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Keweenaw Time Traveler Featured on TV6 Discovering Series

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Boardwalk on the Chassell Historic Trailab above swampy land with reeds and cattails
The boardwalk on the Chassell Historic Trail recounts the Pike River area’s thriving lumber industry (Image credit: Keith Meyers)

Michigan Tech’s role in establishing a historic trail showcasing the area’s lumber heritage was highlighted in an episode of the long-running program Discovering earlier this year. Watch “Building the Chassell Historic Trail” to learn more about the process involved in this interpretive work, which tapped the expertise of Don Lafreniere, professor of geography and geographic information systems (GIS); James Schwaderer, a Ph.D. candidate in industrial heritage and archaeology, and Terri Frew, assistant teaching professor in visual and performing arts. All three appear on the program, which also highlights the award-winning Keweenaw Time Traveler project.

Play DISCOVERING | Building the Chassell Historic Trail video
Preview image for DISCOVERING | Building the Chassell Historic Trail video

DISCOVERING | Building the Chassell Historic Trail

Episode 80 “Building the Chassell Historic Trail” highlights the work done to support the creation of the Chassell Heritage Trail, which interprets a former lumber mill site in Chassell, Michigan.

While the Copper Country’s mining history has been widely detailed, its other industries and their histories aren’t as well known. The Chassell Heritage Trail interprets a former lumber mill site in Chassell, Michigan. “Creating a walking trail allows people to wander through history,” said Schwaderer.  “It’s one thing to see it in a picture but it’s another thing to actually walk all the way through there, just to get a sense of the size of how big this mill was and the storage it needed for all the lumber it cut.”

Chassell Historic Trail site
The Chassell Historic Trail sits on the site of the old Chassell Lumber Mill (Image credit: Chassell Historical Organization)
Chassell Historic Trail drone view
The Chassell Historic Trail abuts the Portage Canal at the mouth of the Pike River
(Image credit: Kristin Ojaniemi, Discover the U.P.)
Chassell Historic Trail signage
Michigan Tech students created trail signage in their design class (Image credit: Kristin Ojaniemi, Discover the U.P.)

About the Social Sciences Department at Michigan Tech

Michigan Tech’s Department of Social Sciences offers bachelor of science degrees in Anthropology, Policy and Community Development, Sustainability Science and Society, and Social Science, along with a bachelor of arts degree in History. Our graduate program includes master’s and doctoral degrees in Industrial Heritage and Archaeology—the only program of its kind in the world—along with Environmental and Energy Policy. Our social sciences department also offers a master’s in Sustainable Communities. Plus, you can get a graduate certificate in Public Policy by taking three online courses in just one term.

Questions? Contact us at socialsciences@mtu.edu. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter for the latest happenings.

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Keweenaw Time Traveler Wins Historical Society of Michigan Best Website Award

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Keweenaw Time Traveler logo

The Keweenaw Time Traveler won the Historical Society of Michigan (HSM) 2023 State History Award in the category of Websites. This prestigious award recognizes the hard work of the team led by Don LaFreniere, Sarah Scarlett, and John Arnold. The internet has transformed the world of historical research. The Keweenaw Time Traveler uses spatial data infrastructure to create a website that allows researchers to access detailed information through a “deep map” with layers of historical data and maps. It is also interactive, allowing professionals and amateurs alike to contribute data to the site. The digital archive covers Michigan’s “Copper Country” from 1880 to 1970 and will continue to grow in the future.

Don Lafreniere
Don Lafreniere

“There is so much that goes into a project of this scale and the fact we have been recognized by the Historical Society of Michigan is a testment to every contributor,” said Don Lafreniere, Social Sciences Department chair, professor of geography and GIS, and director of the Geospatial Research Facility. “Our current project team members and our time traveler alumni have contributed thousands of hours in the collection, digitizing and linking historical records that make up our massive database as well as the digitization and referencing of the hundreds of historic maps present on the Keweenaw Time Traveler.”

Sarah Scarlett
Photo: Keweenaw Time Traveler

Lafreniere is thankful for the generous support of project funders including the National Endowment for the Humanities and the Council of Library and Information Resources, as well as support from the Geospatial Research Facility and the Great Lakes Research Center at Michigan Technological University. “Of course, none of this would be possible without our heritage partners and the thousands of individuals who use the Keweenaw Time Traveler to explore and share memories of our Copper Country past. I thank them so much for their support!”

The Keweenaw Time Traveler team will be recognized during the 149th Annual Meeting and Michigan History Conference on September 22-24, 2023. The Society presents the State History Awards every year to individuals and organizations that have made outstanding contributions to the appreciation, collection, preservation, and/or promotion of state and local history. The awards are the highest recognition presented by HSM, the state’s official historical society and oldest cultural organization. 

The Historical Society of Michigan is the state’s oldest cultural organization, founded in 1828. A nongovernmental nonprofit, the Society focuses on publications, conferences, education, awards and recognition programming, and support for local history organizations to preserve and promote Michigan’s rich history.

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