City lights reflect along Thunder Bay River, Courtesy Lynsie Stepanski
refused to let Alpena fade off into the distance as did so many other lumbering towns. This earned Alpena the nickname,
“The Boom Town that Forgot to Bust.” With a tenacious pioneering spirit and hardy trailblazing ambition, Alpena has always
had a knack for reinventing herself to sustain the livelihood of residents and visitors alike.
From lumbering, Alpena moved into other ventures such as manufacturing and mining. Alpena is home to one of the world’s
largest shale quarries, Lafarge North America - Alpena Plant. Shale and limestone are extracted from the earth and mixed
with other ingredients to make raw cement which is shipped out from Alpena via freighters on the Great Lakes. Alpena
is also home to the world headquarters of Besser Manufacturing Co. In the early 1900s, Alpena residents Herman Besser
and his son Jesse revolutionized the concrete building industry with the invention of advanced concrete block making
machinery. Today Besser Company continues to supply the world with modern versions of this machinery. Additionally,
you will find the United State’s only freshwater marine sanctuary here in Alpena. Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary
protects hundreds of historic shipwrecks resting on Lake Huron’s floor. Divers, snorkelers, kayakers, history buffs, and
everyone in between venture to Alpena to learn the story these wrecks share. A state-of-the-art regional medical center,
community college, strong business climate, and community-oriented infrastructure make Alpena an ideal location for
business, vacation, and residency.
Today Alpena is known as The Sanctuary of the Great Lakes. Positioned as the hub of a 4-county region, Alpena is a dynamic area
revered for authentic experiences and serves as your destination base-camp for a sincerely genuine, warm, and inspiring escape.
It provides comfort for families rediscovering those things that matter most in life as they refresh and reconnect in a modern
community that is insulated from the stress of the busy world. It is a place where cultural heritage and history collide with relaxed
outdoor adventure. Alpena is a refuge from the noise of life. See for yourself what our trailblazing forefathers fell in love with.
A thriving lifestyle, quietly nestled between intriguing emerald forests and tranquil clear blue waters.
The Alpena freighter travels Lake Huron, Courtesy Gary Irving Capt. Isabelle explores Northeast Michigan's maritime past at the
New Presque Isle Lighthouse, Courtesy Anna Skowronek
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