Alpena, Michigan

We have had a Great week in Alpena. The usual Michigan “rain”, but still managed to see a lot of things. As luck would have it, we got here in time for the Brown Trout Festival, and it’s Art on the Bay show. Alpena is home to the world’s largest cement plant, established in 1908.

Alpena is located on Thunder Bay of Lake Huron. Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary preserves a national treasure of nearly 200 historic shipwrecks in and around the bay, and northern Lake Huron. You can explore the history and archaeology of these wrecks at the Great Lakes Maritime Heritage Center, the Sanctuary’s 20,000 square foot headquarters. With exhibits on Great Lakes maritime history and shipwrecks, NOAA’s Science on a Sphere exhibit, a sanctuary store, state of the art education spaces, high-definition theater, and archaeological conservation lab, the free Center is a great place to visit. The Thunder Bay area currently has known, and located, about 70 shipwrecks, many of which are able to be visited by scuba divers. There are an estimated 90 other shipwrecks whose resting spots are still unknown in the area.

Of course, along with friends Ted & Shirley, we had to try out one of the lifeboats in the Center.

Just north of Alpena are the Old Presque Isle Lighthouse, built in 1840, and used until 1871. It was replaced by the New Presque Isle Lighthouse, built in 1870. The New Lighthouse is the tallest lighthouse tower accessible by the public on the Great Lakes, at 113 feet, one foot taller than the Big Point Betsie Lighthouse.

All in all, a great week. We enjoyed seeing Ted & Shirley, and thank them for their hospitality. If you wish, you might ask Shirley how the Set-back games went. (Smile) Now on to Alden, on Torch Lake for the Cousin’s Reunion!