F
572
G5
F29
A Tour
of the
Old Mission
Peninsula
PREPARED FOR THE
VISITORS TO THE NATIONAL CHERRY FESTIVAL
TRAVERSE CITY
BY THE
FEDERAL WRITERS' PROJECTS Michigan
OF THE
MICHIGAN WORKS PROGRESS ADMINISTRATION
1936

BLUE WATER MEETS SWEEPING ORCHARDS ON OLD MISSION
Wide Variety of Points of Interest
Crowded in this 40 Mile Tour
No visit to Traverse City time one of the most produc-
would be complete without a tive fox farms in the region.
trip over the Old Mission Shortly after leaving this
Peninsula, in every sense farm, one breasts a hill
of the word "the heart of which provides the first of
Michigan's cherry land." the excellent views of the
It is noted not only for bay.
its historical significance WORLD'S CHERRY CENTER
in the development of the The density of cherry
region but also for the wealth trees in this region is more
of cherry trees which abound than 20,000 cherry trees to
on its hills and valleys, the square mile. The only
making it the most densely other region which approach-
concentrated area of cherry es the Old Mission Peninsula
trees in the United States. in this respect is the re-
The round trip is a short gion around Northport, which
one-- not more than forty lies on the west side of
miles in all and conducts Grand Traverse Bay, and is
one over hills, into valleys, visible from the high places
beside the shore of the bay on the peninsula.
and through forests of or- Ten miles out on the
chards to the site of the Queen's Highway one tops a
first white settlement in hill and discovers a wooden
the Grand Traverse region, tower on the right. The hill
thence to old Mission light- at this point is three hun-
house, returning by an op- dred feet above the water,
tional route which leads a- and the tower is thirty-five
long the bay shore on the feet higher. A trip to the
western side of the penin- top of this tower will be
sula.
well worthwhile, as it pro-
vides a bird's eye view of
the region. On a clear day
START ON QUEEN'S HIGHWAY
-
Leaving Traverse City, one
drives east on Front Street
to M. 42. Immediately after
leaving the city the road
angles off to the right where
it is locally known as the
Queen's Highway. This road,
rising over hills and drop-
ping into valleys, is best
taken at a slow speed in
order to fully appreciate
the splendid views.
The peninsula is never
any wider than two miles
across. Its average width
is not more than a mile,
and at many places on the
trip one may view its entire
width from rises in the road,
the eye taking in both the
west arm and the east arm of
Grand Traverse Bay as well
as the sweep of the wider
bay on the north, where it
enters Lake Michigan.
On the left of the road
some four miles out one pass-
es Murray's Fox Farm, at one
TRAVERSE BAY
GRAND
OF
ARM
WEST
FORD IS
sh
Thick Writing Project
Bowers
Harbor
Lier
Nevis
HIGHE
old Mission
Hardiman Lake
Mapler
EAST
TRAVERSE BAY
GRAND
OF
ARM
TRAVERSE CITY
22
one may see three counties which an excellent view of
as well as the Fox Islands the region and the bay may
forty miles to the north. be had.)
Four different smaller lakes OLD LIGHTHOUSE
are also visible.
Old Mission Lighthouse
FIRST WHITE SETTLEMENT
stands on the 45th parallel,
Continuing north, some six exactly half way between the
miles further on one reaches north pole and the equator.
a turn in the road at a A Michigan State Park sur-
filling station. The main rounds the lighthouse site.
highway turns sharply to the The lighthouse was built in
right, then to the left a 1870, when steamship traffic
short distance later, and on the bay was at its height.
enters the village of Old It was decommissioned in 1934
Mission, the first white set- and an automatic light in-
tlement in the Grand Traverse stalled. The forest about it
region. The concrete steps is said to be of virgin tim-
to the right of the road just ber, though no trees of great
beyond the store mark the size are to be found.
site of the mission church, Returning from this point
which was torn down in 1931. back to the south, one comes
On the left just beyond to Bowers Harbor where the
stands the first frame house first school in the region
erected in the region. It is was maintained. The harbor
marked by a bronze tablet is named after a man who in
set into a large boulder in 1849 fled from the domina-
the front yard, and it still tion of "King" Strang, the
is in the shape in which it leader of the Mormon settle-
was built though it has been ment on Beaver Island, and
remodeled somewhat inside. established his home here.
Continuing north, the high- The school was opened in
way turns to the right again, 1851, classes being held in
then to the left (north) to the Schooner MADELINE, which
conduct one to Old Mission was ice-bound in the bay dur-
Lighthouse. (The road straight ing that winter. A bronze
ahead at the left turn leads tablet set in a boulder marks
and can
be seen and read to the right
of the turn in the road.
