Michigan is overflowing with fun and famous small towns. From beachside communities like South Haven and Frankfort to unique spots like Mackinaw City and Ferndale, there’s a quaint community in the Great Lakes State to impress every Michigander. But there’s one historic spot in our state that is sometimes forgotten — and it’s well worth checking out. Calumet is easily one of the coolest historic small towns in Michigan – let’s see why!
The village of Calumet is located in Houghton County in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.
Google Maps
This small community houses just under 750 residents, but don’t let its size fool you. Calumet has played a massive role in Michigan’s history.
Russel Harrison Photography/Flickr
At its founding in 1864, Calumet was known as “Red Jacket,” a name chosen in homage to an honorable Seneca Native American chief. In its heyday, Calumet was the epicenter of Michigan’s mining industry. Its earliest days boomed due to the presence of multiple copper mines in the area.
Wystan/Flickr By the beginning of the 20th century, the town had gathered a population of nearly 5,000 people — the mining world drew in residents from across the region.
By the 1940s, though, Calumet had lost its prowess as a mining community due to the lasting impacts of war and the lack of demand for copper. Today, though visitors can still appreciate the town’s contribution to Michigan’s growth.
Russel Harrison Photography/Flickr
When you set foot in Calumet today, you’ll find a charming community with friendly residents and a rich legacy to explore. Begin your visit with a stop at the Coppertown USA Mining Museum, where you’ll brush up on your history.
OMG1152/TripAdvisor
Explore the area’s quaint downtown, which boasts everything from hometown bars to a small shopping district. This is Michigan at its very best and brightest.
Chad Johnson/Flickr Catch a show at the Calumet Theatre, spend an hour or two at the Keweenaw National Historical Park, or grab a few copper-themed items at the local gift shop — aptly named “Copper World.”
Of course, the natural beauty of the Keweenaw Peninsula that envelops Calumet is nothing short of stunning. Take a dip in the cool waters of Lake Superior or enjoy a beachfront picnic as you round out your day in the area.
Brian Rendel/Flickr You don’t have to be a history buff to appreciate the story of Calumet and its undeniable impact on the Great Lakes State. Visitors of all ages will absolutely love exploring this unique village.
Have you ever spent time in Calumet? What were your first impressions? We’d love to hear your thoughts and suggestions in the comments! What are your favorite historic small towns in Michigan? Tell us about them by filling out this form, and you might see your favorites featured someday.
Google Maps
Russel Harrison Photography/Flickr
Wystan/Flickr
By the beginning of the 20th century, the town had gathered a population of nearly 5,000 people — the mining world drew in residents from across the region.
OMG1152/TripAdvisor
Chad Johnson/Flickr
Catch a show at the Calumet Theatre, spend an hour or two at the Keweenaw National Historical Park, or grab a few copper-themed items at the local gift shop — aptly named “Copper World.”
Brian Rendel/Flickr
You don’t have to be a history buff to appreciate the story of Calumet and its undeniable impact on the Great Lakes State. Visitors of all ages will absolutely love exploring this unique village.
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Address: Calumet Township, Calumet Twp, MI, USA
The OIYS Visitor Center
Historic Small Towns in Michigan September 22, 2021 Tori Jane What are some fun things to do in Michigan? The Mitten can be a lot of fun – you just need to know where to look! There are a lot of options when it comes to things to do, so whether you’re more of a city-dweller or a nature-lover, you’re bound to find something to love. Visit the Detroit Institute of Arts and learn all about modern, post-modern, and past art movements. If you enjoy that, you’ll probably also love the Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation, which is a fascinating and educational look into the world of human ingenuity. For the nature lover: The Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore is another great one; you could spend all day there – but hang tight, we’ll talk about that in a second! If you fall in love with Pictured Rocks, you’ll probably also really love Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. You also can’t skip an after-dark foray at Headlands International Dark Sky Park, where you’ll see more stars overhead than you ever thought possible. What kinds of day trips in Michigan can I go on? Essentially, if you can dream it, you can day trip it! Michigan is a great place for day trips no matter what your interests and passions are. Incredibly, Michigan is home to 103 state parks and state park sites, and every single one of them could make for a wonderful day trip, be it by yourself or with friends and family. There are also all sorts of natural wonders like Kitch-iti-kipi, which is a breathtaking spring-fed pool that will keep you spellbound the entire time you’re nearby, and the Hiawatha National Forest is an amazing place with plenty to see and learn about, too. Alternatively, you could make day trips out of, say, the best places to find fudge in Michigan or the best ice cream shops. Your imagination is endless, and so too are the possibilities! For more ideas, take a look at this article. Let us know if you choose any of those trips – we’d love to hear how it went.
