Fayette Historic State Park is the state park of the historic town of Fayette in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is located on the Big Bay de Noc of Lake Michigan, between Snail Shell Harbor and Sand Bay, on the southern side of the Upper Peninsula, about 17 miles south of US 2. Fayette was the site of an industrial community that manufactured charcoal pig iron between 1867 and 1891. The town has been reconstructed into a living museum, showing what life was like in this town in the late 19th century.[4] It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1970.[5]
Fayette was once one of the Upper Peninsula's most productive iron-smelting operations. Fayette grew up around two blast furnaces, a large dock, and several charcoal kilns, following the post-Civil War need for iron. Nearly 500 residents—many immigrating from Canada, the British Isles, and northern Europe—lived in and near the town that existed to make pig iron. During 24 years of operation Fayette's blast furnaces produced a total of 229,288 tons of iron, using local hardwood forests for fuel and quarrying limestone from the bluffs to purify the iron ore. When the charcoal iron market began to decline, the Jackson Iron Company closed its Fayette smelting operations in 1891.[6] Another event leading to the demise of the Jackson Iron Company was the use of the hardwoods and limestone to purify the iron, leading to the exhaustion of hardwoods in the area. This was the main source for purifying the iron and therefore led to the decline of the Jackson Iron Company. After shutting down operations, many residents left Fayette in search of employment elsewhere, though some chose to stay nearby and used the land for farming.
Because of the closing of smelting operations, the town became a resort and fishing village. In 1916 it was purchased by a wealthy individual and turned into a summer resort. It continued in that capacity until 1946 when another individual purchased it, who eventually fell behind on taxes. Lastly, it was purchased by the Escanaba Paper Company, and was swapped to the Michigan government for timberland. As a result, Fayette became a state park in 1959.[7]
Fayette Historic Townsiteedit
Today, Fayette Historic Townsite is a living museum with many restored buildings. Visitors may walk through the buildings to learn about life in Fayette during the late 19th century. Over 20 buildings are open, with restoration continuing on other parts of the town.[8]
The townsite is open daily for visitors from approx. May through October. A visitors center and museum store are also located at the park. There is no admission charge; however, a Michigan State Park permit is required.
Campingedit
There are 61 semi-modern campsites as of 2006[update]. Facilities include electrical service to all campsites and access to vault toilets and water. Most campsites are well shaded. Boat camping is allowed in Snail Shell Harbor, and space is on a first-come, first-served basis. There is a beach on Sand Bay (Lake Michigan) just a short distance from the campground. The picnic area is adjacent to the beach and offers a picnic shelter, grills and vault toilets. Playground equipment and horseshoe courts are available.
Hikingedit
The park offers about 5 miles (8.0 km) of hiking trails. The trails are groomed in the winter for cross-country skiing. Trails wind through a hardwood forest, up beside dolomite cliffs (which are part of the Niagara Escarpment) and throughout the historic townsite.[4]
^"When were Michigan state parks and recreation areas established?" (PDF). Michigan Department of Natural Resources. Retrieved April 5, 2020.
^ ab"Fayette Historic State Park". Michigan Department of Natural Resources. Retrieved June 30, 2018.
^"Fayette". NPGallery. National Park Service. Retrieved June 30, 2018.
^Woodford, Arthur M., ed. (2012). The Michigan Companion. Detroit: OmniData. p. 214. ISBN978-0-9798648-4-1.
^"General Management Plan: Fayette Historic State Park" (PDF). Michigan Department of Natural Resources. September 2010. Retrieved June 30, 2018.
^"Fayette Historic Townsite". Michigan History Center. Retrieved April 5, 2020.
^. NASA. Archived from the original on May 10, 2020. Retrieved January 30, 2016.
External linksedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Fayette Historic State Park.
