Books For Your Next Trip to Michigan’s Upper Peninsula
Michigan’s Upper Peninsula is a fascinating combination of natural beauty and cultural importance that has historical roots that date back hundreds of millions of years. From the Huron Mountains’ timeless presence to the copper miners’ rough and tumble lives deep below the ground in the Keweenaw, there are more tales to be told than there are rocks tumbling on the shores of Lake Superior. The Upper Peninsula is a place you simply cannot forget, whether you’ve been just once or have lived there your entire life. The stories of this place and its people are important and deserve to be told.
Considering the intricate history, jaw-dropping scenery, and personal stories presented by such a place, the Upper Peninsula has had its fair share of books written about it. From the detailed histories of the Keweenaw Copper Mines to guides that will help you identify Lake Superior agates, there’s something for every kind of explorer, friend of nature, and historian. Whether you’re waiting for Winter to end and the Spring snowmelt to commence, are planning your first trip to Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, need a last-minute Christmas gift for the Yooper in your life, or want to discover more about where you and your family come from, there’s something on this list for you. Let’s get started!
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Detailing the Vibrant History of the Mining Industry
Hollowed Ground: Copper Mining and Community Building on Lake Superior, 1840s-1990s by Larry D. Lankton
Whereas I think it would be disingenuous to state that any book in particular is a comprehensive guide to Copper Country’s deep and intricate history, Hallowed Ground is probably the closest to attaining that feat. From the arrival of the white man to the legacy that remains from the copper mines in the modern era, Larry D. Lankton presents detailed information about almost every aspect of life in Copper Country imaginable. With a focus on the mining industry, Lankton explores the communities born deep within the ground, their people, their growth, and their eventual decline. Whether you consider yourself a mining buff or are just starting to learn about the Keweenaw, Hallowed Ground is an entertaining read. Plus, it has the most clever title on this list, and that’s got to be worth something.
Mine Towns: Buildings for Workers in Michigan’s Copper Country by Alison K. Hoagland
Most of our favorite towns and cities in Michigan's Upper Peninsula were, at one-time, company towns. Some were based around logging, but most were centered around the different mines and mining companies of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Alison K. Hoagland’s book, Mine Towns, does a deep dive into the various buildings that surrounded human existence during this time, how these buildings tied the people of Copper Country to the mining companies that owned it, and the legacy that those buildings have today. Complete with historic photographs and more information than you could ever imagine, this is a great shout for those who want to understand Copper Country’s intricate mining history and feel what it was like to live during those times. Though sometimes dense, the photographs, maps, and architectural designs make for an insightful yet exciting experience.
The Great Outdoors, Remote Waterfalls, & Rugged Wildflowers
Walking Paths and Protected Areas of the Keweenaw by the Michigan Nature Association
There are a few editions of this book, but the one we have on hand is the third, and we’ve used it countless times while exploring the Keweenaw Peninsula. One of the main reasons we set out to make our interactive map was to help people find information about remote places in Michigan, because a lot of the time, there isn’t a ton out there. This guide was released by the Michigan Nature Association and highlights a few of our favorite places, including Hunter’s Point Park, Hungarian Falls Natural Area, Helmut and Candis Stern Preserve at Mount Baldy, and many more. It also offers insightful information about how these areas became available for public use and their histories. For example, did you know that the dams at Hungarian Falls weren’t for hydroelectric power but were used to propel the fire suppression systems of the copper mills downstream? This offering from the Michigan Nature Association is a no-brainer for anyone who loves the outdoors, hiking, preservation, and history. We picked up our copy at Grandpa’s Barn in Copper Harbor (more information below).
