Luce County

Explore the Map
Explore by County

Luce County

Click on the sites below and explore Luce County!

Crisp Point Lighthouse

Crisp Point Lighthouse was built in 1903, and became operational on May 5, 1904. Prior to the lighthouse being built, Crisp Point was the home of a life-saving station due to the dangerous waters around the point. The life-saving station was built in 1874, and in 1896, the lighthouse was proposed, and continued to be proposed until it was approved to be built in 1902. The lighthouse contained a fixed 360 degree Fourth Order Fresnel lens, made by Sautter & Lemonnier of Paris, France. The original lens was removed, and its current location is unknown. The complex at Crisp Point consisted of a life-saving station and quarters, a light keeper's house, a fog signal building, an oilhouse, two barns, a boathouse and landing, a tramway, the lighthouse tower, and the service room entrance. In 1965, the Coast Guard destroyed all but the light tower and the service room; this is most likely about the time the light became automated. The lighthouse continued its service to the Coast Guard until 1993, when it was decommissioned. In 1997 the lighthouse became the property of Luce County. The Crisp Point Light Historical Society has been maintaining, operating, and restoring the lighthouse since 1998.

Additional Information

To get to Crisp Point, from M-123 between Newberry and Paradise, Michigan, go north on County Road 500 for around 11 miles, then turn east on County Road 412 (should be by Little Lake) for around 7 miles to the lighthouse. *Getting to the lighthouse is rather difficult, sand and dirt roads, it is recommended that one not go if it is raining heavily or if it is close to night time.
View Map
The lighthouse is open from mid-June to September, hours vary depending on volunteer availability, but the grounds are always open. For more information on the Crisp Point Lighthouse, go to https://www.crisppointlighthouse.org/.

Falls Hotel

The Falls Hotel, also known as the Newberry Hotel is the first and only three story building in Newberry, Michigan. The Hotel, built in 1915 in the classic revival style, was thought to be impossible because of the quicksand that exists under Newberry's business district. The problem was fixed by stabilizing the building with railroad tie pilings beneath its footings. The Hotel retains much of its original grandeur, with twelve foot ceilings, twentieth century woodwork, and rich décor.

Additional Information

The Falls Hotel is located at 301 Newberry Ave. in Newberry, Michigan.
View Map
The Hotel, Restaurant, and Lounge are open all year round. For more information on the Falls Hotel, go to https://www.thefallshotel.com/.

Helmer General Store and Resort

The Helmer General Store and Resort was originally built in 1881-1882 as a mission house by Newberry's Presbyterian Church. It is a two and a half story structure that served as a mission until 1888, when it was purchased by Gaylord Helmer for use as a general store and hotel. In 1894, the village of Helmer became a stagecoach mailstop, with Gaylord Helmer as the postmaster, adding a post office to the general store. Due to this, Gaylord added a second building to accommodate more travelers. In 1904, the Helmer House Inn and store was purchased by Charles and Jeanie Fyvie. The Helmer Resort and General Store continued its operation by the Fyvie family until 1950, though the post office had been closed in 1914. The building was refurbished and reopened as a bed and breakfast by Dr. James H. Fyvie in 1981 after three decades of disrepair for the centennial.

Additional Information

The Helmer General Store and Resort is located at 2747 County Road 377 in McMillan, Michigan. McMillan is west of Newberry, Michigan on M-28.
View Map
The Helmer General Store and Resort can be viewed all year round.

Luce County Sheriffs House and Jail

The Luce County Sheriff's House and Jail now houses the Luce County Historical Museum and Society. The Queen Anne style building was constructed in 1894 and is quite graceful with turrets, arches, and unique brickwork. It was designed by architectural firm of Lovejoy and Demare from Marquette, MI and it was built from rough-hewn Jacobsville sandstone. The building was in use as the Jail and Sheriff's home for over seventy years. In 1975, the building was rescued by the Historical Society from demolition and turned into the County Historical Museum in 1976. The Museum houses a mixture of original rooms and artifacts valuable to local history.

