Back in the '60s and '70s, my parents used to drag all us Texas kids to our family cottage near Port Huron, and I remember hearing talk about someday visiting the mythical Mackinac Bridge. 59 yr old Alabama citizen now, and still haven't been there. I think I'm just gonna have to make a dedicated trip before I run out of time.
that's a long way to come for family cottage. come in september after labor day you will miss most of the crowds and the weather is great. not to hot, not to cold. check out mackinaw city, st ignace and see the locks in sault ste marie.
born and raised a "YOOPER" been over and back on that bridge countless times............now i simply fear going over it...dont know why but it now scares me stupid
Fall is best time for people our age, I'm 62. Between mid September and late October gets you low traffic, still not winter and a shot at being here for peak fall color change. Several great scenic routes in the area if you hit peak color, even if you miss peak. If the bridge history interests you, stop in at The Mackinac Bridge Museum in Mackinaw City above Mama Mias Pizza.😎
From the Alabama state line to the Michigan state line it's 10 hours with one bathroom stop. It's gonna be hot next week so wait until the first week of October. Have fun! 😊
The American Bridge Division of United States Steel Corporation built the Mackinac bridge. I remember as a kid traveling to Mackinaw City in the 1950’s when the bridge was under construction. My father worked at US Steel’s Gary works at the time and eventually I did too for 31 years. As I recall, US Steel produced a documentary film about the bridge’s construction.
Love watching your channel, I've lived in Michigan all my life and learning all these interesting facts from you two and your adventures has become a favorite way for me to know more about our beautiful state, thanks!
people i know have told me about going deer hunting in the U.P. before the bridge. they said you would actually wait in line over 24 hours to get across. if it were me i would of left a few days earlier but that's what they told me. when the bridge opened you could still take the car ferry. i remember going across on the ferry. i have lived on bois blanc island, in kinross and sault ste marie. it's an interesting area for history. the winter sucks.
This video popping up in my feed proves that my phone is spying on me. We were talking about our planned trip to Mackinaw City next week, then this showed up. The first time we went to Mackinac Island many years ago I was fascinated about the tales of the Native Americans who would travel across ice to get there in the winter.
people who live on bois blanc and mackinac islands still cross in the winter. some die doing it. some are never found. some are found when the ice melts.
We have walked and explored all over Mac City but never knew the purpose of the large concrete structure on the pier. Now we know. You two have some fascinating adventures and we really enjoy learning the history. Here's some Big Mac thanks to you ! One of our favorite memories was sharing a Kilwin's pecan & carmel apple while sitting on the observation pier.
Let me join in the cavalcade of worthy praise, and specifically commend the excellent production, audio, and editing. Makes watching & learning a real pleasure.
I have property right on Graham point peninsula that shares a property line with the straits state park and the lakeside cemetery. The glacier push line runs directly through it and is pretty unique. Been watching the channel for three or four years now. Love the combination of history, travel, and state pride. Such a fun and informative channel. Keep em comin
Thank you so much for your video of our Michigan heritage. God Bless you 🙏 ❤️. SUMMERS IN OUR HOUSEHOLD USUALLY INCLUDED AN ANNUAL PILGRAMAGE TO NORTHERN MICHIGAN TO PETOSKEY. CHEYBOYGAN SOUTH TO ROGERS CITY AREA FOLLOWING FOR YEARS. LOVED IT ALL. AT AGE 79 RETURNING MAY NOT OCCUR AGAIN BUT THRU YOUR KIND IMAGES I'M BACK 😢🎉😊 RICHARD AND FAMILIES
I spent my summers up through my early twenties at two cottages at Wawatam beach in Mackinaw City. My great great uncle, Vine Harding inherited to beachfront from the fort to McGulpin's Point at the turn of the last century. He built the Wawatam Inn by what is now the Catholic church and sold beach lots and built the earliest cottages. His cottage which was the first one built ended up with my father's parents and my mother's grandparents had him build them one. That is where my parents met. They moved to Montana in 1941 where I was born, as my father was an English professor we had summers off and would come spend summers at one or other of the cottages. My aunt's family still has the cottage on Dad's side and my brother has the one on mother's side. I recently retired and moved to the wonderful village of Garden in the UP so I am back to my roots. I remember one of the tales we would tell tourists was that the bridge would swing over to the island if the need arose, also we would tell them that the bridge would be taken apart in the winter and pieces stored in people's basements in Mackinaw City and St Igna e. It was funny how many people believed these stories. I have so many fond memories of that area and this site is the absolute greatest....many thanks to Chuck and Poppin for their efforts
As a Green Bay Packers season ticket holder living in the lower peninsula, I make 9 or 10 round trips a year crossing the Mackinaw Bridge driving to and from Green Bay.
Chuck, you're right that Mackinac Island was the second National Park, established in 1875, just three years after Yellowstone. It was administered by the Army at Fort Mackinac until 1895 when the Army closed the post. At that time the park was transferred to the state as Michigan's first state park. The Mackinac State Historic Parks published a small book about Mackinac Island National Park by Keith Widder, in the 1980s (I got my copy in 1988 when I worked a summer at the park). I believe it has been reprinted again.
Went to Mackinac Island in the summer of 1976, it was the centennial year. Very much was put into the celebration on the island with period costumes and decor. Stepping back into time, I will never forget it.
I wanted to say thank you for your documentary on the straits of Mackinac. I was a radio announcer in Saint Ignace for four years in the mid 70s. Excellent job great historical notes and interesting photography. Again thank you.
Best content on RUclips hands down. Your videos have taught me so much of my birthplace. Looking forward to our trip this month back to MI. Keep up the good work
Thanks, you two for another great video. My father probably knew that guy that died, Albert Abbott, because my father was an underwater welder, probably doing the same thing Abbott did, and then go off and have a few beers in St. Ignace after work (which is how he met my mom). Take care, Mike
Love learning from your channel. In the 50’s my dad and uncles would wait for many hours to cross on the ferry to go to the U.P. To go deer hunting. When the bridge opened they were so happy. Thanks for sharing this history.
Another great video. I remember as a youngster standing outside our car as we waited in line for the ferry across the Straits. On our way to tour the eastern UP. Born in GR, college at Tech and have lived in UP since 1976. Keep up the nice videos!
