Day Loop Drive to Copper Harbor, MI.

                                     Wednesday 8/14/13

While still in Houghton, MI., we took a day drive to the west shoreline of the Keweenaw Peninsula. First we had to cross the bridge to Hancock to continue our NW trek. In Hancock as you head north you came to a overlook. This map shows the water system of  lakes, rivers and canals that go from Lake Superior through the peninsula to Lake Superior.

The overlook view was not that good due to the trees and leaves. I bet it is much better in the winter and spring.

We have noticed a few trees are starting to change color already up in the UP.

First stop was the Sand Hills Five Mile Point Lighthouse Inn on the west shoreline of Kweenaw Peninsula..

this is one of only 12 lighthouses in the United States converted into a Bed and Breakfast. Tours of the lighthouse are at 3PM in the summer. The lighthouse is the largest and last manned lighthouse on the great Lakes.

The lighthouse grounds are open to the public from 12 noon to 4 PM.

I tried to find out on the internet if this cottage on the property is for rent, but couldn't find anything about it. There are mixed reviews online about the B&B, but all agree it is a beautiful setting. It was quite warm that day until we got to this side of the peninsula which has a very strong breeze. Glad we had pants and jackets on.

We continued going north on Hwy 26, and came upon this unusual but beautiful home along Lake Superior.

Four miles from the lighthouse we came to the small town of Eagle River. This plaque tells some information about the town, but I post this picture because it tells of the drowning of Douglas Houghton, the first state geologist who with two other companions drown in a storm in a small boat while doing their work. I found this interesting since we were staying in Houghton, MI. (where the town name must have come from).

Main Street in Eagle River.

There was suppose to be a lighthouse in Eagle River, but we never found it. This and the next picture are just a couple of the old buildings in town.

Houghton Township Community Center

Further north of Eagle River we saw this home, which we think is a monastery, because it looked like a monk walking on the property. It also has a large cross on the front of the building.

We came to a beach area, where we parked and had our lunch with lake views.

After lunch Mallery and I went down the stairs for some exercise and collected a couple of Lake Superior rocks to add to my collection of rocks from around the US.

Our next stop was Eagle Harbor, MI.

This is a very cute little town on a harbor with a nice beach area if you want to take a swim. The temperature was in the high 70's to low 80's, but we didn't have our swimsuits with us, so we were out of luck!

In Eagle Harbor you can stay at the historic Lake Breeze Inn.

We walked up to the Inn to check it out. There was a sign on the lodge that said this was the original Raley- Shapley Warehouse, built in 1859.

 

The Inn had a lovely porch for that looked out on the harbor.

If you want sun, you can sit out on the lawn chairs by the harbor.

At the end of the porch you see the harbor inlet to the right,

and Lake Superior to the left.

The lighthouse is just up from the Inn.

We didn't take the tour because it was $5 each and we have seen a ton of lighthouse. Joe asked how many I thought we had seen in all our travels. I said probably 75. He said probably 50. Maybe someday I will have to go back and check our blog to see just how many we have seen. The internet says the US has approximately a thousand lights as well as light towers.

 

As we went around the harbor, I saw a great view of the lighthouse. The only problem was I was going to have to walk into someones back yard to get the picture. Joe stopped the car and I ran through the yard and snapped the picture and ran back to the car before anyone could say anything.

We continued up the road and found another spot where I didn't need to go into someones yard for the picture. We were doing a loop drive that day, and most people drive the loop the opposite direction we were doing, so most likely you will see the lighthouse before you enter into Eagle Harbor, if you are coming here. We did the opposite direction on the drive because I knew that the sun would be in our eyes and not good for picture, by the afternoon if we went the regular way. You can also see the Lake Breeze Inn just down from the light station in this picture.

Eagle Harbor Light Station

This roadside stop had some stairs to climb to the top of a rock for views of the lake.

It also had picnic tables if you wanted to stop for lunch.

There are many lakes on the peninsula. This is Lake Fanny Hooe, which is fed by Lake Superior.

At the point of Keweenaw Peninsula is Copper Harbor. I could have spent more time on this beach because it had tons of neat smooth rocks, but the day was getting late, so we had to move on. Originally we had planned on moving our Nest to the town of Copper Harbor for a few days, but all the campgrounds were full, so we had to do a day trip instead.

This beach is Agate Beach, and you have a greater chance of finding agates here. ( If you know what an agate looks like in the first place).

Across Copper Harbor is Copper Harbor Light, one of the first lighthouses on Lake Superior, built in 1866.

If you want to tour the light house, you can take a boat ride from Copper Harbor State Harbor.

Just up the road from Agate Beach is the Fort Wilkins Historic State Park

This fort is a restored military outpost built in 1844 during the copper rush discovery in the Northern Point of Keweenaw Peninsula .

You will find costume interpreters demonstrating everyday life of a 1844 soldier.

The military was stationed here to keep peace and order with the boom of miners and the American Indians.

We headed back toward Houghton on Hwy. 41 and made our last stop in the town Calumet. This town once was in the center of the mining industry of the Upper Peninsula. One mine produces more than 1/2 of the USA's copper from 1871 to 1880. We parked and walked up and down one street of the Calumet Historic District.

The town original name was Red Jacket after an American Indian chief of the Seneca tribe. This is the Calumet Theatre   a theater and opera house built in 1900, which hosted large numbers of famous actor, musicians, and opera singers.

 Old Fire Station

Side of the old fire station.

This district still had the old light poles.

Staint Annes Church now the Keweenaw Heritage Center was built in 1900 of sandstone in a late Gothic style .

This sits next to the Saint Annes Church, so it probably is the perish, but not really sure. I thought it was a cute house , so I posted this picture.

         

After six hours and 112 miles, we ended our loop drive back to Houghton City RV Park. This picture was taken the next morning as the sun was coming up. I have read there are two seasons in Houghton- Winter, and winter is coming! This last winter, we were told by a local, that the town had 320 inches of snow. As you can imagine, winter sports are big in this town.