Marquette Michigan

 Marquette, Michigan, is a vibrant city on the southern shore of Lake Superior in the Upper Peninsula. Known for its natural beauty, Marquette features rugged cliffs, scenic trails, and a bustling harbor. It's home to Northern Michigan University and rich in history, once serving as a key port for shipping iron ore. Outdoor enthusiasts enjoy year-round activities like hiking, biking, skiing, and kayaking, all set against the backdrop of stunning lake views and dense forests.

The Superior Dome, constructed in 1991, stands 14 stories tall and spans 5.1 acres beneath its roof. Built with 781 Douglas Fir beams and 108.5 miles of fir decking, it has a permanent seating capacity of 8,000, with space to accommodate up to 16,000 people for larger events. 

With a diameter of 536 feet, the Dome is recognized as the fifth-largest dome structure in the world by diameter. Remarkably, while the four larger domes are constructed of steel, the Superior Dome holds the title of the largest wooden dome on Earth. Engineered for durability, the structure can withstand 60 pounds of snow per square foot and wind speeds up to 80 miles per hour.

The Marquette Regional History Center showcases the rich heritage of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula through exhibits on Native culture, mining, logging, and local life.

Early home built snow-mobile

Early music machine

One of George Shiras III cameras and trip mechanism. 

George Shiras III (1859–1942) is widely considered the father of modern wildlife photography for his groundbreaking innovations in flash photography and remote camera trapping. He pioneered the use of remote-triggered camera traps, where animals would trip a wire that activated a magnesium flash and camera shutter—capturing dramatic, candid images of deer, owls, raccoons, and other nocturnal creatures. These hauntingly beautiful nighttime photographs, many taken in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, revolutionized the way wildlife was documented and helped lay the foundation for modern conservation photography.

Compared to earlier structures, this 1855 home is a luxury cabin.

It features a wood floor, doors and windows. The logs are chinked with moss. 

Ojibwe tribes' man drying his catch

The Ojibwa built at least six different styles of lodges or wiigiwaam. 

Some of the beautiful crafts of the Ojibwa people. 

Boxes decorated with porcupine quills 

Pictured Rocks

 We took the classic boat trip to see Pictured Rocks, a stunning 42-mile stretch along Lake Superior. The towering sandstone cliffs, ranging from 50 to 200 feet high, are streaked with vibrant mineral colors—reds, blues, greens, and blacks—creating a breathtaking natural tapestry. The boat offered a perfect view of the dramatic rock formations, hidden caves, and cascading waterfalls that make this shoreline truly unforgettable.

Me, Jan, Pat and Jimmi

The boat's captain and first mate

It was a great day to be on the water

Mineral stained rocks. 

This tree has become isolated over time on a rocky pillar, yet it continues to survive 

because it's roots extend across the gap to reach fertile soil on the nearby bank.

This rock fall occurred last spring.

More colorful mineral streaks

The WINs that did the kayak tour. 

Shipwrecks of Lake Huron

In Alpena, MI, we took the glass-bottom boat tour to view historic shipwrecks resting beneath the crystal-clear waters of Lake Huron. Through clear viewing wells, passengers can see well-preserved wrecks dating back to the 19th and early 20th centuries.

All aboard, ready to sail

2nd Ave draw bridge going up

The captain and two members of the PBS crew filming 

a special on the shipwrecks

Randy checking out our position. The yellow circles a wreck locations

It was a great day to be on the water

The waters around Alpena are part of the Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary, a federally protected area in Lake Huron. This sanctuary is home to dozens of historic shipwrecks, many of which are marked by NOAA buoys to aid in identification and preservation.

Pat and Randy checking out the wreck

The depth of the water is 12 to 15 feet 

June and Tresa checking out another wreck

All smiles after exploring the wrecks of Lake Huron

Soo Locks

The Soo Locks, located in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, are a remarkable feat of American engineering and a cornerstone of Great Lakes shipping. First constructed in 1855 by the State of Michigan, the original lock—known as the State Lock—was built to bypass the 21-foot drop caused by the St. Marys River rapids between Lake Superior and Lake Huron. Prior to its construction, ships had to unload their cargo and portage it around the rapids, a laborious and inefficient process that limited trade. In 1881, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers took over operation and maintenance, expanding the system to meet growing commercial demands.  Today, more than 7,000 ships pass through annually, transporting tens of millions of tons of essential cargo such as iron ore, coal, and grain, making the Soo Locks an enduring artery of North American industry and commerce.

The Saint Marys Falls Hydropower Plant is one of the oldest continuously operating hydroelectric plants in the United States. Completed in 1902, this historic facility was built to harness the power of the St. Marys River as it drops between Lake Superior and Lake Huron. The powerhouse stretches over 1,300 feet and features striking Romanesque architecture made from locally quarried sandstone. It was built to contain 74 generators under a single roof, making it one of the largest hydro plants of its time. Water is diverted from the river through a two-mile-long power canal to drive turbines that generate clean electricity, supplying a significant portion of the Eastern Upper Peninsula’s power needs. Recognized as a Historic Civil Engineering Landmark, the plant remains a vital and impressive example of early 20th-century engineering.

Each stone was individually cut and hand layed

The Museum Ship Valley Camp, moored in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, is a retired Great Lakes freighter built in 1917 and now open as an immersive maritime museum. Inside the holds are four impressive 1,200-gallon aquariums showcasing native Great Lakes fish, crew quarters including the captain’s cabin and more modest crew bunk rooms, and detailed shipwreck artifacts, models, paintings, and maritime memorabilia. 

Our captain and narrator guided us through the journey with expert knowledge bringing the history and operation of the locks to life

Very large ship heading down river

Tying off in the lock

The Canadian tour boat tying off behind us

Lock gates closing 

Going up. 

It takes about eight minutes to raise boats 21 feet through the lock, as water rushes in at an incredible rate of one million gallons per minute.

Lock gates opening

Algoma Steel, located in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, is Canada’s second largest steel producer and a vital part of the country’s industrial landscape. Algoma specializes in manufacturing hot- and cold-rolled steel sheet and plate products, serving industries such as automotive, construction, energy, and manufacturing. 

The stock piles of the three ingredients need to produce steel, iron ore, coke, and limestone. It takes 2.5 tons of these material to produce one ton of steel

Rolls of steel waiting for transport 

Returning down river we navigated the Canadian locks

Going down

Heading back to port. 

It was interesting learning how the locks worked.