This is my favorite area! Visit this area twice a year and still learned something from you today. I’m conducting my own research for a book I’m writing during the fur trade era in the straits. Keep up the great work!
I am crazy about Michigan history. I love your channel more every video you put out. You guys are so awesome. Thank you for the information. Not only do you give the history, but you are actually on the location. I just love this so so much. And I do believe the bridge is 26 feet short of 5 miles. But I could be wrong on that.
Me and the wife went up there for many years until my health got in the way . Her and her mom still go to this day. Great area to go and explore. Just never seems to get old . Hopefully I can get back some day before I pass away .
A lot of us wouldn't be here today if the bridge wasn't built. My father born in the lower peninsula, and mother born in the U.P. Four years after the bridge was built, they were married. Pretty awesome. Thanks for sharing your adventures.
Been vacationing the Straits area for thirty years, always looking in the nooks and crannies of the history of that area. You touched on just about every interest I have in this video!
Great. Have been across the bridge many times over the years, but my first visit to da U.P. was by that ferry way back in 1947 at 8 months old. So, I might not have been born in da U.P. ... but I think I'm still gonna claime Yoopership. Great video. Keep it up. Thanks.
I remember as a kid traveling across the bridge in the late 60's riding in a slide in camper with a friend and his family. After all these years I remember it much more than anything else on that two week trip.
Love watching your History report, you two make history so exciting, and fun to learn on each adventure. Poppins that Lake Michigan water is for sure cold, Lol :) I think I heard a “Chuckle" out of “Chuck” ;) when you got wet :) Until your next adventure stay well.
That's my favorite bridge, and the whole area is just so beautiful. In 2017 I drove from North Carolina, where I live, to an event in South Bend, Indiana. However, I took the long route though Sault Saint Marie just so I could drive over that bridge... first time I'd been over it since something like 1968. I was up there again last year, toured the fort, bought some fudge and of course explored Mackinac City. Wound up going over the bridge three times, first time because I'd come into the UP from Wisconsin, then I went over and back again because I wanted to experience it at night, and of course, driving a convertible I had the top down.
My parents took me to the bridge while it was still under construction in 1956. We lived down in the detroit area back then. And the drive to Mackinaw was a much different experience back with no I-75. They didn't start building 75 until 57. So it was all two lane asphalt. We came up again for the opening in 57. Which was quite an adventure. Weather was more of a problem when you didn't have a freeway to get around on. All in all a trip led me to moving to Northern Michigan in the middle 70's. You can't beat driving by miles of trees instead of miles and miles of fast food places, nail salons, and gas stations. You can't beat living somewhere where everyone else in state wants to be. And frequently spend their weekends getting to and from.
@@MeMyselfAndUs903 It was quite a trek back then. I make the run down state in around five hours now. But back then it was an all day trip. You'd arrive and look for a motel. My mother was picky about motel rooms. She'd have to see the room before she agreed to rent it. There were no chains in those days and quality was not guaranteed. And she was going to spend six dollars for a crummy room.
Great content Chuck. I was wondering if you were going to mention Friends Goodwill when talking about the War of 1812 in this video. Since you work on the replica ship at the Michigan Maritime Museum you probably know Glen. I recently stumbled upon your channel and wondered if you lived in Michigan since at a quick glance I see a lot of videos about Michigan history.
Good stuff you two! Brought back memories of my youth while waiting for the ferry across in the mid 50's. I remember watching the trains being loaded into "The Chief W". I have some black & white photos we took of the bridge in the spring of 1957 showing big sections of the road deck still not hung on the suspension cables. Also very vividly remember my first trip across the new bridge on our way to Wisconsin instead of taking the Spartan or Badger across Lake Michigan to Manitowoc. Keep up the good work and thanks.
I've only driven across the Mackinac bridge one time (northbound) in 1995, almost 30 years ago. It was in the middle of the night, it was dark and the fog was very thick. I could see the tubular railing that runs along the right edge of the road lane, (where the white line would normally be) about 1 foot above the road surface. To me, that didn't seem like a tall enough safety railing to keep vehicles from going over the edge. There is no shoulder for emergency stopping, you're driving along the edge of the bridge. I eventually realized there was another, taller railing just outboard of the smaller tubular railing. That made me feel a little better. lol. I was driving an old flatbed tow truck hauling two cars. It was one of the most nerve-wracking experiences (in the top 5) I've ever had while driving a commercial vehicle in 34 years as a driver. I am not a person that is scared of driving on bridges.... but the Mackinac bridge seems to be the exception.... It was on that night, anyway! lolol. Great video again, Poppins and Chuck! 🙂
I've criss crossed it many times, but one time in 1993 I had just made it onto the bridge when the B. A. closed it down due to high winds right after I was one of the last let on. That was one of my most scary drives over the Mighty Mac ever. The winds kept lifting up the back end of my new F150. It had dual gas tanks that I filled up before going on, thinking the weight of the tanks would help stabilize it some. It did not. I had other stuff tied down in the bed, too. The Mackinaw straight has its own weather. It was icing, sleeting and snowing all at the same time. Holy Toledo, I will never go across during inclement weather ever again. I can't remember the exact date, but a few months before this, a lady in a Chevy Chevet went over the rail from high winds In that Chevy Chevet. She didn't survive if I recall correctly. That incident made me realize that I would never ever try to drive a small vehicle across the Big Mac.
On Labor Day, there is a bridge walk... One of the cars that went off the bridge, was a Jeep. He drove off, suffering from depression. The other, I'm told, was a Yugo, which was blown off from the wind. I personally cannot drive on the center grate lane. Freaks me right out. Thanks for the very interesting history lesson! PS. There are no autos allowed on Mackinac island only horse drawn carriages and bicycles.
Actually, Autos are allowed by permit. The police, fire and EMS all have autos, the vice president visited with an entire motorcade of autos a few years ago, there are a number of construction related vehicles there, especially in the winter. The movie "Somewhere in Time" shows Christopher Reeves driving an MG on the island. So yes, some are allowed with a permit from the council.
