Fayette Historic Park 4th of July 2014

We celebrated America's Independence in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. We crossed the 5 mile Mackinac Bridge and drove another two hours to Garden. We camped at the location on the lower left hand side, the little peninsula that almost touches the tan colored islands ( Wisconsin) 

Our destination was the Historic Fayette State Park. In the late 1800's this town was built around the iron smelting industry that lasted for almost 30 years. Now a "ghost" town and living museum you can walk through and get an insight on how the settlers lived and worked. 

A model of what the town looked like in 1867

The buildings had artifacts and gave information. One of the sheets listed wages $1.60 for a 12 hour day.

The kids playing on the stage in the music hall

We took a hike that has a scenic overview of the town. 

The Potrafka family, our camping buddies. Josh, Terrie, Aaron and Elaina

The view was stunning and the weather perfect

The furnace 

We took time to visit Kitch-iti-Kipi Michigan's largest natural freshwater spring. The girls are turing the wheel that controls the raft. 

It is amazing because it is a clear view all the way to the bottom, 40 feet.  You can see trout swimming and the remains of some of the dead fish. Elliot noted he saw exploding sand. That is the force of 10,000 gallons of water flowing per minute.

The Indians called it Mirror of Heaven. 

We were able to do some fishing in Fayette. Jane was excited to catch a fish, although once she pulled it up she started screaming "it's going to touch me!"

We had a memorable 4th of July in the Upper Peninsula with friends. The natural beauty found in a Michigan Summer is a treasure in our own backyard.