History of Port Huron
During my recent sojourn, I learned that Port Huron itself is divided arsenic well. The more obvious interval is the geography, which is split about evenly into union and south halves by the Black River .
After the Army constructed Fort Gratiot at the north end of the St. Clair River during the War of 1812, many of the soldiers fell in beloved with the area and built the southerly half of Port Huron into what is immediately Old Towne. many original buildings are still standing, and the independent road retains its historic name — south of the Black River, it is military Street .
union of the Black River, through Downtown, that lapp road is named Huron Avenue for an equally historic reason. Port Huron ’ sulfur unique access to international land and water system has remained geographically significant for centuries, with much of the town ’ second identity and history tied to its ports and the lake that gives it its list.
View of the Black River waterfront in Port Huron. Photo by Joel Heckaman Port Huron ’ s location along several large waterways does more than make its history fascinate — it besides provides Port Huron with incredible natural beauty. Anyone familiar with the Great Lakes knows how particular their shores are, and Port Huron is besides bordered by the incredibly blue St. Clair River. Add in an abundance of shipshape parks and a generous embrace of trees, and about every corner is picturesque .
many Port Huron residents enjoy its charm, cherishing the boring pace and repose afternoons of a tourist-friendly beach town with a rich people history. Others see Port Huron as a city advanced with opportunity, looking to add their ideas to its long history of initiation and cultural importance. The gap between them is the less visible separate, and fortunately, they have found ways to work together .
The city finds a balance between maintaining the small-town find while besides offering exciting new events and businesses, and this allowed my MittenTrip to include the best of both worlds .
Visiting Port Huron – Best Things to Do, See, and Explore
The first day of my MittenTrip started the same as many do – waiting for Rush Hour traffic on I-696 to disperse. Once it cleared, I drove northeast to where I-94 and I-69 converge and end at Port Huron .
Dinner at Lynch’s Irish Tavern in Port Huron
Dale Merrill, of the Blue Water Convention and Visitors Bureau, had agreed to meet me for dinner, and we decided on Lynch ’ s irish Tavern. He and his wife were eagerly awaiting my arrival, and we had plenty to talk about with our share interests in music, marketing, higher erectile dysfunction, and enough more .
The night was away to a big depart, and it entirely got effective as everything on the menu looked delicious, the fry salmon bites I ordered blew me away, and then an irish tribe band took the stage to entertain us for the even .
precisely as I had ordered a Short ’ s beer off the number of local anesthetic selections, Dale introduced me to a local named Ralph, who had been commemorated with his own Short ’ s beer – Ralph Whistler – thanks to a video of him from 1984 that went viral on YouTube a few years ago .
ThumbCoast Brewing brews and serves great beer in the heart of Downtown Port Huron. Photo by Joel Heckaman
Drinks at ThumbCost Brewery
After I wished Dale and his wife goodnight and gathered my notes for the weekend, I decided to make intercept at ThumbCoast Brewery. I chatted a snatch with the bartender while I ordered a flight of their craft brews, and she introduced me to the owner, who had been the one to greet me on my way in .
She told me all about the gladden and struggles of running a brewery, the stories behind the names of their beers, and their plans to expand their operations and distribution. She was excited about the future but wary of the hurdles in a vacation town, and we both smiled as a bombastic group came in for a couple of drinks before stopping point call .
View of the St. Clair River and Bluewater Bridge from the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel in Port Huron. Photo by Joel Heckaman
DoubleTree by Hotel (aka Thomas Edison Inn Port Huron)
Before long it was time for us all to go get some rest, and I made my back north to the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel .
many know this as the Thomas Edison Inn, one of the nicest hotels in the region, and it was apparent from the moment I parked that it was still genuine regardless of the change in identify .
The concierge was cheerful and friendly despite the belated hour, and she handed me a warm cookie as she gave me directions to my room .
After a few twists and turns to the elevator and down the hallway, I wondered what the opinion would be like from my window. It turned out that I didn ’ t have a window, rather, I had a slither door to a patio with a direct view of the Bluewater Bridge, looking gorgeous with its bright blue lights against the dark sky .
I sat on the patio and ate my cookie with a big grin as I listened to the rushing water of the St. Clair River below and the trucks gliding across the bridge ahead .
Breakfast at Kate’s Downtown Cafe
After a fantastic night ’ south rest, I headed business district to Huron Ave. again for breakfast at Kate ’ s Downtown Cafe. The smell of bracing tea and herb hit me from the moment I opened the door, and the old-time workshop had boastfully blackboard walls showing their vary menu full of fresh and organic options. Kate ’ south is only candid for breakfast and lunch, but they do it well, and I was glad this place was suggested by our readers .
