Alpena Our Backstory
5 Historic Points of Interest
Besser Museum
for Northeast michigan
See the Besser concrete block-making machinery and learn
more about the Besser Company story.
491 Johnson St, Alpena
Great Lakes Maritime Heritage
Center & Thunder Bay National
Marine Sanctuary
See shipwreck artifacts from various wrecks in Thunder
Bay National Marine Sanctuary. See some of the wrecks
laying at rest in Lake Huron from the Lady Michigan, glassbottom
boat.
500 West Fletcher St., Alpena
John Lau Saloon
Alpena’s oldest original saloon still standing from our lumber
boomtown days. Ask about the ghost story.
414 N 2nd Ave, Alpena
Rockport State Recreation Area
The south entrance to the park includes the limestone
quarry (abandoned in 1948), deep water port and pier from
the Great Lakes Lime & Stone Company (later known as
Kelly Island Lime and Transport). The north entrance to
the park includes the ghost Village of Bell and cemetery, a
small lumber town abandoned by 1900.
South Entrance: US-23 North,
to Rockport Road, follow to the end.
North Entrance: US-23 North to Grand Lake Road,
follow East Grand Lake Road, Park entrance
is on the right just before Bell Bay Road.
Lighthouses
The tallest accessible and oldest accessible lighthouses on
the Great Lakes are within 1 mile of each other just north
of Alpena.
Old Presque Isle Lighthouse,
5295 E Grand Lake Rd, Presque Isle
New Presque Isle Lighthouse,
4500 E Grand Lake Rd, Presque Isle
Hop aboard the glass-bottom boat Lady Michigan to see the shipwrecks of
Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary, courtesy Bryan Dort, PhoticZone
Besser Museum's village takes you back through the pages of Alpena's history, ,
Courtesy Besser Museum for Northeast Michigan
Alpena's oldest restaurant establishment is John A. Lau Saloon, dating back to early
Alpena lumbering days, courtesy John A. Lau Saloon
26 Sanctuary of the Great Lakes