Waterfalls of Michigan: A Guide to More Than 130 Waterfalls in the Great Lakes State by Greg Kretovic
One of the most tantalizing experiences you can undertake in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula is hunting down waterfalls. The Great Lake State boasts over 300 waterfalls, all located in the Upper Peninsula other than Ocqueoc Falls near Rogers City. Waterfalls of Michigan by Greg Kretovic features over 130 of them, complete with vivid color photos, a checklist to mark off the falls you’ve been to, and detailed notes on how to access each of the falls pictured. Kretovic’s waterfall guide offers a beautiful summary of some of our state’s most exquisite falls, which is worth commending. Whether you’re hoping to cross them all off or have your sights set on one or two special waterfalls, this guide is a great place to start. We recommend writing the date you went to each of the falls to the right of their listing on the checklist. We’ve found it’s a lot of fun to reminisce on trips by flipping through the book's pages, and it’s great to keep your dates straight!
Wildflowers of Michigan Field Guide by Stan Tekiela
We’ve been on enough hikes in which we saw pretty flowers we couldn’t identify to justify purchasing this at Grandpa’s Barn in Copper Harbor last spring. It’s categorized by color, making finding flowers much more straightforward than if it were broken up by type or flowering season, especially if you don’t know much about flowers. We’ve identified numerous wildflowers while hiking through the Keweenaw, North Country Trail sections in the eastern Upper Peninsula, and even in Detroit garden beds. The best part about this book is its tiny footprint, as it can fit inside your glove box without much of a fuss and will fit into your hiking pack when you know you’re going to run into some flowers that are begging to be identified.
Annie Clemenc — The Copper Strike, & unique pieces of Calumet’s History
Annie Clemenc and the Great Keweenaw Copper Strike by Lyndon Comstock
Annie Clemenc is one of the most influential women in Michigan’s long and storied history, but her existence is unknown to many. She was a vital part of the Copper Country Strike of 1913-1914, helped form the Women's Auxiliary No. 15 branch of the Western Federation of Miners, played a role in planning the Christmas Party at Calumet’s Italian Hall in 1913, and led the funeral processions that would come after the tragedy that unfolded during the party. For many years, that’s all most people knew about Big Annie Clemenc, as much of her life was not well documented. Lyndon Comstock uncovered new facts about Annie that had not been known previously. While reading through these pages, it becomes easier to understand the lives of those who called Calumet and the Keweenaw home all those years ago. Comstock’s book takes a deep dive into Clemenc’s life, how folks in the Keweenaw lived during its heyday, and the legacy of Big Annie.
Big Annie of Calumet: A True Story of the Industrial Revolution by Jerry Stanley
We couldn’t help but include another book about Annie Clemenc because of the dramatic influence she had on the lives of those living in the Keweenaw Peninsula just after the turn of the century—and because Lyndon Comstock’s offering is quite long. This book by Jerry Stanley is a much shorter account, initially written in 1996, and views Big Annie through the lens of the Industrial Revolution and the impact that the average copper miner had on the national scale during this period. This book is more tailored to younger readers but is enjoyable for adults just the same. This book is a great way to bridge the gap between the information you may already know about the Industrial Revolution, Unions, and the Keweenaw Peninsula to one of the most influential women in Michigan’s history.
The Under The Radar Michigan Series
Under The Radar Michigan: The First 50 by Tom Daldin, Jim Edelman & Eric Tremonti
I first started watching Under The Radar Michigan while recovering from a heel injury in college, and I’ve been hooked ever since. The PBS show highlights the adventures of Tom Daldin, Jim Edelman, and Eric Tremonti as they explore Michigan, highlighting local businesses, small towns, neighborhoods in cities, and the natural beauty the Great Lake State has to offer. In 2015, the trio released their first book, which goes over the first 50 episodes of UTR. I purchased this copy as a gift for someone else, but after I saw it had been abandoned to the bottom of their coffee table, I rescued it. Don’t let the negligence of my acquaintance lead you astray—this thing is packed with valuable information for anyone traveling around Michigan. Many guides don’t include businesses and restaurants to enjoy once you arrive, which is something Under The Radar does exceptionally well. The First 50 highlights Escanaba, Ironwood, Ishpeming, Marquette, Munising, Naubinway, St. Ignace, and Sault Ste. Marie alongside dozens more locations downstate.