Shopping on Huron Ave
I had a few minutes to window workshop before my future arrest, so I wandered down Huron Ave. for a snatch and found the typical jewelers, florists, and hardware stores you ’ five hundred expect in a old-time downtown area .
But there were besides respective give and antique stores with nautical memorabilia, american samoa well as singular places like Polka Dot Pandas, which handmakes clothes, and A little Something, a nonprofit give patronize that helps people transition into jobs .
Downtown Port Huron businesses show their love for their city with these stickers. Photo by Joel Heckaman
Port Huron Yacht Club
I didn ’ t have besides much time to wander though, and I jumped in the car and crossed the Military Street Bridge into Old Towne. I wound my means to one of the Port Huron Yacht Club ’ s satellite locations, one of dozens of marinas along the Black River, where our family ’ s boat was ready for its first ocean trip in years .
As I waited for the party to arrive, I said hawaii to a couple preparing their sailboat for the day and took some pictures as other boats and kayaks passed .
The Exquisite Corpse Coffee House
My family didn ’ thymine make it before I had to keep moving along, so I wound my way back along the river until I was to Military Street. I parked near a assemble of public artwork near the looming tower of the union build up and slipped into The Exquisite Corpse Coffee House for an frost coffee .
A couple of local police members were chatting with the baristas about the health of their compost pile, and I explored the local artwork covering the walls as they laughed and joked with everyone who came in the door .
The Exquisite Corpse Coffee House in Port Huron features local art. Photo by Joel Heckaman
Great Lake Maritime Center
Behind the old downtown of Military Street is a row of old brick buildings, but those cursorily give way to the enormous warehouse-looking facilities of Desmond Marine. Boats on trailers, service docks, and giant forklift trucks were everywhere as I passed on my way to Vantage Point .
A huge gateway welcomes visitors, and the Great Lakes Maritime Center was immediately recognizable by the huge signs and dozens of external flags waving on crown. I parked and walked past french child and frost cream stands as the sound of a steer go provided some historic tidbits over the loudspeaker .
I didn ’ thymine see a go group as I walked inside, but I did find a café and delicatessen, a visitors desk with some very helpful ladies, respective historic artifacts, and live camera feeds showing the St. Clair River from above and below the body of water surface .
The Great Lakes Maritime Center hosts a farmer’s market every Saturday. Photo by Joel Heckaman I passed a hanker row of occupied tables and huge windows facing the St. Clair River as I explored the center and made my room outside to the weekly Farmer ’ second Market. Tents with art, jewelry, and décor sat beside the typical offerings of fresh produce, and I got myself some tart apples and hot beef jerky from unlike vendors .
The Maritime Center is surrounded by a paved walk with benches, gardens, and beautiful views, and I stopped to take a few pictures before making my way south toward the park lot to the Blue Water River Walk .
The long path features several access points to the water, many of which had kids playing or people fish, and the Duc d ’ Orleans ( the enlistment gravy boat from the Canadian side ) passed as I came upon the Naval Sea Cadet Ship Grayfox, a Navy education ship that is the largest of its kind in the state .
The USCGC Bramble was built in World War II, and it is still considered ready for duty. Photo by Joel Heckaman
U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Bramble
The walking path wound through a spot of protected wetlands before I arrived at my address, the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Bramble. The 180-foot ship from 1944, built to help with seafaring during World War II, is a noteworthy sight, and I was excited to climb aboard and explore the old vessel .
The main deck features an enormous crane and a big buoy, and the high gear sun on this net day was perfective for getting shots of the river and surrounding area as I explored the captain ’ south deck and gang quarters .
( This ship has since been retired and is no longer in Port Huron. )
Blue Water Historic Trolley & Lunch at Casey’s Pizza and Subs
I crossed the river Walk to Military Street fair in time to catch the city ’ s historic streetcar, and we were told the stories behind the buildings we passed as we made our way second north to downtown. A group filed on as we stopped at the Maritime Center, and I stayed on for a match more minutes to get to Casey ’ s Pizza and Subs on Huron Ave. downtown for lunch .
As I found myself halfway between the Maritime Center, directly south, and my next break, Pine Grove Park and the Huron Lightship, directly north, I decided to walk back to the Maritime Center for my car. As playfulness and educational as the streetcar is, I didn ’ t have time for the entire hour-long tour loop topology if I wanted to fit in everything I had planned !
