My wife and I have been working hard for the last year and a half, so we decided to take some time off and go camping. Our final destination was Copper Harbor, Michigan, but we hit a lot of places before we got there! The first stop on our journey was Hartwich Pines State Park in Grayling, Michigan.
Michigan Logging Museum
Hartwick Pines is dedicated to the logging industry in Michigan and contains the only remaining stand of original Old-Growth forest in the state left untouched by the loggers. In this picture, you can see the horse-drawn logging cart used to get the trees out of the forest.
The Original Visitors Center
It had been quite a few years since my parents had taken me on much the same trip when I was young, and the park had made a lot of improvements, including a new visitors center. But of course, I took my wife to see the original.
Karen Hartwick
This is the plaque dedicated to Karen Hartwick, the wife of Edward Hartwick. Edward had made a fortune logging Michigan, and after his death, his wife realized that the Old-Growth forest was rapidly being destroyed, never to return. She purchased a little over eight thousand acres and deeded them to the State of Michigan for a park. If it were not for her, Michigan would not have any original forest left.
Gorgeous!
Easy to see
Hartwick Pines is easily accessible for wheelchairs and others and the trails are clearly marked with not only directions but also informational plaques to give information at strategic locations.
"The Monarch"
When I was a child I remember standing next to this tree, no longer there, and being amazed that something could grow as tall as that. There are a few that are almost as tall as The Monarch in the park, but this tree was huge!
How peaceful is this?
Informative and gorgeous
Like I said earlier, throughout the park there are informational plaques, telling you the history, science, and ecology of the park. You can learn a lot there, and it helps a person realize how dependent on nature we all are.
Logging Museum
Halfway through the park there is a museum dedicated to the logging industry in Michigan. It is full of awesome displays about logging and ecology. Taxidermy animals and old tools are everywhere.
Bambi!!!
Log Marking Tools
Various Log Marks on display
Taxidermy Otter
What it took to live back then...
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Logging Sled
Tree Mushrooms!
Chapel in the pines
Above is the world-famous "Chapel in the pines." It is one of the most beautiful and peaceful places in the world, in my opinion. Inside there is a prayer that I think each of us should read and take to heart.
Inside the Chapel
Thank you for reading. In my next post, we will be going to Fort Michimacinac, the original colonial fort that was in Mackinaw City, Michigan.
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