North Manitou Island History
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…
Cottage Row article first published in Historical Society of Michigan, Michigan History Magazine, July/Aug 2022 Cottage Row: A Haven for Summer Rest and Relaxation Imagine a perfect summer day on the shores of Lake Michigan, far from the city, at your family cottage surrounded by the cottages of your friends. What could be better? That…
Part 3: Exploring Lumbering Sites of Crescent and Davenport Camps Remembering Crescent with Billy and Karen Rosa. Featuring Billy and Karen Rosa, authors of Remembering Crescent: Logging and Life on North Manitou Island. Join us to tour locations around Crescent, on the trails, and North to the Davenport Lumber Camp area. Crescent was a lumber…
Voices of North Manitou Authors Billy and Karen Rosa share North Manitou Island history and reflect on the recent trip to Crescent on the island, where the Billy and Karen searched for his grandmother’s home from the early 1900’s. Now in the federally designated wilderness of the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, the site of…
Remembering Crescent with Billy and Karen Rosa, Part 1: Visit to Crescent Featuring Billy and Karen Rosa, authors of Remembering Crescent: Logging and Life on North Manitou Island. Join us for this day trip to North Manitou Island, where authors Billy and Karen search for his grandmother’s home from the early 1900’s. Now in the…
Join us for another episode of Voices of North Manitou. Bob and Sara spent many years vacationing on North Manitou Island during the 60s and 70s, and came back as campers in the 90s, and became long-serving volunteers. Step back in time with Bob and Sara on North Manitou Island. Bob’s father was the accountant…
This special program was created for the Leelanau Historical Society, honoring the women of the North and South Manitou Islands. Celebrate Women’s History Month by learning about the strong and determined women of the Manitou Islands. The North and South Manitou Islands are places of mystery, with many shuttered old homes and ruins, evidence of…
Walk through the Katie Shepard Hotel with me on North Manitou Island! It is normally closed to the public, and this is a great opportunity for you to see inside. Built in 1985, this beautiful building is being lovingly restored. We did our second volunteer trip to North Manitou Island this month, this time with…
Enjoy a virtual visit to North Manitou with Kevin Mark and his stories. We have a new episode of our history series: Voices of North Manitou. This series explores the history of the North Manitou Island in the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore through the people who have lived, worked, played, and been a part…
We are pleased to announce a new series: Voices of North Manitou. This series will explore the history of the North Manitou Island in the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore through the people who have lived, worked, played, and been a part of island life over the years. The first in this oral history series…