“Michigan’s Ghostly Beacons” Scheduled Throughout the Fall Season at Libraries Statewide

September 25, 2018 Dianna Stampfler beacons, ghost, great lakes, haunted, lake huron, lake michigan, lake superior, lighthouse, michigan, michigan history, pure michigan, spirits, upper peninsula

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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Getting Out of My Comfort Zone (& into the Woods)

August 9, 2018 Dianna Stampfler camping, ccc, frank lloyd wright, lake michigan, lake superior, michigan history, north manitou island, point iroquois, pure michigan, sleeping bear dunes, upper peninsula, whitefish

My earliest travel memory was at about age three, when my family went camping at Leelanau State Park in Northport.

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Shedding Light on Michigan’s Historic Female Keepers

March 7, 2018 Dianna Stampfler great lakes, lake huron, lake michigan, lake superior, lighthouse, michigan coastline, michigan islands, michigan lighthouse, michigan maritime, michigan nautical, michigan shoreline, womens history month

Serving as a lighthouse keeper was the only “non-clerical” government job that women were allowed to have in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Michigan had more than 60 women documented as lighthouse keepers at these historic beacons, often serving as assistant keepers with their husbands, fathers or brothers—and in the case of tragedy, many were promoted to the role of head keeper.

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Great Lakes, Great Times – in Pure Michigan

May 29, 2017 Dianna Stampfler best beaches, freshwater, great lakes, lake erie, lake huron, lake michigan, lake superior, michigan beaches, michigan tourism, pure michigan, upper peninsula, west michigan

Michigan has been welcoming travelers since the 1800s who arrived by steamer ships, trains and later personal automobiles to escape the city heat in Chicago, St. Louis and other locales. They were drawn to the sugar sand beaches, the cool waters and the often allergy-free environment.