The OIYS Visitor Center
Historic Small Towns in Michigan
September 22, 2021
Tori Jane
What are some fun things to do in Michigan? The Mitten can be a lot of fun – you just need to know where to look! There are a lot of options when it comes to things to do, so whether you’re more of a city-dweller or a nature-lover, you’re bound to find something to love. Visit the Detroit Institute of Arts and learn all about modern, post-modern, and past art movements. If you enjoy that, you’ll probably also love the Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation, which is a fascinating and educational look into the world of human ingenuity. For the nature lover: The Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore is another great one; you could spend all day there – but hang tight, we’ll talk about that in a second! If you fall in love with Pictured Rocks, you’ll probably also really love Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. You also can’t skip an after-dark foray at Headlands International Dark Sky Park, where you’ll see more stars overhead than you ever thought possible. What kinds of day trips in Michigan can I go on? Essentially, if you can dream it, you can day trip it! Michigan is a great place for day trips no matter what your interests and passions are. Incredibly, Michigan is home to 103 state parks and state park sites, and every single one of them could make for a wonderful day trip, be it by yourself or with friends and family. There are also all sorts of natural wonders like Kitch-iti-kipi, which is a breathtaking spring-fed pool that will keep you spellbound the entire time you’re nearby, and the Hiawatha National Forest is an amazing place with plenty to see and learn about, too. Alternatively, you could make day trips out of, say, the best places to find fudge in Michigan or the best ice cream shops. Your imagination is endless, and so too are the possibilities! For more ideas, take a look at this article. Let us know if you choose any of those trips – we’d love to hear how it went.
The OIYS Visitor Center
The OIYS Visitor Center
The Mitten can be a lot of fun – you just need to know where to look! There are a lot of options when it comes to things to do, so whether you’re more of a city-dweller or a nature-lover, you’re bound to find something to love. Visit the Detroit Institute of Arts and learn all about modern, post-modern, and past art movements. If you enjoy that, you’ll probably also love the Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation, which is a fascinating and educational look into the world of human ingenuity. For the nature lover: The Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore is another great one; you could spend all day there – but hang tight, we’ll talk about that in a second! If you fall in love with Pictured Rocks, you’ll probably also really love Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. You also can’t skip an after-dark foray at Headlands International Dark Sky Park, where you’ll see more stars overhead than you ever thought possible.
What kinds of day trips in Michigan can I go on?
Essentially, if you can dream it, you can day trip it! Michigan is a great place for day trips no matter what your interests and passions are. Incredibly, Michigan is home to 103 state parks and state park sites, and every single one of them could make for a wonderful day trip, be it by yourself or with friends and family. There are also all sorts of natural wonders like Kitch-iti-kipi, which is a breathtaking spring-fed pool that will keep you spellbound the entire time you’re nearby, and the Hiawatha National Forest is an amazing place with plenty to see and learn about, too. Alternatively, you could make day trips out of, say, the best places to find fudge in Michigan or the best ice cream shops. Your imagination is endless, and so too are the possibilities! For more ideas, take a look at this article. Let us know if you choose any of those trips – we’d love to hear how it went.
