Old Mission, Michigan facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Old Mission, Michigan
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Road signage along Mission Road
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 Old Mission, Michigan
Location in Michigan
Old Mission, Michigan
Location in the United States
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  Michigan |
| County |  Grand Traverse |
| Township | Peninsula |
| Settled | 1838 |
| Elevation | 587 ft (179 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code(s) |
49673
49686 (Traverse City) |
| Area code(s) | 231 |
| GNIS feature ID | 634007 |
Old Mission is a small community in Grand Traverse County, Michigan, USA. It's not a city or town with official borders. Instead, it's an "unincorporated community." This means it's a settled area without its own local government.
You can find Old Mission near the very end of the Old Mission Peninsula. It sits right by the East Arm of Grand Traverse Bay.
Contents
History of Old Mission
Old Mission has a rich history that dates back to the 1800s.
How Old Mission Started
In 1836, an important agreement called the Treaty of Washington was made. Through this treaty, the government promised to provide a mission and schools for local Native American tribes.
Henry Schoolcraft, who worked for the government, chose a natural harbor on the eastern side of the peninsula for these new facilities. In 1838, a group called the Presbyterian Board of Missions sent a minister named Reverend Peter Dougherty to start the mission. This mission became what we now know as Old Mission. The entire peninsula eventually got its name from this mission.
Historic Buildings in Old Mission
Several old buildings in Old Mission tell stories of the past:
- The Dougherty Mission House was built in 1842. It's also known as the Rushmore House and Inn. Today, this house and other nearby buildings are a museum.
- The Old Mission Inn was built in 1887. It's another historic building in the community.
Both the Dougherty Mission House and the Old Mission Inn are very important. They are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This means they are recognized as special places in American history. They are also listed as Michigan State Historic Sites.
Old Mission's Post Office
Old Mission got its first post office on April 26, 1850. It was named "Old Mission" right from the start. The post office is still open today and is located on Swaney Road.
The post office uses the ZIP Code 49673. This ZIP Code is only for PO boxes. For regular mail delivery, the area uses the 49686 ZIP Code, which is shared with Traverse City.
Geography and Nature
Old Mission is a beautiful place with interesting natural features.
Location and Surroundings
Old Mission is located just east of M-37. This highway runs near the tip of the Old Mission Peninsula. The community is about 16 miles (26 km) north of Traverse City.
The community was built along Old Mission Harbor. This harbor is a small, safe place for boats on the East Arm of Grand Traverse Bay. Old Mission sits about 587 feet (179 meters) above sea level.
Wine Country and Landmarks
Old Mission is part of a special area known for growing grapes and making wine. This area is called an American Viticultural Area. It's a big part of the Michigan wine industry, especially the Old Mission Peninsula AVA.
Just a bit north of Old Mission, at the very end of M-37, you'll find Mission Point Light. This is a historic lighthouse. Also, the 45th parallel runs slightly north of Old Mission. This imaginary line is halfway between the Equator and the North Pole!
Climate Information
The weather in Old Mission changes throughout the year. Here's a look at the average temperatures and rainfall.
| Climate data for Old Mission 3 SSW, Michigan (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1979–present) | |||||||||||||
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| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 54 (12) |
65 (18) |
84 (29) |
85 (29) |
92 (33) |
95 (35) |
97 (36) |
99 (37) |
92 (33) |
87 (31) |
76 (24) |
65 (18) |
99 (37) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 29.5 (−1.4) |
30.8 (−0.7) |
40.6 (4.8) |
52.3 (11.3) |
65.6 (18.7) |
75.5 (24.2) |
79.9 (26.6) |
78.6 (25.9) |
71.4 (21.9) |
57.8 (14.3) |
46.1 (7.8) |
35.2 (1.8) |
55.3 (12.9) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 23.0 (−5.0) |
23.4 (−4.8) |
31.4 (−0.3) |
41.8 (5.4) |
54.1 (12.3) |
63.9 (17.7) |
68.8 (20.4) |
68.3 (20.2) |
61.2 (16.2) |
49.5 (9.7) |
39.3 (4.1) |
29.9 (−1.2) |
46.2 (7.9) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 16.5 (−8.6) |
15.9 (−8.9) |
22.2 (−5.4) |
31.3 (−0.4) |
42.6 (5.9) |
52.4 (11.3) |
57.7 (14.3) |
58.1 (14.5) |
50.9 (10.5) |
41.3 (5.2) |
32.5 (0.3) |
24.5 (−4.2) |
37.2 (2.9) |
| Record low °F (°C) | −14 (−26) |
−20 (−29) |
−16 (−27) |
8 (−13) |
23 (−5) |
31 (−1) |
36 (2) |
34 (1) |
27 (−3) |
21 (−6) |
13 (−11) |
−5 (−21) |
−20 (−29) |
| Average precipitation inches (mm) | 1.78 (45) |
1.18 (30) |
1.43 (36) |
2.81 (71) |
3.05 (77) |
3.02 (77) |
2.78 (71) |
3.32 (84) |
3.61 (92) |
3.98 (101) |
2.36 (60) |
2.00 (51) |
31.32 (796) |
| Source: NOAA | |||||||||||||
Schools and Education
Students in the Old Mission area attend schools run by Traverse City Area Public Schools. If you live in Old Mission and go to high school, you would likely attend Traverse City Central High School. There are no public schools located directly on the Old Mission Peninsula itself.
Images for kids
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U.S. Post Office in Old Mission -
Dougherty Mission House, also known as the Rushmore House and Inn -
Replica of an Old Mission Church -
Old Mission General Store
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