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Reviews, get directions and contact details for Fayette Historic State Park

Fayette Historic State Park

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Fayette Historic State Park is the state park of the historic town of Fayette in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is located on the Big Bay de Noc of Lake Michigan, between Snail Shell Harbor and Sand Bay, on the southern side of the Upper Peninsula, about 17 miles south of US 2. Fayette was the site of an industrial community that manufactured charcoal pig iron between 1867 and 1891. The town has been reconstructed into a living museum, showing what life was like in this town in the late 19th century.HistoryFayette was once one of the Upper Peninsula's most productive iron-smelting operations. Fayette grew up around two blast furnaces, a large dock, and several charcoal kilns, following the post-Civil War need for iron. Nearly 500 residents—many immigrating from Canada, the British Isles, and northern Europe—lived in and near the town that existed to make pig iron. During 24 years of operation Fayette's blast furnaces produced a total of 229,288 tons of iron, using local hardwood forests for fuel and quarrying limestone from the bluffs to purify the iron ore. When the charcoal iron market began to decline, the Jackson Iron Company closed its Fayette smelting operations in 1891. Another event leading to the demise of the Jackson Iron Company was the use of the hardwoods and limestone to purify the iron, leading to the exhaustion of hardwoods in the area. This was the main source for purifying the iron and therefore led to the decline of the Jackson Iron Company. After shutting down operations, many residents left Fayette in search of employment elsewhere, though some chose to stay nearby and used the land for farming.

Address: 4785 II Rd, Garden, MI 49835, USA
Phone: (906) 644-2603
State: Michigan
City: Garden
Zip Code: 49835


Opening Hours

Monday: 9:00 AM – 8:00 PM
Tuesday: 9:00 AM – 8:00 PM
Wednesday: 9:00 AM – 8:00 PM
Thursday: 9:00 AM – 8:00 PM
Friday: 9:00 AM – 8:00 PM
Saturday: 9:00 AM – 8:00 PM
Sunday: 9:00 AM – 8:00 PM


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Reviews
I have been coming here for years! Its awesome! The campground is really nice, there is a lot to do, and it can all be done in a day if you choose so. There are a few miles of hiking trails, a decent stretch of beach and a nice visitors center with a snack bar. I proposed to my girlfriend on the dolomite cliffs overlooking the town and bay. The Garden Peninsula is beautiful!
8 years ago (25-12-2017)
A beautiful state park that I enjoy no matter how many times I go. The only part that I dislike is the boat dock. For me it ruins the feel of the park. All of the historic buildings and artifacts next to a boat dock with large modern boats. I liked it better when the dock wasn't there however I still enjoy the park.
8 years ago (11-01-2018)
Very interesting state park. With all the old building to go into ,you feel like you went back in time. I recommend this place to everyone that likes seeing things from the past.
8 years ago (03-01-2018)
This is a really neat place that lets you step back in time. Initially I didn't have very high hopes for this park but since we had already bought a state park pass for the day we decided to give it a try anyway. Boy were we glad we did. Start out by going into the building for a scale model of the town as it was in it's heyday complete with narration explaining how it was built and what you see. Then go down the hill to the town itself where many of the original buildings are in different stages of restoration. Some of the buildings are fully restored and furnished. Others are partially restored with different displays about what life was like back then. Others are nothing more than crumbling foundations. The whole park is beautiful and encourages you to explore.
8 years ago (27-09-2017)
Living history park, set on a beautiful bay on Lake Michigan. Take a casual walk around the buildings of the old town and see how these people lived over 100 years ago. The buildings are in various states of restoration. All but a few are open to be explored. Drive down the peninsula and see what the world looked like 100 years ago. Took me and my wife about an hour to walk around the whole place. It is a 25 minute drive from Cooks.
8 years ago (05-10-2017)
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