Grand Marais, Michigan
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Grand Marais | |
| — Unincorporated Community — | |
| Nickname: the gem of the U.P. | |
  Grand Marais
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| Coordinates: | |
|---|---|
| Country | United States |
| State | Michigan |
| County | Alger |
| Township | Burt Township |
| Elevation | 627 ft (191 m) |
| Time zone | Eastern (EST) (UTC-5) |
| - Summer (DST) | EDT (UTC-4) |
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 and is the eastern gateway to the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore via H-58.
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. The Grand Marais light is at its end.[1] 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). Another of those five is Crisp Point Light. 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.
Grand Marais is the northern terminus of M-77.[2] Seney and the Seney National Wildlife Refuge are to the south.
[edit] 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:
- Grand Marais Maritime Museum (former United States Coast Guard station). This is the station where the Coast Guard radio operator had his last communication with the Edmund Fitzgerald before she sank with all hands.[3]
- Pickle Barrel House Museum (1926)
- The Lake Superior Brewing Company operates a brewery and pub at Grand Marais.[4]
- 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. 2008 will be its 24th year.[5]
[edit] External links
- The Grand Marais Gazette Newspaper
- The Grand Marais Local Weather pages
- Grand Marais Website
- 2nd Grand Marais Website
- Grand Marais Paper (Great Lakes Mariners)
- Terry Pepper, Seeing the Light, Grand Maris Light.
[edit] Notes
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