North Manitou Island Day Trip – Annual “Fun”draiser
Monday, September 9th, 2019
We were fortunate to have volunteers and National Park Service staff sharing their time and knowledge of North Manitou Island. After a pleasant morning aboard the Manitou Island Transit’s ferry, MISHE- MOKWA, participants filled their day with a variety of tours featuring various points of interest and enjoyed an outdoor lunch with a beautiful view of the Manitou Passage.
Kim Mann, the Historical Architect for Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, led tours through “Cottage Row”, the nickname for what remains of the old cottages lining the hillside.
An Island Botany Tour featuring native fauna, antique apple trees, and ornamental shrubs was lead by Tom Adams of the Leelanau Conservation District and Jim Kelderhouse of Port Oneida Community Alliance.
Volunteer, Dave Hooper, a retired park ranger led a tour around the National Historic Landmark of the United States Life Saving Service buildings. Featured in the district are structures representing the three distinct periods of lifesaving history.
Some participants took a short walk to the site where the North Manitou Island School once stood. The small parcel is owned by Leland Public Schools. Nick Seguin, a teacher, shared the tentative plans to reinvigorate the property for educational purposes.
The tour concluded with a few laps around the North Manitou Shoal Lighthouse. Dave McWilliam, a founding board member, updated passengers on this year’s projects and future timelines in their mission to restore and open the lighthouse to the public.
*This event is a fundraiser for the Leelanau Historical Society showcasing the unique history of the Manitou Islands. Every year is a new itinerary featuring one or both of the islands and its rich history. To join us next year in 2020 visit our website.