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Grand Marais, Michigan: Difference between revisions

Coordinates: 46°40′15″N 85°59′07″W / 46.67083°N 85.98528°W / 46.67083; -85.98528
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==Geography==
==Geography==
Grand Marais is the northern terminus of M-[[M-77 (Michigan highway)|77]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.state-ends.com/michigan/m/77/|title=Michigan highway ends, M-77 picture.|work=state-ends.com}}</ref> [[Seney, Michigan|Seney]] and the [[Seney National Wildlife Refuge]] are to the south.
Grand Marais is the northern terminus of M-[[M-77 (Michigan highway)|77]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.state-ends.com/michigan/m/77/|title=Michigan highway ends, M-77 picture.|work=state-ends.com|deadurl=yes|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080523114810/http://www.state-ends.com/michigan/m/77/|archivedate=2008-05-23|df=}}</ref> [[Seney, Michigan|Seney]] and the [[Seney National Wildlife Refuge]] are to the south.


==Arts and culture==
==Arts and culture==
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* The Gitche Gumee Agate and History Museum.<ref>{{cite web | title = Home Page | publisher = Gitche Gumee Agate and History Museum | url = http://www.agatelady.com/ | accessdate = May 2015}}</ref>
* The Gitche Gumee Agate and History Museum.<ref>{{cite web | title = Home Page | publisher = Gitche Gumee Agate and History Museum | url = http://www.agatelady.com/ | accessdate = May 2015}}</ref>
* The Lake Superior Brewing Company operates a brewery and pub at Grand Marais.<ref>[http://www.michigan.org/Experiences/Tag/Default.aspx?tag=Breweries "Pure Michigan, Grand Marais"], Michigan State</ref>
* The Lake Superior Brewing Company operates a brewery and pub at Grand Marais.<ref>[http://www.michigan.org/Experiences/Tag/Default.aspx?tag=Breweries "Pure Michigan, Grand Marais"], Michigan State</ref>
* In mid June, the harbor at Grand Marais is the site of the annual sea plane fly-in, hosted by the Grand Marais Pilots Association on behalf of the National Seaplane Pilots Association.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.grandmaraismichigan.com/ChamberPages/SplashIn/splashin.htm|title=Sea Planes Splash-In, Grand Marais, MI|work=grandmaraismichigan.com}}</ref>
* In mid June, the harbor at Grand Marais is the site of the annual sea plane fly-in, hosted by the Grand Marais Pilots Association on behalf of the National Seaplane Pilots Association.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.grandmaraismichigan.com/ChamberPages/SplashIn/splashin.htm|title=Sea Planes Splash-In, Grand Marais, MI|work=grandmaraismichigan.com|deadurl=yes|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20111003170008/http://www.grandmaraismichigan.com/ChamberPages/SplashIn/splashin.htm|archivedate=2011-10-03|df=}}</ref>
* In mid July, the Great Lakes Sea Kayak Symposium is held at the harbor. This multi-day event attracts sea kayakers from around the country. It is billed as "the largest and oldest sea kayaking symposium on the Great Lakes."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://downwindsports.com/glsks/|title=Great Lake Sea Kayak Symposium|work=Downwind sports}}</ref>
* In mid July, the Great Lakes Sea Kayak Symposium is held at the harbor. This multi-day event attracts sea kayakers from around the country. It is billed as "the largest and oldest sea kayaking symposium on the Great Lakes."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://downwindsports.com/glsks/|title=Great Lake Sea Kayak Symposium|work=Downwind sports}}</ref>


