Grand Marais is an unincorporated community in Burt Township, Alger County in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is located on Lake Superior at 46°40′15″N 85°59′07″W / 46.67083°N 85.98528°W / 46.67083; -85.98528 and is the eastern gateway to the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore via H-58.
Grand Marais is the northern terminus of M-77. Seney and the Seney National Wildlife Refuge are to the south.
History
The name Grand Marais (big marsh) is a reference to the large, shallow harbor, which now has a breakwater extending from the bay into the lake. French explorers used the word "marais" to mean "harbor of refuge" as well as "marsh." The harbor indeed tends to return to a marshlike state. Many controversies in the little town revolve around costly dredging and breakwall-repair operations.
Grand Marais was one of five U.S. Life-Saving Service Stations along the coast of Lake Superior between Munising and Whitefish Point in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. It was part of the U.S. Life-Saving Service District 10 (later part of District 11). The other four Life-saving Stations were Deer Park,Two Heart, Crisp Point Light, and Vermilion Point. In 1915, these stations became part of the U.S. Coast Guard. In 1939 the U.S. Lighthouse Service also merged under the control of the U.S. Coast Guard.
Tourism
Grand Marais is a four-season tourist destination, with snowmobiling being popular in the winter, and swimming, boating, kayaking, and fishing among the summer recreations. Points of interest include:
- The former United States Coast Guard Life-saving Service Station serves as a ranger station for the spectacular Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. This is the station where the Coast Guard radio operator had his last communication with the S.S. Edmund Fitzgerald before she sank with all hands.The Grand Marais Maritime Museum is located in the former keepers quarters of the station.
- Pickle Barrel House Museum (1926)
- The Lake Superior Brewing Company operates a brewery and pub at Grand Marais.
- In mid July, the harbor is the site of the Great Lakes Sea Kayak Symposium, a multi-day event which attracts hundreds of sea kayakers from around the country. It is billed as "the largest and oldest sea kayaking symposium on the Great Lakes." 2008 was its 24th year.
Notes
- ^ Michigan highway ends, M-77 picture.
- ^ Hunt's Guide to the Upper Peninsula, Grand Marais Maritime Museum.
- ^ Pure Michigan, Grand Marais.
- ^ Great Lakes Sea Kayak Symposium.
See also
- List of lifesaving stations in Michigan
External links
- The Grand Marais Gazette Newspaper
- The Grand Marais Local Weather pages
- Grand Marais Website
- 2nd Grand Marais Website
- Terry Pepper, Seeing the Light, Grand Maris Light.
- Pictured Rocks National Shoreline Maritime Sites
- U.S. Coast Guard Search &
Sea Kayaking Baja: Books & Resources for Your Vacation in Mexico
Sea Kayaking Baja: Books & Resources for Your Vacation in Mexico ... Vermilion Sea: a Naturalist's Journey in Baja California. Houghton Mifflin Co. (Critically ...
Amazon.com: Sea Kayaking in Baja (9780899971575): Andromeda Romano-Lax ...
Kayaking the Vermilion Sea: Eight Hundred Miles Down the Baja 2.7 out of 5 stars (10) $16.95 ... The only guide in print for sea kayaking the Baja. The author does a good job of ...
Gonzaga Bay Camping Baja Kayaking Bays Sea of Cortez
Located on the Sea of Cortez, with barrier islands off shore, this calm oasis ... Kayaking the Vermilion Sea: Eight Hundred Miles Down the Baja
Adventure Travel: Hiking and walking in the Alps, Europe, trekking in ...
Alpine Interface Sea Kayaking Trips Mexico. The Vermilion Sea Baja California discovery: kayaking, snorkeling, swimming, fishing, 15 days CAD $2570 ( US $2450)
Amazon.com: Kayaking the Vermilion Sea: Eight Hundred Miles Down the ...
Amazon.com: Kayaking the Vermilion Sea: Eight Hundred Miles Down the Baja (9780684803388): Jonathan Waterman: Books
WT — Sea Kayaking in Baja — Wilderness Travel
Sea Kayaking in Baja Snorkel with Sea Lions, Kayak in Azure Seas, Camp on ... hued sunrise, and at night, we sip ice-cold margaritas, watch the sky turn vermilion ...
The Mountaineers Library
Kayaking the Vermilion Sea: eight hundred miles down the Baja: Circulating Coll. GV789.B87 1993: Burch, David: Fundamentals of kayak navigation: Guidebook Coll.
KAYAKING THE VERMILION SEA - Book Summary & Video
Take a sneak peak at KAYAKING THE VERMILION SEA online at Simon & Schuster. With our online book summaries & videos you'll have the chance to discover what KAYAKING THE VERMILION ...
Sea Stars - Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada
Sea Stars are seen on our British Columbia, Canada kayaking adventures ... common sea stars we see on our paddling trips are Ochre sea stars, Vermilion stars ...
BoatingLinks.com Book Store - Sea Kayaking
Sea Kayaking In Florida by David Gluckman $12.95: Kayaking the Vermilion Sea: Eight Hundred M... by Jonathan Waterman $16.95: The Canoe Boys: The First Epic Scottish Sea...