Installations – Military History of the Upper Great Lakes

There are many military installations such as forts, bases, missile parks, shipbuilders and dockyards throughout the great lakes. Here is what we are writing about lately.

Patrick Sinclair and Fort MackinacMichael Sinclair
The Treaty of Paris in 1783 ended the Revolutionary War, establishing the United States of America, a new nation free from British rule. The treaty also gave rights to land ...
A Cold War Tragedy: B-52C Crash In January 1971Derek Gheller
On January 7, 1971 a fireball erupted over the Little Traverse Bay caused by the crash of a Boeing B-52 Model C. Along with the fireball, a sonic boom carried ...
History of the K.I. Sawyer Air Force BaseDavin Wiitanen
Introduction Driving through the heart of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, just south of Marquette, the winding two lane road leads to gated entrance with a sign that reads “Welcome to ...
Fort Malden, Gateway to the Upper Great LakesColin Redner
Photo Courtesy Parks Canada Shown above is the partially restored Fort Malden, currently the location of the Fort Malden National Historic Site Museum. On the right is the restored estate house, ...
Evolution of Volk Field Air National Guard BaseAustin Bittner
Introduction Beginning as a small rifle range in 1888, Volk Field Air National Guard Base has dramatically evolved into a major National Guard training base. During the course of its evolution, ...
History of Fort KoshkonongDylan Lauscher
Cause of the Black Hawk War As the United States was expanding its territory westward across the country, government officials tried to buy as much land from the Native Americans as ...
Fort Miami, OHAndy Swanson
Fort Miami was built by the British in 1794 as an effort to resist the United States in their plans to formally conquer contested areas of the Northwest Territory. The ...
Marinette Marine ShipbuildingJake Munie
On the mouth of the Menominee River between Michigan and Wisconsin, sits the only military shipbuilding corporation on the Great Lakes, Marinette Marine Corporation. Created in 1942 to keep up ...
Fort Gratiot and Fort Gratiot LighthouseKelsey Robinson
During the War of 1812, as well as in previous wars, waterways have always been a location of strategic importance to winning a war. This is the reasoning behind the ...
Fort Miami, the Beginning of MichiganOlivia Clancy
Modern civilization had to have come from somewhere. In Michigan’s case, modern civilization started with the French exploring New France. From there it evolved into forts and trading posts scattered ...
Camp Ripley: Past and PresentAlex Akermann
Camp Ripley: Past and Present Camp Ripley located in Little Falls, Minnesota, currently services as a National Guard post and training location for the Minnesota State Patrol, National Guard, Minnesota Wing ...
Fort Ontario Used for Hiding RefugeesJayme Mason
In the 20th century Fort Ontario had become deactivated as a military fort, but was still actively in use by the United States of America. Towards the end of World War ...
The River Rouge Complex, WWITerry Gregoricka
During WWI, German U-boats were destroying the United State Navy Ships. At the time the United States had no submarine chasers. The Navy destroyers were managing but not very well. ...
Riverview, MI Nike Missile BaseJack Youngblood
Diversion of Soviet planes carrying nuclear bombs was the purpose of the 275 Nike Missile bases in the U.S. (Nike Historical Society 2016, pg 1). Introduction of nuclear bombs created ...
Photos of Camp GermfaskSteven Walton
There is not a great deal of collected memorabilia related to Camp Germfask during its time as a CCC and POW camp in the 1930s and 40s, though certainly scraps ...