== We Hear You America contest ==
== We Hear You America contest ==
Grand Marais Michigan, with a population of about 300, gained national attention<ref name="Wins">{{cite news|title=Grand Marais Wins Contest |author=Staff |url=http://www.sooeveningnews.com/news/x639356104/Grand-Marais-wins-contest |newspaper=[[The Evening News (Sault Ste. Marie)|The Evening News]] |location=Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan |date= |accessdate=June 7, 2011 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110216055146/http://www.sooeveningnews.com/news/x639356104/Grand-Marais-wins-contest |archivedate=February 16, 2011 |df= }}</ref> early in 2011 when it became the leader in a national contest sponsored by [[Reader's Digest]]. Visitors to the We Hear You America web site had the opportunity to "cheer" for any community in order to win recognition and cash prizes.<ref>[http://wehearyouamerica.readersdigest.com/ We Hear you America]</ref> Grand Marais' harbor was officially deemed a Harbor of Refuge because it was the only lifeline a sailor had along the dangerous shipwreck coast of Lake Superior. Years of neglect had caused deterioration of its harbor breakwall, allowing sand to fill in, but the cost to repair it seemed prohibitive.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.saveyourharbor.com|title=Grand Marais Harbor & Breakwall Restoration Project|work=saveyourharbor.com}}</ref> Grand Marais attained 1,281,724 "cheers" and won the top municipal first prize of $40,000 in the contest, as well as notoriety for its plight in a Reader's Digest article.<ref name="Wins"/>
Grand Marais Michigan, with a population of about 300, gained national attention<ref name="Wins">{{cite news|title=Grand Marais Wins Contest |author=Staff |url=http://www.sooeveningnews.com/news/x639356104/Grand-Marais-wins-contest |newspaper=[[The Evening News (Sault Ste. Marie)|The Evening News]] |location=Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan |date= |accessdate=June 7, 2011 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110216055146/http://www.sooeveningnews.com/news/x639356104/Grand-Marais-wins-contest |archivedate=February 16, 2011 |df= }}</ref> early in 2011 when it became the leader in a national contest sponsored by [[Reader's Digest]]. Visitors to the We Hear You America web site had the opportunity to "cheer" for any community in order to win recognition and cash prizes.<ref>[http://wehearyouamerica.readersdigest.com/ We Hear you America] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110206195016/http://wehearyouamerica.readersdigest.com/ |date=2011-02-06 }}</ref> Grand Marais' harbor was officially deemed a Harbor of Refuge because it was the only lifeline a sailor had along the dangerous shipwreck coast of Lake Superior. Years of neglect had caused deterioration of its harbor breakwall, allowing sand to fill in, but the cost to repair it seemed prohibitive.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.saveyourharbor.com|title=Grand Marais Harbor & Breakwall Restoration Project|work=saveyourharbor.com|deadurl=yes|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110128094511/http://www.saveyourharbor.com/|archivedate=2011-01-28|df=}}</ref> Grand Marais attained 1,281,724 "cheers" and won the top municipal first prize of $40,000 in the contest, as well as notoriety for its plight in a Reader's Digest article.<ref name="Wins"/>


==See also==
==See also==

Revision as of 10:37, 22 October 2017

Grand Marais
Unincorporated Community
Motto: 
Eastern Gateway to Pictured Rocks National Lakeshores[1]
Grand Marais is located in Michigan
Grand Marais
Grand Marais
Location within the state of Michigan
Coordinates: 46°40′15″N 85°59′07″W / 46.67083°N 85.98528°W / 46.67083; -85.98528
CountryUnited States
StateMichigan
CountyAlger
TownshipBurt Township
Elevation
627 ft (191 m)
Population
 (2000)
 • Total350
Time zoneUTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-4 (EDT)
Websitehttp://www.grandmaraismichigan.com/

Grand Marais is an unincorporated community in Burt Township, Alger County in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is located on Lake Superior, and is the eastern gateway to the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore via H-58.

History

Grand Marais, Michigan historic marker

The name Grand Marais (French: great marsh) is a reference to the large, shallow harbor. French explorers used the word "marais" to mean "harbor of refuge" as well as "marsh."

A breakwater was later built that extends from the bay into Lake Superior. The Grand Marais Outer Range Light is at its end,[2] and the Fresnel lens is still operative. It is one of only 70 such lenses that remain operational in the United States; 16 of these are in use on the Great Lakes, eight of which are in Michigan.[3] Many controversies in the little town relate to the costs of dredging and breakwall-repair operations to keep the harbor functioning.

