Robert and Jewell Swanberg on the Swan I in Leland Harbor, 1943
Leelanau Historical Society Feature, LeeMuse Newsletter, Summer 2026
My Grandfather Robert Swanberg was a sailboat builder who moved here from the Lansing area with my Grandmother Jewell to enjoy a quieter life. In a later reflection on those days, she wrote, “there was a freedom in sailing the Great Lakes, as you were so far away from the daily worries of the normal world. I believe that is why Bob needed to get onto the boat and sail out into the blue, blue water.” His Swedish heritage may have had a part in this; his grandparents came from land where there are many deep blue lakes and green forests. Last summer, I visited the family homestead in northern Sweden and was able to stand in the lake and experience the shores that my ancestors called home, to feel that pull.
This beautiful place, the coasts of Leelanau, the islands and the waters, speak with the same voice and inspire the same calling. It is no wonder that so many Swedes chose this place for home. It is a familiar landscape.
In 2009 I began to volunteer with the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore and participated in historic restoration projects on North Manitou Island for several years. When I first visited North Manitou, I had already read Rita Hadra Rusco’s book, North Manitou Island: Between Sunrise and Sunset. Coming to the island for the first time was like stepping into a book I had read. It was magical.
Vince and Stacie on North Manitou Island
In 2014, my husband and I met on the island during a volunteer project restoring the Katie Sheppard Hotel on Cottage Row. Little did he know that what he thought would be a one-time participation to satisfy his curiosity about the historic structures would turn into long-term volunteering! Later the next year on a weeklong camping trip on North Manitou, he proposed to me on the bluff in Crescent overlooking Lake Michigan. He had hiked in with a water bottle full of wine, and an engagement ring. It was amazing, and of course I said yes!
The island is an incredibly special place for so many reasons, and I have been fascinated by and immersed in its history. Over the years I have researched, written, made videos, and given talks about the topic. Every time I visit the island, which is usually a few times each summer, it is still just as magical as the first time. My husband and I spend extended time camping and volunteering each year. As Rita had written in her book, “those claimed by the Spirit of the Manitou will always yearn to return.” And so it goes.
As a Swanberg returning to this area full time in 2022, it is a joy to be involved in protecting and telling the stories of this place. The Leelanau Historical Society has a commitment to excellence in archival work and service to the community, and I am proud to be a part of this wonderful organization, contributing as a volunteer with my fellow board members.
For North Manitou Island History CLICK HERE
To learn about the Leelanau Historical Society CLICK HERE
Leelanau Historical Society Feature
LeeMuse Newsletter