The Thrill of the Minnesota State Fair, Falcon Heights, 1900s

Under the old domed Main Building, the Minnesota State Fair sold a bold idea: progress you could walk into.

Jan 16 • Paul Austin

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History of Eau Clair, Michigan – A Working Town at the Turn of the Century - Video

In the early 1900s, Eau Clair was a hub for apples, crates, and hometown pride. The box factories ran hot, and baseball packed the stands. Did your…

Jan 15 • Paul Austin

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Brainerd Minnesota's Winter Supply Chain (Circa 1894)

A 1894 snapshot from Brainerd shows the ice trade in action—lake ice stacked at the Maple Street ice house, preserved with sawdust for summer use.

Jan 15 • Paul Austin

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When the White Mill Burned: Boyne City, 1908

In 1908, fire destroyed the largest sawmill in Boyne City, Michigan. The White Mill blaze wiped out machinery, halted production, and hit a lumber town…

Jan 15 • Paul Austin

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Invite your friends to read Explore Michigan & The Upper Great Lakes

An invite may get you monthes of free subscription access

Jan 15 • Paul Austin

Kingston, Michigan - A Glimpse into Early 20th Century Life

Step into early 1900s Kingston, Michigan—where railroads, farming, and Main Street life shaped a small town filled with character, commerce, and…

Jan 15 • Paul Austin

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Brown City Michigan: Railroads, Main Street, and Small-Town Life in the 1900s

Take a visual journey through early 1900s Brown City, Michigan, a key rail hub and farming community in Sanilac County’s Thumb region.

Jan 15 • Paul Austin

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Omer, Michigan: What Fire and Flood Took—and What Stayed Behind in the 1900s - Video

A short history of Michigan’s smallest city, told through disaster, survival, and the choice to remain

Jan 13 • Paul Austin

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Great Lakes Shipping, 1850–1900: When Saginaw Bay Ran Like an Expressway

Busy Great Lakes shipping from 1850 to 1900 turned Saginaw Bay into a freight expressway, moving lumber, salt, coal, and grain across the Midwest.

Jan 12 • Paul Austin

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December 2025

James Oliver Curwood - A Little Known Michigan Author's Life Between River and North Woods

How Owosso-born novelist James Oliver Curwood rose from small-town Michigan to global fame and became an early conservation voice along the Shiawassee…

Dec 7, 2025 • Paul Austin

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August 2025

How I Grew from 20K to 50K Facebook Followers in 60 Days

The simple daily habit that took me from 20K to 50K followers — and 5M views per month.

Aug 31, 2025 • Paul Austin

June 2025

Michigan's Small Town History: A Legacy Written in Every Corner

A detailed look at Michigan's small town history—from lumber camps to mining towns and resort destinations. Learn how these communities helped shape the…

Jun 15, 2025 • Paul Austin