Pine Grove Park is one of many great places to relax in Port Huron. Photo by Joel Heckaman
Pine Grove Park
Pine Grove Park was full of people on this cheery afternoon, most of them sitting in camping chairs or on blankets in the shade. many others were skateboarding, bicycle, and running along the boardwalk that stretches about the entire sea mile from the mouth of the Black River to the southerly tip of Lake Huron .
A family in dresses and dinner jacket was getting wedding pictures along the St. Clair River with the Bluewater Bridge in the background as a bottom passed .
Huron Lightship Museum
A docent was telling a small group about the history of the Huron Lightship as I entered, and we eagerly made our way around the close quarters of the closely 100-year-old vessel. historic artifacts were apparently on every bland come on, including a series of beacon lenses in the rear of the ship, along with a display of ship models at the front .
These models included the Huron Lightship itself, deoxyadenosine monophosphate well as a model of Light 7, the permanent buoy in southern Lake Huron that took over the lightship ’ randomness duties when she retired .
Fort Gratiot Lighthouse
I was running out of time for my day activities, so I hustled my room farther north, beyond the bridge and to the edge of the lake. Fort Gratiot Lighthouse seemed particularly busy, and unfortunately, I was besides late, as they were closing early that sidereal day for a marry .
I was able to explore the grounds and take a few pictures of the beautiful landscape, but I gave up when a stream of people in formal wear had to make their way past, from chairs and an arbor on the beach to a large tent behind the beacon.
Fort Gratiot Light was the first lighthouse built in Michigan. Photo by Joel Heckaman As I made the short slip back to the hotel to change for the even, I received a message from Margaret, another Awesome Mitten writer, who was in township with her husband for the day. We made plans to meet for dessert, and I drove back downtown for dinner .
Dinner at Vintage Tavern in Port Huron
A small sign sticking out of the back of a large brick build pointed me to my dinner address, Vintage Tavern. The sandwich display panel on the sidewalk reads, “ Upscale but casual, ” and I entered and sat on the lull chief floor but heard periodic cheers and shouts from the patio upstairs .
The menu was full of incredible options, and I gathered from the server and the couple seated near me that Vintage Tavern is known for both its soup selections and ribeye steaks .
I wandered upstairs to peek at the patio before I left, passing a hidden center shock that was being used to host a marry party. The noise grew as I reached the top-level patio, and the gorgeous view and ennoble cinch made it no storm that all of the induct and bar areas were full of glad people .
Atrium Cafe and Ice Cream Parlor features historical artifacts in unusual and practical ways. Photo by Joel Heckaman
Sweet Treats at Atrium Cafe and Ice Cream Parlor
Driving back to the south end of Old Towne, I met Margaret and her husband outside of the Atrium Café and Ice Cream Parlor [ it has since closed ]. They showed me around as we entered, the décor featuring wall-to-wall artifacts and random pieces of things with nameless importance .
As we sat in erstwhile fold-down dramaturgy seats at a mesa, we looked about at the lights that had obviously come from a church service, archways that had possibly come from mansions, and a belittled screen that showed dumb films ( I would belated learn they featured Colleen Moore, a local native ) .
Margaret introduced me to the owner, who was excited to hear that Port Huron, a set he intelligibly and visibly loves, was getting extra attention. He came back belated to make sure we enjoyed our desserts, which to say we did was a huge understatement .
See a Show at The Citadel Stage
As Margaret and her husband made their manner home, I returned to downtown. The marquee at McMorran Place, the big ice hockey rink and event concentrate in town, flashed promotions for productions of Cinderella and Rocky Horror Picture Show as I passed, and I noticed that I was on the corner of Huron Ave and Bard Street as I parked and walked into The Citadel Stage for the even ’ second performance of Hamlet .
The Citadel Stage opened in August 2016 with a production of Hamlet. Photo courtesy of Enter Stage Right
Drinks at Brass Rail Bar, Port Huron
My adjacent intercept was immediately across the street at the highly commend Brass Rail Bar, but it was relatively evacuate aside from a few regulars .
Around Thanksgiving each year, this plaza transforms wholly, as it is filled with an abhorrent sum of Christmas lights and plenty of gay cheer. This is aided by their singular custom, a cocktail named the Tom and Jerry that resembles but is much better than Egg Nog .
I got a message from my friend that the Hamlet cast was meeting at a restaurant on the far north end of town, so I packed up and headed out to join them. North past the hotel, bridge, and beacon, precisely beyond the canal where you can rent kayaks for the day, I met the Hamlet cast at the Applebee ’ second near the Birchwood Mall. They were equitable getting ready to order drinks, all bubbling with the agitation and epinephrine of having completed a successful orifice night .
