Fayette Historic State Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Fayette Historic State Park |
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IUCN Category III (Natural Monument)
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The historic townsite seen from above Snail Shell Harbor
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 Fayette Historic State Park
Location in Michigan
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| Location | Fairbanks Township, Delta County, Michigan, United States |
| Area | 711 acres (288 ha) |
| Elevation | 673 feet (205 m) |
| Designation | Michigan state park |
| Established | 1959 |
| Administrator | Michigan Department of Natural Resources |
| Website | Fayette Historic State Park |
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Fayette Historic State Park
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The blast furnace complex
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| Built | 1867 |
| NRHP reference No. | 70000269 |
| Significant dates | |
| Added to NRHP | February 16, 1970 |
Fayette Historic State Park is a cool place in Michigan where you can step back in time! It's located on the Big Bay de Noc of Lake Michigan. This park protects the old town of Fayette, which was once a busy industrial community.
From 1867 to 1891, Fayette was a major center for making "pig iron." This was a type of raw iron used to create other metal products. Today, the town has been rebuilt into a "living museum." It shows everyone what life was like in this unique place during the late 1800s. The park was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1970.
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History of Fayette: An Iron Town
Fayette was once one of the busiest iron-making spots in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. The town grew quickly around two large furnaces, a big dock, and many charcoal kilns. This happened because there was a big need for iron after the American Civil War.
Almost 500 people lived in Fayette. Many of them came from Canada, the British Isles, and northern Europe. They all worked to make pig iron. For 24 years, Fayette's furnaces made a huge amount of iron: 229,288 tons!
The town used local hardwood forests for fuel. They also used limestone from nearby cliffs to help clean the iron ore.
Why the Iron Town Closed Down
The market for charcoal iron started to slow down. Because of this, the Jackson Iron Company closed its Fayette operations in 1891. Another reason for the closure was that the local hardwood forests were used up. These trees were very important for making charcoal, which was needed to purify the iron.
After the ironworks closed, many people left Fayette to find new jobs. However, some families chose to stay. They started farming the land instead.
From Ghost Town to State Park
After the iron-making stopped, Fayette became a quiet resort and fishing village. In 1916, a rich person bought the town. They turned it into a summer resort. It stayed a resort until 1946.
Later, the land was bought by the Escanaba Paper Company. They traded it with the Michigan government for timberland. Because of this trade, Fayette officially became a state park in 1959.
Explore the Fayette Historic Townsite
Today, the Fayette Historic Townsite is like a living history book. You can walk through many restored buildings. This helps you imagine what life was like in Fayette in the late 1800s.
More than 20 buildings are open for visitors to explore. Work continues to restore other parts of the old town. The townsite is usually open every day from May through October.
There is also a visitors center and a museum store at the park. You don't pay an admission fee to enter the townsite. However, you do need a Michigan State Park permit to enter the park itself.
Camping Adventures at Fayette
Fayette Historic State Park offers 61 campsites. These are called "semi-modern" sites. As of 2006, all campsites have electrical service.
Campers can also use vault toilets and access water. Most of the campsites are nicely shaded by trees. If you have a boat, you can even camp in Snail Shell Harbor. These boat camping spots are available first-come, first-served.
There's a lovely beach on Sand Bay, which is part of Lake Michigan. It's just a short walk from the campground. Next to the beach is a picnic area. It has a picnic shelter, grills, and vault toilets. You'll also find playground equipment and horseshoe courts for fun.
Hiking and Outdoor Fun
The park has about 5 miles (8.0 km) of hiking trails. These trails are also groomed in the winter. This means you can go cross-country skiing there!
The trails wind through beautiful hardwood forests. They also go up beside tall dolomite cliffs. These cliffs are part of the Niagara Escarpment. Of course, the trails also lead you right through the historic townsite itself.