Additional Information

The Museum is located at 411 West Harrie Street in Newberry, Michigan.
View Map
Open Wed-Friday, 1p.m. to 4p.m., from late June to early September. Private Tours are available upon request. Please call 906-293-3786 or 906-293-8417 to make arrangements.

Newberry State Bank Building

The Newberry State Bank Building was built in 1890. It is a Romanesque-Revival style, red brink, sandstone trimmed building. By 1889, Newberry had become a bustling town, but did not have a bank, which was needed. A group of local downstate investors, headed by Sanford N. Dutcher, founded the bank. The Bank remained the main financial institution until 1969, since then, the bank building is now a commercial space.

Additional Information

The Newberry State Bank Building is located at 318 Newberry Avenue, Newberry, Michigan.
View Map
The Building is open year round.

Tahquamenon Falls State Park

The Tahquamenon Falls State Park is comprised of 52,000 acres stretching over 13 miles. Most of the park is forest, but the centerpiece is the Tahquamenon River and falls. The Tahquamenon Falls is comprised of mainly two waterfalls, the Upper Falls and the Lower Falls. The Upper Falls is one of the largest waterfalls east of the Mississippi river. It drops almost 50 feet and is more than 200 feet wide. The maximum flow of water over the Upper Falls has been recorded at more than 50,000 gallons per second. One can walk along the Upper Falls and take steps to the bottom of the falls. There is also a hiking trail along the river to the Lower Falls. The Lower Falls is worth the hike. It is made of a series of five smaller falls surrounding an island, which can be reached by renting a canoe from the visitor center. It has attracted people for hundreds of years. The Chippewa fished the waters and settled periodically along its shore. In the 1800s the lumberjacks used the falls and the river to carry their logs to the mills. This made the lumberjacks one of the first groups to permanently settle the area.

Additional Information

The Tahquamenon Falls are located at 41382 W. M-123, Paradise, MI.
View Map
The Park is open year round and offers many activities throughout the year from camping to skiing. For more information on the Tahquamenon Falls State Park, go to https://www.michigandnr.com/parksandtrails/.

Tahquamenon Logging Museum

The Tahquamenon Logging Museum is a museum and park located near the Tahquamenon Forest. It has original buildings and memorabilia from the Upper Peninsula's logging past, including original C.C.C. buildings and old logging equipment. The Museum has special events going on through the summer months which would be well worth a visit.

Additional Information

The Museum is located one mile north of Newberry, Michigan on M-123 on the left side of the road.
View Map
The Museum is open Memorial Day through early October, open seven days a week from 9:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. For more information on the Logging Museum, go to https://www.superiorsights.com/loggingmuseum/.Or contact (906) 524-7444 for more information.

Two-Hearted River Life Saving Station

The Two-Hearted River Life Saving Station was built in 1876. It was manned by six to eight experienced surfmen who would make up volunteer crews to recover endangered sailors. The station was a two story building with a small lookout tower and a lifeboat, along with other equipment necessary for their work. The volunteers here are known for their rescue of sailors in the Satellite (1879) and Phineas S. Marsh (1896) disasters. In 1915 the life-saving station was integrated into the U.S. Coast Guard. The station was decommissioned in the 1930s and the structure was destroyed in 1944. The Two-Hearted River can also be seen in this area. It is prominently known for the Big Two-Hearted River by Earnest Hemingway. Though, it seems he only picked the name of this river for its appeal, some say that the river he was describing is the Fox River near Seney, Michigan.

Additional Information

The Two-Hearted River station is located in the Mouth of the Two-Hearted River State Forest Campground. For directions to the Campground, go to https://www.michigandnr.com/parksandtrails/details.aspx?id=677& type=SFCG.
The Campground is open during the summer months because of its location. For directions to the Campground, go to their website.