Must-Visit Websites for Michigan History Lovers

If you enjoy exploring Michigan’s rich and quirky past, you’re in luck—there’s a treasure trove of websites dedicated to preserving and celebrating the state’s stories, landmarks, and local culture. Whether you're into lighthouses, one-room schoolhouses, or vintage roadside attractions, these websites are worth bookmarking.

1. Great Lakes Lighthouse Keepers Association

Website: www.gllka.com
If you love lighthouses, this nonprofit based in Mackinaw City is a beacon of preservation. The Great Lakes Lighthouse Keepers Association offers educational programs, cruises, conferences, and even opportunities to serve as a volunteer lighthouse keeper at Grand Traverse Lighthouse. Click on the "Events" tab for a full list of their adventures.

Bonus Resource:
Visit www.terrypepper.com/lights for an extensive, searchable list of every lighthouse on the western Great Lakes, organized by lake and state. A must for any lighthouse road-tripper.

2. Water Winter Wonderland

Website: www.waterwinterwonderland.com
Calling itself the place “where vintage Michigan lives on,” this incredible archive celebrates the state’s lost and legendary attractions. Explore historic drive-ins, amusement parks, motels, racetracks, and theaters—complete with rare photos, flyers, and ephemera. Search by county to see what once stood in your own backyard.

3. Michigan One-Room Schoolhouse Association

Website: www.one-roomschools.org
Preserving the humble one-room schoolhouse is the mission of this statewide organization. They maintain a directory of surviving buildings, host a yearly conference, and offer excellent reading resources. Whether you attended one yourself or simply admire these historic icons, this site is worth a look.

4. Seeking Michigan

Website: www.seekingmichigan.org
Run by the Michigan History Center, this site is a goldmine of searchable archives, historic photos, and digitized records—from Civil War service files to vintage postcards. It's perfect for genealogists, students, and researchers looking to dig deeper into Michigan's past.

5. Michiganology

Website: www.michiganology.org
Michiganology is the state’s official digital history platform, offering online exhibits, educational content, and thousands of digitized state records. If you're curious about prohibition, immigration, or industrial history in Michigan, this beautifully designed site brings it all to life.

6. Historic Detroit

Website: www.historicdetroit.org
This dynamic website tells the stories of Detroit’s most iconic—and endangered—buildings. With in-depth histories, demolition records, and beautiful photography, Historic Detroit captures the city’s architectural evolution and cultural significance.

7. Detroit Urbanism (Forgotten Detroit)

Website: www.forgottendetroit.com
Focused on Detroit’s historic but often overlooked structures, Forgotten Detroit dives into the forgotten stories of skyscrapers, schools, and churches. The detailed research and visual documentation make this a favorite for preservationists and city historians alike.