Michael Hardy

Omer, Michigan is easy to overlook on a map. With fewer than 300 residents, it holds the distinction of being Michigan’s smallest city. Yet its past tells a much larger story—one shaped by lumber, river power, disaster, and persistence. Understanding the ... See more

In the mid-1800s, much of Michigan was wilderness. While many settlements were established on the shore, few government maps and almost no official documentation of water depth and shore topology were established. Local knowledge from “fishermen and coast... See more

In the early 1900s, Michigan grew more than the crops most people name today. Alongside sugar beets, beans, and grains, farmers in the Thumb and east-central counties raised chicory — a root crop that could be roasted and ground, then mixed with coffee. M... See more

The Winter of 2025-2026 is now underway across the upper Great Lakes region. As ice cover increases, changes in weather patterns and lake activities will be expected. This daily report provides the latest updates on ice conditions across the lakes. Lake S... See more

At the corner of U.S. 12 and M-50 in Michigan’s Irish Hills, the Walker Tavern sits above the road on a small bluff. The Michigan History Center dates the white clapboard building to about 1832. Long before the area became a casual weekend drive, this spo... See more