Traverse City Historic Sites

Ancient glaciers carved the long deep lakes and dramatic hills that give Traverse City and its surrounding communities their splendid natural setting. But this beautiful region is much more than the sum of its scenic and recreational qualities. It is a place rich with human history, where generations of Native Americans and missionaries, lumberjacks and fishermen, mariners and farmers all left their imprint on the landscape and helped create a colorful and vibrant culture that can still be experienced today. Reminders of the past are everywhere, from lonely lighthouses and humble mission churches to grand homes whose owners made their fortunes shipping timber from the region’s vast forests.