The leading women of a gender-swapped production of Hamlet. Photo courtesy of Enter Stage Right I chatted with one of the actresses I had met the night ahead, a well as the actress who had been commanding in the title role, and another actress who not only performed but was besides the daughter of the company ’ s founder. She provided a alone position on how it was both thrilling and relieving to see the stick out come to fruition after a ten of attempt, and finally everyone was talking about their plans for the company, theater, and their own careers .
I returned to the hotel exhausted after a farseeing and stimulate day, sharing the elevator with a copulate who had precisely returned from a marriage. Just as I had the night before, I sat on the patio and took in the sights before bed, enjoying this night view of the Bluewater Bridge as I scribbled in my notebook .
Brunch at Freighters in Port Huron
Either my alarm didn ’ t go off or, more likely, I hit the nap clitoris excessively many times, and I woke up a little later than I wanted to on Sunday good morning. fortunately, I didn ’ t have far to go, as I packed my bag, checked out of the hotel, and continued to the other end of the build to Freighters in Port Huron for brunch .
View from the patio of Freighters Eatery and Taproom in Port Huron. Photo by Joel Heckaman Because I was late, the buffet was a little under-stocked, but what they did volunteer was delectable. And, as advertised by their name, a bottom passed in view of the huge windows facing the St. Clair River, indeed airless it would seem that they were right in the parking fortune .
Thomas Edison Depot Museum
After enjoying the view and my chocolate, I continued about to the early side of the building to the Thomas Edison Depot Museum. The first thing you notice about the belittled construction is the honest-to-god rail cable car out front. once I stepped inside the museum, it became immediately apparent why that rail car was significant .
Thomas Edison Depot Museum sits directly under the Bluewater Bridge in Port Huron. Photo by Joel Heckaman The docent ( coincidentally the same as at the Huron Lightship the day before ) cheerfully greeted me and gave a immediate overview of Thomas Edison ’ sulfur life in Port Huron. His first job was at this trail stop consonant, selling papers and snacks to rail passengers, which he quickly grew into a print mathematical process for his own newspaper. He used that success to fund his chemistry and fabricate, which you can see set up in the refurbish Grand Trunk Railroad car away .
The museum tour ends with a working exemplar of Edison ’ s original motion picture machine, equally well as early-model record player and one of a few remaining 5000W light bulb, the strongest presently in being .
I chatted with a local anesthetic historian who had either provided or maintained many of these items, and he was tidal bore to contribution many details about Edison ’ s connection to Port Huron. This included a bill poster for the movie “ Young Thomas Edison, ” starring Mickey Rooney, which had its world premier hosted at the Huron Theatre in 1940 .
If you want to dig deeper, I wrote an article highlighting the history of Port Huron that I discovered during my sojourn !
Port Huron was the boyhood home of Thomas Edison. Photo by Joel Heckaman
Coffee at the Raven Cafe in Port Huron
After that interesting chew the fat, I drove downtown again and crossed the Military Street Bridge. As I was looking for the Raven Café, I found myself parked under the Huron Theatre pavilion I had barely learned approximately, though it was now a gymnasium .
As I stepped into Raven Café, I was overwhelmed by the Gothic court packed into every squarely column inch, as tons of gargoyles, paintings, and early artworks adorned the steep walls. The menu is filled with creatively named items that not lone sounded delightful but besides made me chuckle with Edgar Allen Poe and general death-and-doom-related pun .
I lone had prison term for coffee bean and a nosh, but I would love to come back at “ bar ” time for a cocktail and to see their showings of old movies .
Raven Cafe in Port Huron is an ode to Edgar Allen Poe and Gothic art and architecture. Photo by Joel Heckaman
Boat Tour in Port Huron
The schedule time for my gravy boat enlistment was approaching, and I returned to the Maritime Center to park and walk to the Huron Lady II. We promptly boarded the ship docked at the mouth of the Black River, then made our means south along the St. Clair River near the canadian english .
We passed tanks, towers, and other signs that this area was an oil refinery, as a bottom refueling its tanks ( up to 180,000 gallons, as we ’ rhenium assure ) is docked at the giant star Esso post .
We passed piles of raw materials and factories before turning about to head back north, and the captain took us along the american english side to view huge houses, apartments, and B & Bs. Boats waved as they passed us, and we slowed down for a moment as we passed the USCGC Bramble and NCSC Grayfox .
Near the Black River, we did a small loop in Sarnia Harbor, where three giant freighters towered above us as they are docked for loading or unloading .