Here is a comprehensive list of the autos allowed on the island even though most everyone thinks they are "banned". www.mlive.com/sponsor-content/?scid=189883&prx_t=4FAIA1ZldAoBEPA&ntv_ui=47d10e5b-1a50-4fa1-8e11-fe18b3c57b41&ntv_ht=3XhGZAA
I live in mackinaw city you did excellent job, even few things I didn’t know. It was part of the WW2 war machine as you mentioned the ice breaker kept the iron flowing.
Back in the mid 50's my family from Royal Oak Mi would travel north to the ferry lane for the UP, to visit fami;y in Iron Mountain. UP. Always remember eating white fish pasties while wainting in line. Happy trails! Onward!
another outstanding video! Please consider being restless over on Drummond Island. I just finished a book "Drummond Island and the War of 1812". When the British were forced to abandon Ft. Makinac they moved east and established a post at D.I. From there they continued to conduct commerce and interacted with tribal people. Eventually the Americans insisted they depart and this finally occurred in 1828. I've been traveling there since I was a teenager and now have a small piece of land in the shore of Lake Huron way away from humanity...
Awesome, thank you for sharing. My fathers, mothers family settled in the 3 rivers area Quebec, before 1730. The men traded between there and the straits.
Pretty good summary of the history of the area. Surprised that when you were talking about the bridge you didn't mention the one passenger car that fell off the bridge in 1989. A second one fell off in 1997, but that was ruled a suicide. Only two incidents like that in 67 years is pretty remarkable. Today, the straits aren't as important than they used to be. Tourism is great, but in economic importance I think the Soo area far surpasses it now with the amount of cargo that goes through it. I notice you've already done a video up there a few years ago, but it may be worth it to return in the near future with the construction of the new Poe sized lock well under way.
the first one was a girl in a yugo. i was in sault ste marie when it happened. the second one some guy drove over, i believe in his truck. it was ruled that he did it on purpose. what a way to go.
Great video Viking and Poppins. I always wanted to take a boat from Mackinaw city to the island, and I know I can do it now. Couple things I’d like to add, is that the Tea room at the Mackinac Island Fort is where my favorite short fiction Story begins, “A Man Without a Country.” Watching you go under underneath the bridge and the sound of the tires on the grate reminds me that I didn’t buy a piece of the bridge when I could have a couple years ago. They took the original decking off to replace it, sold it and entrepreneurs cut it up and pieces of it at the craft shows we frequently attend. I realize that would be a cool piece of memorabilia to have.
@@RestlessViking I just found out the State shut down the Star line. Sheplars has a long line for passengers to board. Turns out Thor may just be my best bet to getting over to the island.
Thanks for taking us along! My parents have told me many times about their trips to the UP prior to the bridge. I have often wondered where they caught the ferry.
A little lesser know crash into the bridge was a plane hit the bridge in September of 1978. I was crossing the bridge with my parents when it hit the bridge in front of us. I remember the wing of the plane laying on the deck of the bridge as they directed traffic around it and off the bridge.
It was a Cessna 172 flown by a Marine Corps Reserve officer that hit the bridge September 10, 1978 while flying in poor visibility. His two passengers were also Marine Corps Reserve officers. www.ntsb.gov/Pages/brief.aspx?ev_id=39680&key=0
@@ddbatema The aircraft recently found with the remains of a passenger still in it departed Mackinac Island Airport in August 2007 in poor weather. It crashed in Lake Huron and did not hit the bridge.
We go to Mackinaw every October and love to explore the Island, the UP and all around the area. Going under the Bridge is cool, but yours was much cooler. 😏😏
Thank you for another AWESOME vid about my backyard here in Michigan!! From Alpena to the Kewanaw! Wonderful tour guides you guys are! I'm sure at some point you may do a history lesson about Calcite. The limestone quarry in Rogers City. How important This quarry was in building America and helping in the WWII victory. Calcite Screenings were a magazine that was used to be printed by the plant in the years past.
Can you go up to the remnants of the air force base? I love all the history in upper Michigan. I'm one of those who grew up in Michigan and have moved away, but will always have a connection.
if you are talking about kinross, it is still there. i lived there in 1988 to 1991. the houses were sold and the airport was being used for commercial and private planes. people don't know that base was used during the cold war to transport atomic bombs every day. they would leave in the morning and fly to a certain point then get directions to go to another point, on and on. they would be in the air for 24 hours and go all over the earth. they were refueled in the air. when they came back another plane would take off and do the same thing. YOUR TAX DOLLARS AT WORK.
Thanks! We were just driving a boat and talking from memory. No script, no research . . . and that place has way to much history to remember it all while bombing around in waves. But yeah - B47 by the Pilot, Captain Lappo. His navigator turned him in. Unfortunately, after the stunt and court martial hearing, he never flew for the Air Force again. Then there was the private plane that flew under in June of 2020. Though it was witnessed by hundreds of cars, no one got the tail number (or didn't get it right) and the plane didn't have ADSB nor a transponder transmitting at the time. I don't believe the pilot was every identified. www.mlive.com/news/2020/08/pilot-flew-airplane-under-mackinac-bridge-packed-with-hundreds-of-cars-coast-guard-says.html
@@RestlessViking thanks. You folks do a great job and I really appreciate that. I went under the bridge once in a boat. It didn't look very high considering all. It was a bit choppy so I stayed inside.
My uncle who is 93 and lives in Germfask, told me that you could tell when the ferry had brought cars over. He said there wouldn’t be any cars on US2, then there would be a big group of cars.
Ha! That makes complete sense. The same thing happens on some of the islands served only by ferries today. When a group of cars passes, you know the ferry arrived. Thanks for sharing that!
If anyone is too anxious to drive a vehicle across the bridge they can arrange for a bridge employee to drive their vehicle across for them. We just crossed again a week ago after visiting Cedarville. It is always a thrill. Thanks.
Thanks , we will be dragging our little camper to Van Buren state park in mid September. Spending a bit of early fall beach time. Thanks for the inspiration.
The Straights are so important to all of the Nation. Stones from Grindstone City to Milwaukee. Lumber to the midwest. And then there is keeping the Trolls from the Yuppers! The Bridge is just amazing feet of work to be completed. The museum at Mac City does a great job explaining it.
