The area that would become Marquette, Michigan, was well known to French missionaries and Canadian trappers as early as the 17th century. Michigan's Upper Peninsula did not develop economically until William Burt and Jacob Houghton discovered iron deposits in the area in 1845.
The iron mining town established in 1849 was initially named New Worcester after the hometown of the financial backer of the mine. The name was changed to Marquette in 1850 in honor of the French missionary who had explored the region years earlier. The Marquette Iron Company was a failure. However, its successor, the Cleveland Iron Mining Company, was a financial success. The growth associated with this company led to Marquette's incorporation as a village in 1854 and later as a city in 1871.
Iron mining was the main financial force in the area for decades. In 1932, the Lower Harbor Ore Dock was built on the shore of Lake Superior. Ore was transported from the mines to ore ships by the South Shore and Atlantic Railroad. From 1932 until its closure in 1971, the dock loaded nearly 24 million tons of iron ore onto Great Lakes ore ships.
Today, Marquette County is a nature lover's wonderland. The city lies on the shore of Lake Superior. The 31,000-square-mile lake is the largest freshwater lake in North America. Marquette boasts 83 miles of pristine shoreline with beaches and parks for everyone to enjoy. A trip to Presque Isle Park offers visitors a unique lake experience. The 323-acre city park is on a peninsula that offers spectacular views of the lake. The extensive forests that surround Marquette provide the opportunity to pursue a wide variety of outdoor activities. Hiking, biking, skiing, fishing, hunting, and camping are a few of the wilderness attractions in the area.
For those looking for more civilized adventure, Marquette has plenty to offer. The area is home to five historic lighthouses to visit. As the cultural and economic center of the Upper Peninsula, the city has a healthy assortment of shops, cafes, museums, and galleries.
Campgrounds Near Marquette, Michigan
Located in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, the Aune-Osborn Campground is about as far as you can go without leaving the country. Camp on the St. Mary's River shore and gaze across to Canada. The park has 100 RV campsites. Twenty-four are riverfront sites. Facilities include restrooms and showers, a coin laundry, electric and water hookups, and a dump station. Amenities include fire rings, picnic tables, Wi-Fi, a beach on the river, and a boat launch.
Explore the Lake Huron side of the Upper Peninsula at the Loons Point RV Park and Campground in Cedarville, Michigan. Natural attractions like Mackinac Island, Drummond Island, or Tahquamenon Falls are a short drive away. The park has 50 RV sites, 16 of which are waterfront sites. All campsites have electric hookups, and others have full hookups. Campsites include fire rings and picnic tables. There is a laundry facility and a dump station. The park has canoe and kayak rentals and a boat dock.
The Munising/Picture Rocks KOA is a fully developed RV campground. The park, a few miles south of Munising, Michigan, is a central location to explore the area. There are various campsite sizes and service levels. Back-in and pull-through sites with different hookup arrangements are available. Amenities include Wi-Fi, a pool, a pet park, and a pavilion.
State Parks Near Marquette, Michigan
Wells State Park is a 678-acre park with three miles of sandy shoreline along the northern portion of Green Bay. Swim in the bay, enjoy a peaceful picnic, or pitch a tent for a camping adventure. Summer activities include fishing, hiking, hunting, wildlife viewing, and watercraft. Winter activities include snowshoeing and cross-country skiing. Facilities include electric hookups, restrooms, vault toilets, picnic tables, a boat launch, and rentable cabins.
Enjoy fishing, swimming, or windsurfing on Lake Superior while visiting McLain State Park. The park is located on two miles of sandy beach near Hancock, Michigan. Visitors can play on the beach, pick wild berries, visit the old lighthouse, or hike the McLain trail. The 4-mile trail leads along the coast and wooded inland portions of the park. The park campground has over 50 beachfront and tree-lined RV-accessible campsites with electric hookups, water, picnic facilities, restrooms, and a dump site.
Bewabic State Park is located west of Crystal Falls, Michigan, on the shore of Fortune Lake. The 315-acre park offers hiking, boating, and fishing on a small inland lake. Other activities include an OHV trail, a picnic area, and tennis courts. The campground has over 100 RV-accessible campsites. The pull-through and back-in sites offer various hookups and amenities. Fire pits, picnic tables, and electric service are common throughout the park. Water, toilets, and a dumpsite are available.
National Sites Near Marquette, Michigan
Visitors come to Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore to explore the 400-foot-high dunes. The lakeshore presents dramatic contrasts of color and scenery. The white sand of the dunes clashes with the blue lake on one side and the green forests on the other. One unique activity here is surfing. The prevailing winds that drive the sand make this section of Lake Michigan one of the few places in the American interior where surfing is possible. Hike on the park's 100-mile network of trails, or climb a dune or two.
Explore the history of copper mining in the area at Keweenaw National Historical Park near Calumet, Michigan. The park's visitor center presents a thorough record of the 7,000 years of cultures that made the area home. Exhibits illustrate the history of mining that enabled the modern industry to thrive. Those interested in mining history will enjoy the nearby A.E. Seaman Mineral Museum and the historical Quincy Mine.
View the colorful and majestic cliffs that rise over 200 feet above Lake Superior at Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore near Munising, Michigan. Take a leisurely boat tour or paddle silently in a kayak beneath the sheer sandstone cliffs and arches. Explore six inland lakes on over 100 miles of trails within the park. Visit the park's visitor center to learn about the region's geology and cultural history.
National Forests Near Marquette, Michigan
Explore nearly one million acres of northern wilderness in the Ottawa National Forest. Located in the western part of the Upper Peninsula, the forest boasts 18 waterfalls, 53,000 acres of lakes, 2,300 miles of perennial streams and rivers, 2,800 miles of intermittent streams, and 200,000 acres of wetlands. The forest has 22 developed campgrounds, most of which have RV-accessible sites. Most campgrounds have picnic tables, fire rings, drinking water, vault toilets, and trash service. Lake Ottawa and Clark Lake Campgrounds are the most developed, with paved roads, pressurized water, trash service, and dump sites.
Hiawatha National Forest boasts lakeshores on three of the Great Lakes. Visit one of the six lighthouses within the forest's borders. Make the trip to Grand Island Recreation Area. For the brave, visit during the winter to experience the area's famed "lake effect" snow. The area routinely sees 200 inches of snow a year. Ample snowfall makes the forest's snowmobiling and cross-country skiing trails a unique attraction. The forest offers hundreds of miles of marked trails and over 30 RV-accessible campgrounds for use in kinder weather.
The Huron-Manistee National Forest is located on the Lower Peninsula of Michigan. The forest is an example of diverse ecological habitats within a small area. The forest includes dry sand prairies, dunes, stands of oak, marshlands, bogs, and marshes, all within the one-million-acre area. The forest has over 25 maintained day-hike trails, 20 backpacking trails, and six extensive mountain bike trails. Picnicking areas are plentiful. There are three OHV sites with attached campgrounds and 15 RV-accessible campgrounds throughout the forest.
