Lost in Michigan
Lost In Michigan is a captivating website dedicated to exploring the hidden history, forgotten places, and scenic beauty of Michigan. Created by photographer and writer Mike Sonnenberg, the site features striking photography and engaging stories that bring to life the state's small towns, abandoned buildings, roadside attractions, and lesser-known landmarks. With a blend of historical insight and personal discovery, Lost In Michigan invites readers to see the state from a new perspective—one shaped by curiosity, nostalgia, and a love for the road less traveled. Whether you're a lifelong Michigander or an armchair traveler, the site offers a rich and thoughtful journey through Michigan’s overlooked treasures.
Lost In Michigan
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The Smoke Stack in Big Bay
This smoke stack rises into the sky next to Lake Independence near the town of Big Bay in the Upper Peninsula. It was part of the Big Bay Ford Sawmill and holds a unique place in the history of Ford Motor Company’s operations. Henry Ford, aiming for complete vertical integration and self-sufficiency in automobile manufacturing,
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The Haunted Cells of Boyne Falls
A truly unique piece of history—and perhaps a local haunting—stands in a park in Boyne Falls, Michigan. Right next to the playground equipment, you’ll find an old iron jail cell dating back to the village’s wild lumbering days. This small lockup was once necessary to temporarily hold the region’s notoriously rowdy lumberjacks. Today, however, it’s
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Americana
Driving the back roads near Linwood, I stumbled upon a fantastic sight: a barn absolutely covered in vintage signs. It was a roadside gallery of genuine Americana, complete with old gas pumps and even a classic pay phone booth. The whole scene was a powerful jolt of nostalgia, instantly transporting me back to my childhood.
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A Girl’s Headstone and the Aging Photo
West of Newberry, the Forrest Home Cemetery holds a peculiar and poignant memorial. It is an old headstone featuring a purple glass bubble. This unique stone marks the grave of a young girl who passed away many years ago, just six years and six months old. Her grieving parents embedded a photograph of her within
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Tobacco Ranch and the Purples
Driving into downtown Clare I passed by a large gate for the Tobacco Ranch behind it was a large stone house that I took a pic of from the gate. The property is now used as an entertainment venue for weddings and events. The ranch has a famous, and dark, history tied to organized crime.
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