Chuck & Poppin, thank you for an enjoyable video on the Straits of Mackinaw ( as opposed to Mackinac) 😊 That area is my happy place, no, not the tourist traps, but the rich history and beauty of that area. Thanks again, and I hope Poppin didn't get too wet near the bridge. 😅
Chuck… I want a copy of whatever Michigan history book you’ve got! 😂 I’m a product of the Cold War and SAC. Born at K.I. Sawyer AFB when my dad was on B-52s. Went back two years ago to find my old base housing.
We have about 180 Great Lakes History Books so far. You can buy them on Amazon as long as I can send you an affiliate link for all of them. I will also send you a link with a copy of the internet. . . 😂😂😅
I was curious to see if there are any frieght train lines still operating in the UP, and it appears there aren't. So that train ferry used to serve a real need. Apparently all goods are trucked in now, which I'm sure has had an impact on local economies. It is what it is, I guess. Thanks for the interesting video!
@@robertschuknecht1481 I guess I was looking at the wrong website. Yep, there's a line from the Escanaba area to the Soo. There are also lines that go from Escanaba, past Marquette, then up to Baraga. Then CSX runs from Escanaba, past Crystal Falls, then up to the Mass City area. I should've dug a little deeper! Thanks, JM
Try riding in a Franklin camper mounted on the back of a pickup truck during a 55-mph gale! Yes, I know it is illegal now to ride in campers but it wasn't in the 1960's and 70's. Anyway this was about 1965 or thereabouts, sometime around Thanksgiving. We were returning to Kalamazoo from visiting grandparents in the UP. My brother and I were riding in the camper as we always did but for some reason we were not in our usual spot in the overcab but in the dinette area. I was about 9 and he was about 7. It was cold and blowing and snowing all the way to the Straits. When we got to the toll booth, we heard the toll collector tell my father that there was a 55-mph gale on top of the bridge and that he should not go over ten miles per hour and to stop at all the anchorages and towers. My father did not tell him that his children were riding in the camper, otherwise I don't think he would have permitted us to go across at all. We started out on the causeway and that wind coming from the west took the camper and made it lean at least a foot higher on the windward side. But my father kept going. After an eternity we came to the first anchorage and he stopped as the toll collector told him to. The camper rocked and rocked and rocked and rocked and rocked. When it finally stopped rocking, he started up again, and the same thing happened, the wind made the camper lean. Up and up and up we crawled across that bridge. My brother and I were so scared we didn't dare move, we didn't scream, we didn't make a sound. The water far below was gray. It was so cold in the camper with the wind blowing, it even blew out the pilot light on the sheltered side of the camper so we had no heat. It took an eternity to get across that bridge. So I say that I have seen the worst that Big Mac can throw at me and I survived. It does not bother me at all to drive across it, except I don't like the grating, it feels greasy. I've even walked it a couple of times.
That's a hell of a true tale to read. Everything was so different back then. This reminded me of my dad, his brothers, my uncles. Back when men were men. They were fierce protectors and builders of strong character in their children Thank you for writing about a harrowing drive across the Big Mac!
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Back in the '60s and '70s, my parents used to drag all us Texas kids to our family cottage near Port Huron, and I remember hearing talk about someday visiting the mythical Mackinac Bridge. 59 yr old Alabama citizen now, and still haven't been there. I think I'm just gonna have to make a dedicated trip before I run out of time.
that's a long way to come for family cottage. come in september after labor day you will miss most of the crowds and the weather is great. not to hot, not to cold. check out mackinaw city, st ignace and see the locks in sault ste marie.
born and raised a "YOOPER" been over and back on that bridge countless times............now i simply fear going over it...dont know why but it now scares me stupid
Fall is best time for people our age, I'm 62. Between mid September and late October gets you low traffic, still not winter and a shot at being here for peak fall color change. Several great scenic routes in the area if you hit peak color, even if you miss peak. If the bridge history interests you, stop in at The Mackinac Bridge Museum in Mackinaw City above Mama Mias Pizza.😎
From the Alabama state line to the Michigan state line it's 10 hours with one bathroom stop. It's gonna be hot next week so wait until the first week of October. Have fun! 😊
That is a perspective very few will get to see in person. Thanks for taking us along!!!
The American Bridge Division of United States Steel Corporation built the Mackinac bridge. I remember as a kid traveling to Mackinaw City in the 1950’s when the bridge was under construction. My father worked at US Steel’s Gary works at the time and eventually I did too for 31 years. As I recall, US Steel produced a documentary film about the bridge’s construction.
It's also the International Ironworkers Memorial
@@patrick383ironworker I always considered the Ironworkers to be the equivalent of the Marines in the construction industry.👍
there is a film about it. you probably can find it on you tube. i watched it years ago at a place in mackinaw city.
Love watching your channel, I've lived in Michigan all my life and learning all these interesting facts from you two and your adventures has become a favorite way for me to know more about our beautiful state, thanks!
My thoughts exactly
people i know have told me about going deer hunting in the U.P. before the bridge. they said you would actually wait in line over 24 hours to get across. if it were me i would of left a few days earlier but that's what they told me. when the bridge opened you could still take the car ferry. i remember going across on the ferry. i have lived on bois blanc island, in kinross and sault ste marie. it's an interesting area for history. the winter sucks.
Just got back from our trip for the Bridge Walk. Walked over and back, then drove to Cheboygan for their Bridge Walk over the State Street Drawbridge.
So proud to be from Michigan!
This video popping up in my feed proves that my phone is spying on me. We were talking about our planned trip to Mackinaw City next week, then this showed up.
The first time we went to Mackinac Island many years ago I was fascinated about the tales of the Native Americans who would travel across ice to get there in the winter.
people who live on bois blanc and mackinac islands still cross in the winter. some die doing it. some are never found. some are found when the ice melts.
We have walked and explored all over Mac City but never knew the purpose of the large concrete structure on the pier. Now we know. You two have some fascinating adventures and we really enjoy learning the history. Here's some Big Mac thanks to you !
One of our favorite memories was sharing a Kilwin's pecan & carmel apple while sitting on the observation pier.
Let me join in the cavalcade of worthy praise, and specifically commend the excellent production, audio, and editing. Makes watching & learning a real pleasure.
Thanks!
