links to it on this blog site.

Heritage Parking Ramp

2011-06-02T19:15:00.005-05:00

Completed in 2008 the Heritage Parking Ramp, located at 312 Jackson St, is a good example of modern day Prairie School Architecture.

News Articles:
Heritage Parking Ramp behind schedule
Heritage Ramp opens on limited basis

Photos: