Michigan, as evidenced by the bifurcated land masses that make up the state that embodies the midwestern spirit, is a bit of a dichotomy. As the modern saying goes, the Wolverine State “contains multitudes.”
It is as rural, untouched, and naturally pristine in parts like Mackinac Island and the Great Lakes shorelines as it is heavily cosmopolitan in the factories and high rises of Detroit. The local fans flock to Ford Field to cheer on the perennially hangdog Lions as much as they fill the stands to the rafters of the “Big House” in Ann Arbor.
It’s both a “water” and a “winter wonderland,” as the unofficial state nickname goes, proving that the 26th state in the Union is a little bit to everyone, year-round.
In its southern region, Michigan is the epitome of the American heartland, where the locals have an almost southern drawl, and the land is more sedate and sprawling. To the north and west, it’s nearly Canadian — the vowels start to get slightly more rounded and the beer slightly heavier as the topography becomes more rugged and unforgiving.
It should come as no surprise that this mighty Midwestern state, surrounded by four of the five Great Lakes, would contain quite a bit of history along with its diversity of natural offerings and interests. Its three National Monuments are as disparate as the state in which they reside. Read on to learn more!
Dukes Experimental Forest: This monument is truly one of a kind! Dukes Experimental Forest was established in 1926 near the city of Marquette, Michigan, and has been a valuable resource for understanding the local ecology for nearly 100 years. The research at the site includes the stocking levels of hardwoods and swamp conifers and the regeneration and cutting methods of northern hardwoods. While some early logging was done in the area, today, Dukes Experimental Forest consists almost entirely of natural old growth. The purpose of this nearly untouched preserve today is to develop better land management practices that move into other parts of the state to foster healthy northern hardwood growth. This spot is vital to Michigan’s larger ecological health and will hopefully remain so for generations to come.
Photo Courtesy USDA Forest Service/Kerry Woods
Father Marquette National Memorial: The history of Michigan stretches back centuries, with Native people inhabiting the land for hundreds of years before White settlers arrived in the 17th century. This National Memorial preserves the legacy of one explorer, Father Jacques Marquette, a French missionary. After setting up an outpost to minister to French fur traders in Northern Michigan, Father Marquette joined Louis Jolliet on his expedition to explore the region around modern-day Chicago before turning south down the Mississippi River to explore nearly the entire length of the mighty waterway on simple canoes. The records of this brave endeavor would become invaluable to explorers who would follow in their footsteps. Today, the memorial preserves the legacy of the missionary and his exploits in pre-Revolutionary War America.
Photo Courtesy NPS
Michigan State Capitol: The state capitol building, located in Lansing, was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1992. However, its history and the history of the two capitol buildings that came before it stretches back much farther. Upon entry into the U.S. in 1837, the original capital was in Detroit, Michigan, before being relocated about a decade later to modern-day Lansing, which was referred to as “howling wilderness.” A simple wooden structure would be the first building, although a more permanent one would have to wait until the end of the Civil War to be built. Over two decades after the end of the war, Michigan’s third and present capitol structure was completed and dedicated and still stands today as the seat of the state’s power. Visitors can explore the exhibits or view the stunning Neoclassical architecture beneath the iron dome atop the magnificent building. This historic landmark is a must-visit when passing through the heart of the “Great Lake State!”
Photo Courtesy Michigan State Capitol