Back when I could walk on Labor Day weekend we would go up to the bridge for the annual bridge walk , that was such a great experience. 😊
Yeah, I could hang out with these two. Thanks for sharing!
I have property right on Graham point peninsula that shares a property line with the straits state park and the lakeside cemetery. The glacier push line runs directly through it and is pretty unique. Been watching the channel for three or four years now. Love the combination of history, travel, and state pride. Such a fun and informative channel. Keep em comin
Thank you so much for your video of our Michigan heritage. God Bless you 🙏 ❤️. SUMMERS IN OUR HOUSEHOLD USUALLY INCLUDED AN ANNUAL PILGRAMAGE TO NORTHERN MICHIGAN TO PETOSKEY. CHEYBOYGAN SOUTH TO ROGERS CITY AREA FOLLOWING FOR YEARS. LOVED IT ALL. AT AGE 79 RETURNING MAY NOT OCCUR AGAIN BUT THRU YOUR KIND IMAGES I'M BACK 😢🎉😊 RICHARD AND FAMILIES
I spent my summers up through my early twenties at two cottages at Wawatam beach in Mackinaw City. My great great uncle, Vine Harding inherited to beachfront from the fort to McGulpin's Point at the turn of the last century. He built the Wawatam Inn by what is now the Catholic church and sold beach lots and built the earliest cottages. His cottage which was the first one built ended up with my father's parents and my mother's grandparents had him build them one. That is where my parents met. They moved to Montana in 1941 where I was born, as my father was an English professor we had summers off and would come spend summers at one or other of the cottages. My aunt's family still has the cottage on Dad's side and my brother has the one on mother's side. I recently retired and moved to the wonderful village of Garden in the UP so I am back to my roots. I remember one of the tales we would tell tourists was that the bridge would swing over to the island if the need arose, also we would tell them that the bridge would be taken apart in the winter and pieces stored in people's basements in Mackinaw City and St Igna e. It was funny how many people believed these stories. I have so many fond memories of that area and this site is the absolute greatest....many thanks to Chuck and Poppin for their efforts
Awesome video. My wife and I were engaged in the straights on the ferry back to Mackinaw City from Mackinac Island. Great memories
As a Green Bay Packers season ticket holder living in the lower peninsula, I make 9 or 10 round trips a year crossing the Mackinaw Bridge driving to and from Green Bay.
Chuck, you're right that Mackinac Island was the second National Park, established in 1875, just three years after Yellowstone. It was administered by the Army at Fort Mackinac until 1895 when the Army closed the post. At that time the park was transferred to the state as Michigan's first state park. The Mackinac State Historic Parks published a small book about Mackinac Island National Park by Keith Widder, in the 1980s (I got my copy in 1988 when I worked a summer at the park). I believe it has been reprinted again.
This is on my bucket list, one day I’ll make it.
Went to Mackinac Island in the summer of 1976, it was the centennial year. Very much was put into the celebration on the island with period costumes and decor. Stepping back into time, I will never forget it.
Watching this video from Bois Blanc!
There was a movie made there as well. All in historical garb.
I’m lucky enough to live in Petoskey. Just down the road from the original “Big Mac” bridge.
I enjoyed your video. My wife remembers sitting in line to get on the ferry and she was a child.
I wanted to say thank you for your documentary on the straits of Mackinac. I was a radio announcer in Saint Ignace for four years in the mid 70s. Excellent job great historical notes and interesting photography. Again thank you.
Best content on RUclips hands down. Your videos have taught me so much of my birthplace. Looking forward to our trip this month back to MI. Keep up the good work
Thanks!
Great history story, thank you!
I remember crossing the bridge the year that it opened. It was a real thrill. Have now crossed it now many times. Love your adventurers....Pete
Thanks, you two for another great video. My father probably knew that guy that died, Albert Abbott, because my father was an underwater welder, probably doing the same thing Abbott did, and then go off and have a few beers in St. Ignace after work (which is how he met my mom). Take care, Mike
Thanks for leading the exped mate, it was Fun and Interesting as always, It looked like a good day.
Love learning from your channel. In the 50’s my dad and uncles would wait for many hours to cross on the ferry to go to the U.P. To go deer hunting. When the bridge opened they were so happy. Thanks for sharing this history.
Another great video.
I remember as a youngster standing outside our car as we waited in line for the ferry across the Straits. On our way to tour the eastern UP.
Born in GR, college at Tech and have lived in UP since 1976.
Keep up the nice videos!
Thank you, this was fascinating. My dad is from the Soo, and remembers riding the the car ferries.
"Above our hand but in our hearts"!
Great presentation. We love our Michigan and you do a great job revealing her beauty and fascinating history.
Thank you very much!
This is my favorite area! Visit this area twice a year and still learned something from you today. I’m conducting my own research for a book I’m writing during the fur trade era in the straits. Keep up the great work!
I am crazy about Michigan history. I love your channel more every video you put out. You guys are so awesome. Thank you for the information. Not only do you give the history, but you are actually on the location. I just love this so so much. And I do believe the bridge is 26 feet short of 5 miles. But I could be wrong on that.
Yes! Very close. My math says, 27.999999984 feet to be exact. But that depends on temps, humidity and wind, I would imagine. 🤪😂
We took a cruise on the Ugly Anne and had great views that we would never have had without a boat, very nice excursion.
Me and the wife went up there for many years until my health got in the way . Her and her mom still go to this day.
Great area to go and explore.
Just never seems to get old .
Hopefully I can get back some day before I pass away .
A lot of us wouldn't be here today if the bridge wasn't built. My father born in the lower peninsula, and mother born in the U.P. Four years after the bridge was built, they were married. Pretty awesome. Thanks for sharing your adventures.
Been vacationing the Straits area for thirty years, always looking in the nooks and crannies of the history of that area. You touched on just about every interest I have in this video!
Great. Have been across the bridge many times over the years, but my first visit to da U.P. was by that ferry way back in 1947 at 8 months old.
So, I might not have been born in da U.P. ... but I think I'm still gonna claime Yoopership. Great video. Keep it up. Thanks.
This was a particularly interesting episode. Thanks!
Great video, thanks. Crossed in January '24 what an awesome strait between the lakes. The bridge to the UP was really something
to experience as well!