Fayette Historic State Park Michigan Department of Natural Resources
Fayette Historic State Park Map Michigan Department of Natural Resources
Fayette Historic Townsite Map Michigan History Center
January 01, 1970
fayette, historic, state, park, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliable, sources, unsourced, material, challenged, removed, find, sources, news, newspapers, books, scholar, js. This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Fayette Historic State Park news newspapers books scholar JSTOR May 2022 Learn how and when to remove this message Fayette Historic State Park is the state park of the historic town of Fayette in the U S state of Michigan It is located on the Big Bay de Noc of Lake Michigan between Snail Shell Harbor and Sand Bay on the southern side of the Upper Peninsula about 17 miles south of US 2 Fayette was the site of an industrial community that manufactured charcoal pig iron between 1867 and 1891 The town has been reconstructed into a living museum showing what life was like in this town in the late 19th century 4 It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1970 5 Fayette Historic State ParkIUCN category III natural monument or feature 1 The historic townsite seen from above Snail Shell HarborLocation in MichiganShow map of MichiganFayette Historic State Park the United States Show map of the United StatesLocationFairbanks Township Delta County Michigan United StatesCoordinates45 43 00 N 86 39 40 W 45 71667 N 86 66111 W 45 71667 86 66111 2 Area711 acres 288 ha Elevation673 feet 205 m 2 DesignationMichigan state parkEstablished1959 3 AdministratorMichigan Department of Natural ResourcesWebsiteFayette Historic State ParkFayette Historic State ParkU S National Register of Historic PlacesMichigan State Historic SiteThe blast furnace complexBuilt1867NRHP reference No 70000269Significant datesAdded to NRHPFebruary 16 1970Designated MSHSAugust 23 1956 Contents 1 History 2 Fayette Historic Townsite 3 Camping 4 Hiking 5 Climate 6 See also 7 References 8 External linksHistory editFayette was once one of the Upper Peninsula s most productive iron smelting operations Fayette grew up around two blast furnaces a large dock and several charcoal kilns following the post Civil War need for iron Nearly 500 residents many immigrating from Canada the British Isles and northern Europe lived in and near the town that existed to make pig iron During 24 years of operation Fayette s blast furnaces produced a total of 229 288 tons of iron using local hardwood forests for fuel and quarrying limestone from the bluffs to purify the iron ore When the charcoal iron market began to decline the Jackson Iron Company closed its Fayette smelting operations in 1891 6 Another event leading to the demise of the Jackson Iron Company was the use of the hardwoods and limestone to purify the iron leading to the exhaustion of hardwoods in the area This was the main source for purifying the iron and therefore led to the decline of the Jackson Iron Company After shutting down operations many residents left Fayette in search of employment elsewhere though some chose to stay nearby and used the land for farming Because of the closing of smelting operations the town became a resort and fishing village In 1916 it was purchased by a wealthy individual and turned into a summer resort It continued in that capacity until 1946 when another individual purchased it who eventually fell behind on taxes Lastly it was purchased by the Escanaba Paper Company and was swapped to the Michigan government for timberland As a result Fayette became a state park in 1959 7 Fayette Historic Townsite editToday Fayette Historic Townsite is a living museum with many restored buildings Visitors may walk through the buildings to learn about life in Fayette during the late 19th century Over 20 buildings are open with restoration continuing on other parts of the town 8 The townsite is open daily for visitors from approx May through October A visitors center and museum store are also located at the park There is no admission charge however a Michigan State Park permit is required Camping editThere are 61 semi modern campsites as of 2006 update Facilities include electrical service to all campsites and access to vault toilets and water Most campsites are well shaded Boat camping is allowed in Snail Shell Harbor and space is on a first come first served basis There is a beach on Sand Bay Lake Michigan just a short distance from the campground The picnic area is adjacent to the beach and offers a picnic shelter grills and vault toilets Playground equipment and horseshoe courts are available Hiking editThe park offers about 5 miles 8 0 km of hiking trails The trails are groomed in the winter for cross country skiing Trails wind through a hardwood forest up beside dolomite cliffs which are part of the Niagara Escarpment and throughout the historic townsite 4 Climate editSnail Shell Harbor Climate chart explanation J F M A M J J A S O N D 63 8 12 52 11 14 55 4 6 78 4 1 63 11 3 91 14 9 113 18 13 74 17 15 118 16 15 118 7 4 104 6 4 64 2 2 Average max and min temperatures in C Precipitation totals in mmSource 9 Imperial conversion JFMAMJJASOND 2 5 18 10 2 12 7 2 2 25 21 3 1 39 30 2 5 52 37 3 6 57 48 4 4 64 55 2 9 63 59 4 6 61 59 4 6 45 39 4 1 43 39 2 5 36 28 Average max and min temperatures in F Precipitation totals in inchesSee also editSpider Cave an archaeological site within the park References edit Fayette Historic State Park IUCN Retrieved April 5 2020 a b Fayette Historic State Park Geographic Names Information System United States Geological Survey United States Department of the Interior When were Michigan state parks and recreation areas established PDF Michigan Department of Natural Resources Retrieved April 5 2020 a b Fayette Historic State Park Michigan Department of Natural Resources Retrieved June 30 2018 Fayette NPGallery National Park Service Retrieved June 30 2018 Woodford Arthur M ed 2012 The Michigan Companion Detroit OmniData p 214 ISBN 978 0 9798648 4 1 General Management Plan Fayette Historic State Park PDF Michigan Department of Natural Resources September 2010 Retrieved June 30 2018 Fayette Historic Townsite Michigan History Center Retrieved April 5 2020 NASA Earth Observations Data Set Index NASA Archived from the original on May 10 2020 Retrieved January 30 2016 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Fayette Historic State Park Fayette Historic State Park Michigan Department of Natural Resources Fayette Historic State Park Map Michigan Department of Natural Resources Fayette Historic Townsite Map Michigan History Center Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Fayette Historic State Park amp oldid 1217122804, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