The highway, newly paved,
now leads to the south along
the shore of the bay, con-
ducting one to Traverse City
in a twelve-mile drive of
great beauty.
to Old Mission bluffs, from this spot as well,
To the right one passes a
large island. This is local-
ly known as Ford's Island,
having been bought by Henry
Ford. It is almost entirely
covered with virgin timber,
practically every variety
known in the region being
present.
The tour,nearing Traverse
City, rejoins the Queen's
Highway just before entering
the city limits, concluding
the forty-mile trip.
The photos used in this
folder have been courteous-
ly loaned by THE DETROIT
NEWS and MOTOR NEWS.

MICH.WRITERS PROJE
INTERESTING THINGS TO DO AND SEE IN AND
AROUND TRAVERSE CITY
SHUFFLEBOARD CHAMPS
Shuffleboard enthusiasts
of the nation shuffle to
Traverse City for the
championship tournaments
held July 17-22, at the
courts between East Front
St. and the bay.
Seventeen courts of the
Traverse City Shuffleboard
and Games Club are used
in these tournaments spon-
sored by the Michigan and
National Shuffleboard As-
sociations. Four tennis
courts are also situated
on the Club grounds.
CLINCH PARK
One of the chief points
of interest within Trav-
erse City is Clinch
Park, located in town
on the shore of the
bay. This park offers
wide diversion to the
tourist--swimming, boat-
ing, and educational
and scenic attractions.
P
DEEP SEA FISHING
"Deep sea fishing" for
Mackinac and Lake trout
is a flourishing sport in
the waters of Grand Trav-
erse Bay. Ranging in size
from five to forty pounds,
the gamey trout supply
the thrill of a lifetime
to the trollers in the
slow-moving, but comfort-
able power boats.
V
Fishing in the Grand
Traverse Bay region has
been so successful that one
fleet owner operates on a
"no fish- no pay" basis.
The big fish are caught on
copper lines, with feathered
hooks and spinners.
Suggestions Wanted conductors
The huge natural bowl,
where concerts are given
several times each week,
has a capacity for more
than 5,000 persons. These
concerts are broadcast
over a national chain and
frequently noted guest
are in
charge. The Gilbert
This tour of the Old Mission and Sullivan light
Peninsula has been prepared by The opera "Sorcerer" is
Federal Writers' Projects of the scheduled for presen-
Works Progress Administration. It tation July 29, and
is a pre-final example of what is "Faust" for August 12.
The zoo within the being done in the Tours Section of Music students come
park, though small in the Michigan Guide--a 500-page from many states to
size, is noted for its manual and tour book of the State the camp for this spe-
collection of animals
soon to be ready for publication.cialized training.
indigenous to the re- The Michigan Guide is a compan-The camp, financed by
gion. Bears, beavers ion volume to others to be issued student fees and do-
and other animals are for every state in the Union. It nations, is under the
fed with fish caught will present in clear, comprehen- direction of Dr.Joseph
in nets in the bay. sive form the culture, resources, Maddy, of the Univer-
A museum nearby con- outstanding characteristics and sity of Michigan ·
tains many Indian and points of interest of the State. The camp can
historical relics of
As such, it will be an invaluable reached by traveling
the city's pioneer
pioneer aid to the tourist, resident and to the pine woodlands
days. Another of the non-resident alike. It should also bordering Lakes Wah-
educational attrac- be a welcome addition to the li- bekaness and Wahbe-
tions is the open air brary of any person who seeks alkanetta, just 15 miles
exhibit of logging e- real knowledge of the manifold southwest of Traverse
quipment, reminiscent facilities and resources which City
of the roaring lum- Michigan offers.
bering period. An
oddity of this exhibit
is the antiquated lo-
comotive with its
funnel-shaped stack.
be
and one mile
south of the village
The recipient of this folder is of Interlochen. Tak-
urged to communicate his impres- ing US-31 south, the
sions on the tour to the Federal visitor to Cherryland
Writers' Projects. The tour will follows this route to
be re-checked and rewritten before M-37, thence turning
it appears in final form in the south to the camp.
Boats are available
for rent at the mu-Michigan Guide. Criticisms and Adjoining the camp
nicipal yacht basin suggestions are welcome and should is Interlochen State
for sailing on the be mailed to the Federal Writers' Park with good camp-
blue waters of the Projects 280 E. Kirby Avenue, ing and bathing fa-
bay.
cilities.
Detroito
MUSIC IN THE PINES
Interlochen Summer High
School and Band Camp is
nationally known as a
center where several hun-
dred boys and girls are
afforded the opportunity
to intersperse musical
education with recreation.
Dotting the camp grounds
are 112 buildings, of which
32 are dormitories, hous-
ing 12 students each.
M
CON
-
ga