Having scuba dived the Straits, I think you two are crazy for crossing those turbulent waters in a little Zodiak-type boat.
Better than taking kayaks like we used to. 😜🤪 RIBs are the go to small boat for rough weather and surf.
yeh.....i was ignorant about the currents till i scuba dove the straights NEVER AGAIN
Outstanding video once again 👍
I remember as a kid traveling across the bridge in the late 60's riding in a slide in camper with a friend and his family. After all these years I remember it much more than anything else on that two week trip.
Love watching your History report, you two make history so exciting, and fun to learn on each adventure. Poppins that Lake Michigan water is for sure cold, Lol :) I think I heard a “Chuckle" out of “Chuck” ;) when you got wet :) Until your next adventure stay well.
Thanks for watching! I believe you did hear me chuckle.
😂
Thanks. Interesting video. I love the North Country. My mom and her siblings grew up in Bayfield, WI.
That's my favorite bridge, and the whole area is just so beautiful.
In 2017 I drove from North Carolina, where I live, to an event in South Bend, Indiana. However, I took the long route though Sault Saint Marie just so I could drive over that bridge... first time I'd been over it since something like 1968.
I was up there again last year, toured the fort, bought some fudge and of course explored Mackinac City. Wound up going over the bridge three times, first time because I'd come into the UP from Wisconsin, then I went over and back again because I wanted to experience it at night, and of course, driving a convertible I had the top down.
My parents took me to the bridge while it was still under construction in 1956. We lived down in the detroit area back then. And the drive to Mackinaw was a much different experience back with no I-75. They didn't start building 75 until 57. So it was all two lane asphalt.
We came up again for the opening in 57. Which was quite an adventure. Weather was more of a problem when you didn't have a freeway to get around on.
All in all a trip led me to moving to Northern Michigan in the middle 70's. You can't beat driving by miles of trees instead of miles and miles of fast food places, nail salons, and gas stations. You can't beat living somewhere where everyone else in state wants to be. And frequently spend their weekends getting to and from.
Great memories you have and to appreciate, especially getting there without the luxury of I-75.
@@MeMyselfAndUs903 It was quite a trek back then. I make the run down state in around five hours now. But back then it was an all day trip. You'd arrive and look for a motel. My mother was picky about motel rooms. She'd have to see the room before she agreed to rent it. There were no chains in those days and quality was not guaranteed. And she was going to spend six dollars for a crummy room.
Great content Chuck. I was wondering if you were going to mention Friends Goodwill when talking about the War of 1812 in this video. Since you work on the replica ship at the Michigan Maritime Museum you probably know Glen. I recently stumbled upon your channel and wondered if you lived in Michigan since at a quick glance I see a lot of videos about Michigan history.
Yes sir! Everyone knows Glen! 😄
@@RestlessViking I have known him for over 20 years from the paintball field he owns.
your videos are really amazing I love watching them all the time.
The tires on the grating make a wild sound with ear buds in. 14:26
it also feels a little funny. it's like that so water doesn't sit on the road.
Always love seeing that bridge. I’ll be driving over it in exactly 3 weeks. Love the adventures and history that you all tell.
Good stuff you two! Brought back memories of my youth while waiting for the ferry across in the mid 50's. I remember watching the trains being loaded into "The Chief W". I have some black & white photos we took of the bridge in the spring of 1957 showing big sections of the road deck still not hung on the suspension cables. Also very vividly remember my first trip across the new bridge on our way to Wisconsin instead of taking the Spartan or Badger across Lake Michigan to Manitowoc. Keep up the good work and thanks.
I miss my home state. Thanks for the taking me along for your trip.
I've only driven across the Mackinac bridge one time (northbound) in 1995, almost 30 years ago. It was in the middle of the night, it was dark and the fog was very thick. I could see the tubular railing that runs along the right edge of the road lane, (where the white line would normally be) about 1 foot above the road surface. To me, that didn't seem like a tall enough safety railing to keep vehicles from going over the edge. There is no shoulder for emergency stopping, you're driving along the edge of the bridge. I eventually realized there was another, taller railing just outboard of the smaller tubular railing. That made me feel a little better. lol. I was driving an old flatbed tow truck hauling two cars. It was one of the most nerve-wracking experiences (in the top 5) I've ever had while driving a commercial vehicle in 34 years as a driver. I am not a person that is scared of driving on bridges.... but the Mackinac bridge seems to be the exception.... It was on that night, anyway! lolol. Great video again, Poppins and Chuck! 🙂
I hear you. I drove across it once and will never do it again. And THAT was in daylight and in good weather.
the bridge closes when it is too windy.
@@CorinneHSmith some people are too afraid to drive across so you can request a bridge worker to drive you.
I've criss crossed it many times, but one time in 1993 I had just made it onto the bridge when the B. A. closed it down due to high winds right after I was one of the last let on. That was one of my most scary drives over the Mighty Mac ever.
The winds kept lifting up the back end of my new F150. It had dual gas tanks that I filled up before going on, thinking the weight of the tanks would help stabilize it some. It did not. I had other stuff tied down in the bed, too.
The Mackinaw straight has its own weather.
It was icing, sleeting and snowing all at the same time.
Holy Toledo, I will never go across during inclement weather ever again.
I can't remember the exact date, but a few months before this,
a lady in a Chevy Chevet went over the rail from high winds In that Chevy Chevet.
She didn't survive if I recall correctly. That incident made me realize that I would never ever try to drive a small vehicle across the Big Mac.
Wow!
On Labor Day, there is a bridge walk...
One of the cars that went off the bridge, was a Jeep. He drove off, suffering from depression. The other, I'm told, was a Yugo, which was blown off from the wind.
I personally cannot drive on the center grate lane. Freaks me right out.
Thanks for the very interesting history lesson!
PS. There are no autos allowed on Mackinac island only horse drawn carriages and bicycles.
Actually, Autos are allowed by permit. The police, fire and EMS all have autos, the vice president visited with an entire motorcade of autos a few years ago, there are a number of construction related vehicles there, especially in the winter. The movie "Somewhere in Time" shows Christopher Reeves driving an MG on the island. So yes, some are allowed with a permit from the council.