Grand Marais was one of five U.S. Life-Saving Service Stations established along the coast of Lake Superior between Munising and Whitefish Point in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. It was part of the U.S. Life-Saving Service District 10 (later part of District 11). The other four Life-saving Stations were Deer Park, Two Heart, Crisp Point Light, and Vermilion Point. In 1915, these stations became part of the U.S. Coast Guard. In 1939 the U.S. Lighthouse Service also merged under the control of the U.S. Coast Guard.

The community was home to the Grand Marais Air Force Station from 1954 to 1957. The station was part of the Air Defense Command, and provided general surveillance radar along the northern frontier of the United States.

Geography

Grand Marais is the northern terminus of M-77.[4] Seney and the Seney National Wildlife Refuge are to the south.

Arts and culture

Former Grand Marais Life-Saving Station, now serving as a Ranger Station

Grand Marais is a four-season tourist destination. Snowmobiling is popular in the winter, and swimming, boating, kayaking, and fishing are among the summer activities.

Points of interest and events include:

  • The former United States Coast Guard Life-Saving Station, which now serves as a ranger station. The Coast Guard radio operator here had the last communication with the SS Edmund Fitzgerald before she sank during a storm in 1979, with all hands lost.[5] The former keeper's quarters of the station were adapted to house the Grand Marais Maritime Museum.
  • The Pickle Barrel House Museum (1926).
  • The Au Sable Light, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
  • Muskallonge Lake State Park.
  • Sable Falls, west of Grand Marais.
  • The Gitche Gumee Agate and History Museum.[6]
  • The Lake Superior Brewing Company operates a brewery and pub at Grand Marais.[7]
  • In mid June, the harbor at Grand Marais is the site of the annual sea plane fly-in, hosted by the Grand Marais Pilots Association on behalf of the National Seaplane Pilots Association.[8]
  • In mid July, the Great Lakes Sea Kayak Symposium is held at the harbor. This multi-day event attracts sea kayakers from around the country. It is billed as "the largest and oldest sea kayaking symposium on the Great Lakes."[9]

We Hear You America contest

Grand Marais Michigan, with a population of about 300, gained national attention[10] early in 2011 when it became the leader in a national contest sponsored by Reader's Digest. Visitors to the We Hear You America web site had the opportunity to "cheer" for any community in order to win recognition and cash prizes.[11] Grand Marais' harbor was officially deemed a Harbor of Refuge because it was the only lifeline a sailor had along the dangerous shipwreck coast of Lake Superior. Years of neglect had caused deterioration of its harbor breakwall, allowing sand to fill in, but the cost to repair it seemed prohibitive.[12] Grand Marais attained 1,281,724 "cheers" and won the top municipal first prize of $40,000 in the contest, as well as notoriety for its plight in a Reader's Digest article.[10]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Grand Marais Chamber of Commerce website". Grand Marais Chamber of Commerce.
  2. ^ Terry Pepper, "Seeing the Light, Grand Marais Light".
  3. ^ United States Coast Guard, Fresnel Lenses Still in Operation[permanent dead link].
  4. ^ "Michigan highway ends, M-77 picture". state-ends.com. Archived from the original on 2008-05-23. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  5. ^ "Hunt's Guide to the Upper Peninsula", Grand Marais Maritime Museum.
  6. ^ "Home Page". Gitche Gumee Agate and History Museum. Retrieved May 2015. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  7. ^ "Pure Michigan, Grand Marais", Michigan State
  8. ^ "Sea Planes Splash-In, Grand Marais, MI". grandmaraismichigan.com. Archived from the original on 2011-10-03. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  9. ^ "Great Lake Sea Kayak Symposium". Downwind sports.
  10. ^ a b Staff. "Grand Marais Wins Contest". The Evening News. Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan. Archived from the original on February 16, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  11. ^ We Hear you America Archived 2011-02-06 at the Wayback Machine
  12. ^ "Grand Marais Harbor & Breakwall Restoration Project". saveyourharbor.com. Archived from the original on 2011-01-28. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)

External links

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