Leave It to Ludington
Nature, culture, and history converge in Mason County’s port city
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lake michigan
Legendary Female Lighthouse Keeper Elizabeth Whitney Williams Inducted into Michigan Women’s Hall of Fame
Michigan has more lighthouses than any other state (129) and over the course of the last two hundred years since the first was erected, nearly 50 women have served as keepers of these iconic beacons. Chief among those is Elizabeth (Whitney) VanRiper Williams who was inducted into the Michigan Women’s Hall of Fame on Tuesday, November 12, 2024 at ceremonies at the Max M. and Marjorie S. Fisher Music Center in downtown Detroit.
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35 Years of Looping Lake Michigan
Four out of five Great Lakes (all those touching Michigan) have an official “Circle Tour” route that were each established to encourage travel to the unique small towns and larger urban centers found along the way.
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Murder & Suicide of Lighthouse Keepers the Focus of New Book by Author Dianna Higgs Stampfler
Blending her long-time interest in maritime history and true crime, Death & Lighthouses on the Great Lakes is the latest title by Michigan author Dianna Higgs Stampfler and published by the History Press as part of its Murder & Mayhem series.
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Lost Love & Found Spirits in Nahma – the Heart of the Hiawatha
So we stayed at the haunted Nahma Inn in October of 2019 and met several locals who shared stories with us about Nellie Fleming and her spirit who resides within this 1908 building. Apparently there are as many as 5 ghosts here – maybe Charles Good who lived for a time in the room (#17) across from Nell (#16)…and an on-again-off-again affair was known within the town. At one point, Nell’s sisters also lived here (1930 census)…including Anne (pictured) who was a local boys high school basketball coach and school superintendent (and I suspect is actually a sister-in-law, married to Nell’s only brother, John).
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Tragedy on South Manitou Island
Lighthouse keeper Aaron Sheridan was a Civil War soldier who lost the use of his arm in battle and as such, he was able to get his wife — Julia — appointed his assistant keeper oft his important beacon in the norther part of Lake Michigan. Given his injuries, when he needed to make the trip across the waters to the mainland, Aaron would often hire a local fisherman named Christ Ancharson to man the 25-foot Mackinaw sailboat. During such a trip, on Friday, March 15, 1878, high waves and bad weather overturned the boat just as it was approaching the harbor on South Manitou Island. Sadly, the Sheridans — including their infant son, Robert — died that day.
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Holiday Classic “White Christmas” Was Likely Written in Charlevoix
Each holiday season, we are inundated with hour after hour of movies about Christmas airing on television and now streaming services. A handful have ties to Michigan, like Prancer (1989) and The Polar Express (2004). But did you know the beloved 1954 classic White Christmas is believed to have actually been written right here in the Great Lakes State?
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The Power of the Gales of November
While tropical storms and hurricanes continue to attack the region in and around the Gulf of Mexico, the “Gales of November” are stirring up the Great Lakes region just as they have for centuries. This unique weather phenomenon is created when cold, dry air from northern Canada converges with moist air from the Gulf of Mexico, over the still warm summer waters of the Great Lakes.
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Raise a Glass to Celebrate Michigan Wine Month!
There is a holiday for just about anything, but this one is well deserved – especially these days. May is MICHIGAN Wine Month…a time to pop a cork and pour a glass of locally made wine from one of the state’s nearly 150 wineries.
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The History Press Contracts with Dianna Stampfler of Promote Michigan for “Michigan’s Haunted Lighthouses” Book
Michigan is home to more lighthouses than any other state and some 30 of those are rumored to be haunted
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Northern Michigan’s The Homestead Resort Names Tony Farragh as Director of Sales
The Homestead, America’s Freshwater Resort, announced that it has named Tony Farragh as Director of Sales. In his new role,
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“Michigan’s Ghostly Beacons” Scheduled Throughout the Fall Season at Libraries Statewide
For nearly 20 years, Dianna Stampfler has been speaking about Michigan’s lighthouses, their keepers and their ghosts. This fall, she will present a series of free programs called “Michigan’s Ghostly Beacons” at libraries around the state.
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Take Your Fall Color Tour Along West Michigan’s Lakeshore Harvest Country
As the fall color tour season begins to emerge, you’re invited to bring the family out to explore the back-country roads along the Lake Michigan shoreline stretching throughout Van Buren and Allegan Counties.
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