Here is a comprehensive list of the autos allowed on the island even though most everyone thinks they are "banned".
www.mlive.com/sponsor-content/?scid=189883&prx_t=4FAIA1ZldAoBEPA&ntv_ui=47d10e5b-1a50-4fa1-8e11-fe18b3c57b41&ntv_ht=3XhGZAA
Not bad for no research, Chuck! Thank you for another very interesting bit of michigan history.
I live in mackinaw city you did excellent job, even few things I didn’t know. It was part of the WW2 war machine as you mentioned the ice breaker kept the iron flowing.
Loved it. I knew a little, now I know a lot:) Thanks much. Peace.
Back in the mid 50's my family from Royal Oak Mi would travel north to the ferry lane for the UP, to visit fami;y in Iron Mountain. UP. Always remember eating white fish pasties while wainting in line. Happy trails! Onward!
another outstanding video! Please consider being restless over on Drummond Island. I just finished a book "Drummond Island and the War of 1812". When the British were forced to abandon Ft. Makinac they moved east and established a post at D.I. From there they continued to conduct commerce and interacted with tribal people. Eventually the Americans insisted they depart and this finally occurred in 1828.
I've been traveling there since I was a teenager and now have a small piece of land in the shore of Lake Huron way away from humanity...
Thanks! Drummond is on the list.
Awesome, thank you for sharing. My fathers, mothers family settled in the 3 rivers area Quebec, before 1730. The men traded between there and the straits.
As always a unique perspective. Thank you for sharing.
Three years to build the "Mighty Mac". It would at require least TEN years today.
Thanks for the great historical perspective.
Pretty good summary of the history of the area. Surprised that when you were talking about the bridge you didn't mention the one passenger car that fell off the bridge in 1989. A second one fell off in 1997, but that was ruled a suicide. Only two incidents like that in 67 years is pretty remarkable. Today, the straits aren't as important than they used to be. Tourism is great, but in economic importance I think the Soo area far surpasses it now with the amount of cargo that goes through it. I notice you've already done a video up there a few years ago, but it may be worth it to return in the near future with the construction of the new Poe sized lock well under way.
Agreed. We didn't talk much about the history back then, so a revisit would be good.
the first one was a girl in a yugo. i was in sault ste marie when it happened. the second one some guy drove over, i believe in his truck. it was ruled that he did it on purpose. what a way to go.
Grew up in Petoskey and I can remember my mom walking the bridge during labor day.
My brother in law was stationed at Kinchiloe AFB as a weather man and lived in Dafter in the early seventies.
Da Viking lived on Kincheloe AFB in the early 70s. His dad was stationed at the radar site in the Soo!
Great video Viking and Poppins. I always wanted to take a boat from Mackinaw city to the island, and I know I can do it now. Couple things I’d like to add, is that the Tea room at the Mackinac Island Fort is where my favorite short fiction Story begins, “A Man Without a Country.” Watching you go under underneath the bridge and the sound of the tires on the grate reminds me that I didn’t buy a piece of the bridge when I could have a couple years ago. They took the original decking off to replace it, sold it and entrepreneurs cut it up and pieces of it at the craft shows we frequently attend. I realize that would be a cool piece of memorabilia to have.
You can stop at the toll booth office on the UP side of the bridge and buy a piece.
@@RestlessViking I just found out the State shut down the Star line. Sheplars has a long line for passengers to board. Turns out Thor may just be my best bet to getting over to the island.
Man Without a Country is true, not fiction.
@@shirleybalinski4535 no, it’s fiction. It was written by a guy named Hale during the Civil War, and published in a public magazine of the day.
Thanks for taking us along! My parents have told me many times about their trips to the UP prior to the bridge. I have often wondered where they caught the ferry.
A little lesser know crash into the bridge was a plane hit the bridge in September of 1978. I was crossing the bridge with my parents when it hit the bridge in front of us. I remember the wing of the plane laying on the deck of the bridge as they directed traffic around it and off the bridge.
Wow. Thanks for sharing.
It was a Cessna 172 flown by a Marine Corps Reserve officer that hit the bridge September 10, 1978 while flying in poor visibility. His two passengers were also Marine Corps Reserve officers.
www.ntsb.gov/Pages/brief.aspx?ev_id=39680&key=0
one or two air force pilots flew under the bridge. i don't think their careers went well after this.
That plane was recently found with one person’s remains - I believe it was the passenger.
@@ddbatema The aircraft recently found with the remains of a passenger still in it departed Mackinac Island Airport in August 2007 in poor weather. It crashed in Lake Huron and did not hit the bridge.
We go to Mackinaw every October and love to explore the Island, the UP and all around the area. Going under the Bridge is cool, but yours was much cooler.
😏😏
Thank you for another AWESOME vid about my backyard here in Michigan!! From Alpena to the Kewanaw! Wonderful tour guides you guys are! I'm sure at some point you may do a history lesson about Calcite. The limestone quarry in Rogers City. How important This quarry was in building America and helping in the WWII victory. Calcite Screenings were a magazine that was used to be printed by the plant in the years past.
I think to do the quarry justice, we have to get inside it with a couple of workers to tell the story. It is on our list
@@RestlessViking Many retired still are living yet. I do have a few dozen calcite screening magazines from the 30-50s I can send you for more info.
Can you go up to the remnants of the air force base? I love all the history in upper Michigan. I'm one of those who grew up in Michigan and have moved away, but will always have a connection.
if you are talking about kinross, it is still there. i lived there in 1988 to 1991. the houses were sold and the airport was being used for commercial and private planes. people don't know that base was used during the cold war to transport atomic bombs every day. they would leave in the morning and fly to a certain point then get directions to go to another point, on and on. they would be in the air for 24 hours and go all over the earth. they were refueled in the air. when they came back another plane would take off and do the same thing. YOUR TAX DOLLARS AT WORK.
Awesome,guys!. I've always said that the straits is a mysterious and magical place. 😊
Really love that bridge!! Some neat history in Mackinaw. Cheers!! J & C
Enjoying..my Dad from UP... way before Mighty Mac built
Very nice. But what about the bomber that flew under the bridge? Love what you guys do.