If you want more, there are two newer books from the gang at UTR. The Next 50 was released in 2018, and Yet Another 50: Why Stop Now was released in 2022. I haven’t had a chance to check out the second two yet—but if they’re anything like the first book, you’re in for a real treat should you decide to pick them up!
Rockhounding & Agate Hunting
Michigan Rocks & Minerals: A Field Guide to the Great Lake State by Dan R. Lynch & Bob Lynch
This is the first rock guide on this list and the most general that we’ve decided to include. Michigan Rocks & Minerals is a guide about…well, as the title indicates, Michigan’s rocks and minerals. This book is all-encompassing, covering anything you might be able to find while traveling around Michigan, from Toledo to Copper Harbor. Because it casts such a wide net, there isn’t as much detailed information about the different kinds of rocks and their subsets. Don’t get me wrong—this is our most used guidebook, and it is constantly popping in and out of the glove box. Countless trips to the beach have been followed by 20-30 minute conversations in the parking lot while passing this book around, trying to identify what we just found. This guide is for you if you want a book to help you identify rocks from all around Michigan.
Lake Superior Rocks & Minerals Field Guide by Dan R. Lynch & Bob Lynch
If you’re partial to Lake Superior (the best Great Lake, we all know it), this guide might suit your interests. Similar to Michigan Rocks & Minerals, The Lynch’s Lake Superior iteration of their popular guides covers just about everything you might find while combing the beaches of gichi-gami. Simply put, it takes everything that the Michigan book speaks about and goes into further detail on unique variants of rocks found in Lake Superior. It’s the perfect companion for trips to the big lake, learning more about the rocks you’ve seen in the past, and figuring out how to identify them before you get to the beach. It’s important to note that this book covers all of Lake Superior, not just Michigan’s shoreline.
Lake Superior Agates Field Guide by Dan R. Lynch & Bob Lynch
The last identification guide we have to share is probably the most exciting. The elusive Lake Superior Agate is the desire of thousands of rockhounds on Lake Superior’s beaches every summer. While hunting for rocks around Michigan, we’ve seen countless groups of people claiming to have found agates, but only on a handful of occasions did the people have what we believed to be a genuine agate. We didn’t ruin their fun, but they would have known if they owned this guide. Agates are a gem (literally) of Lake Superior, and being able to identify them before and after you go to the beach is crucial to getting better at finding them. Again, this guide is for all of Lake Superior, not just Michigan’s shoreline.
Agate Hunting Made Easy: How to Really Find Lake Superior Agates by Jim Magnuson & Carol Wood
Okay, we promise, this is the last book about rocks! Agate Hunting Made Easy might seem like clickbait, but this guide from Jim Magnuson has a ton of excellent information. When we first started hunting for agates, we constantly searched the water line. It was the easiest way to see the rocks, and we thought it was the best way to find an agate. Although that’s still our favorite way to hunt for stones, Magnuson’s book taught us that there are plenty of ways to find an agate. One thing this guide will not do is tell you exactly where to look for said rocks, but you can use our Rock Hunting Guide for that!
The Best Independent Yooper Bookstores (That We’ve Been To)
Snowbound Books
Snowbound Books is a must-stop every time that we visit Marquette. Whether you want to browse, find something specific, or get a recommendation from a friendly face behind the counter, you’ll feel at home at Snowbound.
snowboundbooks.com | 118 N 3rd St, Marquette, MI 49855
Grandpa's Barn
Located in a quaint old farm building in Copper Harbor, Grandpa’s Barn has great vibes and a phenomenal selection of books to browse through. It’s a great place to find a book to unwind with after a long day exploring, hiking, and waterfalling.
grandpasbarnbooks.com | 340 4th St, Copper Harbor, MI 49918
Black Ice Comics & Books
Located in the heart of Houghton, Black Ice Comics & Books is a haven of acceptance and friendly faces. The selection of comics outweighs classic books here, but it’s a worthy shop for anyone who enjoys reading.
blackicecomics.com | 503 Shelden Ave, Houghton, MI 49931