Tours on the Huron Lady II provide an up-close look at shipping on the Great Lakes. Photo by Joel Heckaman Farther north, we passed the Huron Lightship, with people sitting and watching from Pine Grove Park, and then we continued under the Bluewater Bridge and into Lake Huron. The captain slowed us down again, allowing everyone to take pictures of Fort Gratiot Light and the Coast Guard station, along with the many sailboats and other crafts that were besides enjoying the affectionate sunlight on this late summer good afternoon .
After we made a big loop and returned to the dock, I hustled off the boat, determined to get to the beacon well before close time after yesterday ’ south disappointment .
Climbing Fort Gratiot Light
Of course, equally soon as I got to Military Street, I was immediately stuck in a line of cars as the bridge was up to let a sailboat past. however, this was not an issue, as I made my way all the way north and park beside the Fort Gratiot Light historical marker .
I joined a humble group of people waiting to make the 85-foot climb, and we all reveled in the view of the gorgeous amobarbital sodium sky and water, dozens of boats, and hundreds of people strung along the water system ’ mho border for a far as we could see. The gentle breeze and warm sunlight made us want to stay atop the beacon all good afternoon, but we could see the following group leaving the gift shop and making their way over .
A perfect view of the sandy Lake Huron beaches from atop Fort Gratiot Light. Photo by Joel Heckaman
Dinner at Fuel Woodfire Grill
The climb had made me hungry anyhow, and I was tidal bore to get bet on business district to try a new restaurant, Fuel Woodfire Grill [ now closed ]. I had been told it was owned by the same people as nearby Tio Gordos, which had been amazing during my final sojourn to the area, and Fuel did not disappoint .
I sat near the window, as common, and found myself surrounded by a post-wedding party, which was apparently more than just a concurrence around here. Everything on the menu looked amazing, so I went for a BBQ jazz band home plate, which besides included their cayenne macintosh and tall mallow and cornbread .
I tried their wax assortment of barbecue sauce varieties, settling on a jazz band of their Bourbon Apricot, which was thick and savory, and their Black Cherry Faygo, which was thin and sweet. These paired absolutely with the fruity tones of the Short ’ s Soft Parade I was besides enjoying, and I was in BBQ heaven .
The service was quick, and I finished with enough of clock to spare, so I decided to make the tripper over to Sarnia for a walk and some pictures of the sunset. traffic on the Bluewater Bridge was dense but fast, and I took the foremost exit from the highway to make the hoist drive back to the waterfront .
Dow Great Lakes Model was a gift to Sarnia from Dow Chemical in 1999. Photo by Joel Heckaman
Dow Great Lakes Model
As I passed hotels and bars, I abruptly found myself surrounded by the three huge freighters we had seen from the Huron Lady a few hours ago. I parked on the out dock, which we had learned was made from the hull of a partially deep-set bottom after an unsuccessful u-turn, and made my means into Points Land Park .
The main sport of the park is the Dow Great Lakes Model, a large fountain in the shape of the Great Lakes that fills from the north end at Lake Superior and drains down into the lower east end of Lake Erie, a give from Dow Chemical .
Sunset at Bluewater Bridge in Port Huron
After sending some fun videos and pictures to my friends back stateside, I drove back along the winding path to Waterfront Park, immediately under the Bluewater Bridge .
The position of Port Huron, its landmarks, and Lake Huron were gorgeous as I followed the boardwalk along the prop up, and the parking lot was quite busy with people walking, having picnics, or plainly watching boat traffic along the river .
Sunset and moonrise over Port Huron and the Bluewater Bridge. Photo by Joel Heckaman once I hit the north border of the park, immediately across from Fort Gratiot Light, I turned about and walked all the means confederacy, passing several monuments, statues, and plaques commemorating the diachronic importance of this localization.
Read more: Maritime on Audiotree Live (Full Session)
The sun started to hang low when I reached the south end of the ballpark, where the Huron Lightship was visible on the other side, so I returned to the north end to get pictures of the sunset. The bright blue sky turned orange behind the Bluewater Bridge as the moon rose above it, and I stopped for a consequence to enjoy the scene of everything I had explored over the course of the weekend .
even though it was starting to get late, there was still a distribute of traffic trying to cross the bridge to Port Huron. As I crept my means up to the customs checkpoint, the military officer asked me a few questions about where I had gone and what I had done. He made me promise that I would mention how cool he was as he waved me through, and I thanked him as I hit the highway to head home plate .
special thanks to our sponsors for making our # MittenTrip to Port Huron potential : Shorts Brewing and Live Love Michigan .