Thanks! We were just driving a boat and talking from memory. No script, no research . . . and that place has way to much history to remember it all while bombing around in waves. But yeah - B47 by the Pilot, Captain Lappo. His navigator turned him in. Unfortunately, after the stunt and court martial hearing, he never flew for the Air Force again. Then there was the private plane that flew under in June of 2020. Though it was witnessed by hundreds of cars, no one got the tail number (or didn't get it right) and the plane didn't have ADSB nor a transponder transmitting at the time. I don't believe the pilot was every identified.
www.mlive.com/news/2020/08/pilot-flew-airplane-under-mackinac-bridge-packed-with-hundreds-of-cars-coast-guard-says.html
@@RestlessViking thanks. You folks do a great job and I really appreciate that. I went under the bridge once in a boat. It didn't look very high considering all. It was a bit choppy so I stayed inside.
My uncle who is 93 and lives in Germfask, told me that you could tell when the ferry had brought cars over. He said there wouldn’t be any cars on US2, then there would be a big group of cars.
Ha! That makes complete sense. The same thing happens on some of the islands served only by ferries today. When a group of cars passes, you know the ferry arrived. Thanks for sharing that!
If anyone is too anxious to drive a vehicle across the bridge they can arrange for a bridge employee to drive their vehicle across for them.
We just crossed again a week ago after visiting Cedarville. It is always a thrill.
Thanks.
they quit doing that...they will escort you but not drive your vehicle
Great adventure there you two!
Thanks , we will be dragging our little camper to Van Buren state park in mid September. Spending a bit of early fall beach time. Thanks for the inspiration.
The Straights are so important to all of the Nation.
Stones from Grindstone City to Milwaukee. Lumber to the midwest.
And then there is
keeping the Trolls from the Yuppers!
The Bridge is just amazing feet of work to be completed.
The museum at Mac City does a great job explaining it.
Chuck & Poppin, thank you for an enjoyable video on the Straits of Mackinaw ( as opposed to Mackinac) 😊
That area is my happy place, no, not the tourist traps, but the rich history and beauty of that area.
Thanks again, and I hope Poppin didn't get too wet near the bridge. 😅
Just a little. . . 😬
Thanks for the history lesson. We have tried to get there 3 times to the island but I guess September is not the month. It was always rainy. Ha.
Great Stuff!
Great video, really enjoyed the adventure. Thank you.
Chuck… I want a copy of whatever Michigan history book you’ve got! 😂
I’m a product of the Cold War and SAC. Born at K.I. Sawyer AFB when my dad was on B-52s.
Went back two years ago to find my old base housing.
We have about 180 Great Lakes History Books so far. You can buy them on Amazon as long as I can send you an affiliate link for all of them. I will also send you a link with a copy of the internet. . . 😂😂😅
Oh, and were both UP Cold War/SAC brats would found their old base house. 👍👊
Awesome adventure & educational footage. Thanks guys
I was curious to see if there are any frieght train lines still operating in the UP, and it appears there aren't. So that train ferry used to serve a real need. Apparently all goods are trucked in now, which I'm sure has had an impact on local economies. It is what it is, I guess. Thanks for the interesting video!
The Canadian National RR has a line running east-west across the UP from Gladstone, MI to Sault Saint Marie, MI and then crossing into Canada.
@@robertschuknecht1481 I guess I was looking at the wrong website. Yep, there's a line from the Escanaba area to the Soo. There are also lines that go from Escanaba, past Marquette, then up to Baraga. Then CSX runs from Escanaba, past Crystal Falls, then up to the Mass City area. I should've dug a little deeper! Thanks, JM
In rough windy weather it is pretty scary driving over the bridge.
Try riding in a Franklin camper mounted on the back of a pickup truck during a 55-mph gale! Yes, I know it is illegal now to ride in campers but it wasn't in the 1960's and 70's. Anyway this was about 1965 or thereabouts, sometime around Thanksgiving. We were returning to Kalamazoo from visiting grandparents in the UP. My brother and I were riding in the camper as we always did but for some reason we were not in our usual spot in the overcab but in the dinette area. I was about 9 and he was about 7. It was cold and blowing and snowing all the way to the Straits. When we got to the toll booth, we heard the toll collector tell my father that there was a 55-mph gale on top of the bridge and that he should not go over ten miles per hour and to stop at all the anchorages and towers. My father did not tell him that his children were riding in the camper, otherwise I don't think he would have permitted us to go across at all. We started out on the causeway and that wind coming from the west took the camper and made it lean at least a foot higher on the windward side. But my father kept going. After an eternity we came to the first anchorage and he stopped as the toll collector told him to. The camper rocked and rocked and rocked and rocked and rocked. When it finally stopped rocking, he started up again, and the same thing happened, the wind made the camper lean. Up and up and up we crawled across that bridge. My brother and I were so scared we didn't dare move, we didn't scream, we didn't make a sound. The water far below was gray. It was so cold in the camper with the wind blowing, it even blew out the pilot light on the sheltered side of the camper so we had no heat. It took an eternity to get across that bridge. So I say that I have seen the worst that Big Mac can throw at me and I survived. It does not bother me at all to drive across it, except I don't like the grating, it feels greasy. I've even walked it a couple of times.
That's a hell of a true tale to read. Everything was so different back then. This reminded me of my dad, his brothers, my uncles. Back when men were men. They were fierce protectors and builders of strong character in their children
Thank you for writing about a harrowing drive across the Big Mac!
Outstanding as usual....I so love your adventures!! I've posted a couple times...and it keeps getting gone. I don't know why.....
We got this one! Thanks again Lady Yoop!
@@RestlessViking You betcha, eh!
Interesting stuff thanks
loved it, thank you!
Once again Chuck and Poppins proves #mybrotheriscoolerthanyours and #mysisterinlawiscoolertanyours.
I love your channel of our sweet state.
Always appreciate the perspective 👍👊🇺🇸🤘
Just love your videos ! Thank you !
Love the “54 Tons!” cut up. 🤣 Miigwetch!
🤣😂🤣. Poppins loves it too! She calls it a Bill Nye the Science Guy 'moment'!
Hey Chuck ,must be getting ready for winter, with the beard 🧔 😅😅😅
🤣🧔
I love this channel!
Fantastic thanks
Awesome job . I cant believe you two were out in that big water bobbing around in that small boat .