Explore Michigan & The Upper Great Lakes

Michigan’s Forgotten Beach Towns of the 1920s and 1930s

Before Florida, America Vacationed in Michigan

May 22 • Paul Austin

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April 2026

History of Bitely & Woodland Park Michigan: A Railroad Stop That Led to a Resort Community

Bitely, Michigan was never meant to be a destination.

Apr 27 • Paul Austin

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March 2026

Castle Farms: From Model Dairy to Michigan Landmark

Castle Farms in Charlevoix began in 1918 as a model dairy farm by a Sears executive. Learn how it became a historic Michigan landmark and event venue.

Mar 20 • Paul Austin

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The Gasoline Motorcars of the Ann Arbor Railroad

In the early 1910s, the Ann Arbor Railroad looked for a new way to serve its small-town passengers without the expense of a full steam locomotive.

Mar 3 • Paul Austin

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February 2026

How Interurban Service Shaped Early-1900s Life in Romeo, Michigan

When electric rail linked a farm town to Detroit’s jobs, shops, and weekend crowds

Feb 22 • Paul Austin

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Roscommon Michigan History - 10 Amazing Rare Photos from a Logging Town to Cottage Country

A journey through Roscommon’s past, from rail lines and logging camps to lakeside lodges. Discover surprising tales in this small Michigan town’s…

Feb 20 • Paul Austin

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Higgins Lake Postcards: When Summer Ran by the Dock Bell

A video essay on resorts, boat runs, and the quiet work behind a famous Michigan shoreline.

Feb 17 • Paul Austin

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4:44

They Came for the Fish and Stayed for the Town

How Hunting and Fishing Built Prudenville, Michigan

Feb 16 • Paul Austin

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History of Cadillac Michigan: Industry, Water, and a Growing Town

A look at the history of Cadillac Michigan, from factories and railroads to lake tourism and sports fame, told through early 1900s photographs.

Feb 13 • Paul Austin

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Knocking Through the Snow: Commerce on Runners

In early 1900s Michigan, commerce ran on runners. A Watkins salesman braved winter roads to bring remedies and extracts straight to farm families…

Feb 11 • Paul Austin

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The Ordinary Day That Built Belleville, Michigan

History is more than dates. In 1910 Belleville, Michigan, people lived, worked, and aged in one place, in a world without screens, fast travel, or…

Feb 7 • Paul Austin

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History of Isle Royale Michigan - From Copper Mining to National Park (1830–1940)

History of Isle Royale Michigan from 1830 to 1940, told through lighthouses, copper booms, fish camps, and early tourist lodges and cottages that shaped…

Feb 6 • Paul Austin

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