M-26, the Lakeshore Drive

I took a drive on M-26 between Copper Harbor and Eagle River during my visit to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. M-26 hugs the shoreline of Lake Superior in Keweenaw County, Michigan's least populous and arguably most scenic county in the state. This lake shore drive is a pleasant alternative to US 41 in the area, which is another pleasant drive in its own right. US 41's northern end is about a mile north of where it meets M-26. That's a long way from Miami, Florida.

Starting in the little town of Copper Harbor, let's start our drive south along the lake...

One for the vintage neon sign fans. This was for an inn in Copper Harbor.

Lake Superior to our right here. If you are driving out of Copper Harbor on M-26, you have the choice of staying on the lake or taking the Brockway Mountain Drive, which I wish I had also driven while in Copper Harbor.

Lake Superior continues.

M-26's stone arch bridge over the Silver River at Silver River Falls.

Approaching Eagle Harbor...

...and just like that, we're entering Eagle Harbor.

Rustic signage in Eagle Harbor.

Eagle Harbor has a lighthouse. I think it's worth stopping to check out.

But first let's squint and learn about the history of Eagle Harbor, Michigan. Horace Greeley was here.

There she is, the Eagle Harbor Lighthouse.

The original lighthouse at Eagle Harbor was built in 1851, and replaced with the current brick lighthouse in 1871. If you are compelled to visit the lighthouse, you may visit the lighthouse and museum from the middle of June to early October.

Views of Eagle Harbor from the lighthouse grounds. It reminded me a bit of the Maine Coast.

Eagle Harbor's harbor.

M-26 at the Great Sand Bay. The Keweenaw Peninsula is at about the halfway point on Lake Superior between Duluth, Minnesota and Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan/Ontario.

Lake Superior and Great Sand Bay as seen from M-26. The inland sea was calm this September morning.

Jacobs Falls, which is a nice roadside waterfall between Eagle Harbor and Eagle River.

Eagle River Falls in Eagle River. This can be seen on an old bridge that is currently just open for pedestrians, right next to M-26.

The old bridge in question. I believe that M-26 once used this bridge to cross the Eagle River.

Historical plaque for Douglass Houghton, a prominent scientist in the early history of Michigan. The city of Houghton, Michigan is named is his honor. After this, it was a quick drive through Eagle River and back to US 41.

How to Get There:

Sources and Links:
Michigan's Upper Peninsula - Keweenaw County
Lighthouse Friends - Eagle Harbor Lighthouse

Ghost Town Tuesday; Ben Hur Road/Road 613 to Raymond

While returning from the Mariposa Area this month I decided that I wanted to visit the quasi-ghost town of Raymond and take a "off the beaten path" roadway to get there. I found just what I was looking for in Ben Hur Road in Mariposa County which reaches Raymond as Road 613 in Madera County.

Ben Hur Road begins on the outskirts of Mariposa near Mormon Bar at CA 49. From CA 49 the route to Raymond is signed as being 23 miles to the south.

Interestingly Ben Hur Road isn't named after the famous 1959 movie but rather a ghost town along the roadway. The community of Ben Hur has records showing it had a Post Office by said name in 1890 which obviously implies the community was named after the 1880 novel. Unlike most roads of this kind the story of Ben Hur Road has been told previously by several newspapers in the 20th Century.

Oakland Tribune (September 1950) Trip to Mariposa via Ben Hur Road

Rock Fence is label of history on Quick Rance (Fresno Bee 1954)

The Oakland Tribu…

"Governor Hunt Cuts Ribbon on Doomsday" - The drawnout legal battle to build the I-95 Fayetteville Bypass

It is Monday, December 15, 1980. North Carolina Governor Jim Hunt and many other dignitaries take part in a ribbon cutting ceremony opening a new 17 mile stretch of Interstate 95 in Cumberland County. The new road bypasses Fayetteville to the east and completes Interstate 95 in North Carolina - closing a significant gap in what many consider the backbone highway of the East Coast. The new road moved Interstate traffic from an at-grade, four lane US 301 lined with numerous motels and restaurants onto a fully controlled and traffic light-free limited access freeway.

Meanwhile at a Quality Inn along US 301 in Fayetteville, a billboard read "Governor Hunt Cuts Ribbon on Doomsday."(1)

The ribbon cutting put an end to over a decade long heated battle over the routing of Interstate 95 around Fayetteville. One that made it all the way to the steps of the United States Supreme Court.

Interstate 95 in North Carolina History:

The 181 mile Interstate 95 has a unique story in Nort…

Where the hell is Hill Valley? (US Route 8 south/US Route 395 east)

Recently I made a visit to Universal Studios near Los Angeles. While on the back lot tour I came across a piece of infamous movie-borne fictional highway infamy; the location of town square of Hill Valley, California on US Route 8/US Route 395.

The above photo is part of the intro scene to the first Back-to-the-Future movie which was set in 1985. To anyone who follows roadways the signage error of US 8 meeting US 395 in California is an immediately notable error. For one; US 8 doesn't even exist anywhere near California with present alignment being signed as an east/west highway between Norway, Michigan and Forest Lake, Minnesota. To make matters worse US 8 is signed as a southbound route and US 395 (a north/south highway) is signed as an eastbound route. At minimum the cut-out US 8 and US 395 shields somewhat resemble what Caltrans used in the 1980s.

Assuming Hill Valley is located on what would have been US 395 by 1985 what locales would be a viable real world analog? US 39…

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