Ever wonder why Lincoln is on the copper penny? This image is of a viewing platform over the Ontonagon River south of Rockland on US-45. This platform is part of the original bridge that crossed over the river before being replaced by the current bridge in the background. This is that original bridge which carried copper supplies to the Union forces in Green Bay. Before Lincoln appeared on the copper penny in 1909, the Indian Head penny was minted of copper also. However, in 1864, the copper content of this Indian Head penny went from 88% to 95%. The bridge was also built in 1864. Hmmm. Yet the copper nickel was discontinued in 1864. Mostly coincidences, but poses a discussion: When the Michigan quarter is released in 2004, should it be copper plated?

Yep, you do learn something new everyday!

Trolls think the quarter should have an orange construction barrell...I like your idea much better...but what about the image?

How about an image of two people standing face to face,and one has an out-streched left hand (with the thumb sticking stright up) just in front of his face, and pointing .... saying "I'm from right... here!"

Lincoln, how many things have that name.. Lincoln logs, lincoln (cars) and more.. anyone else care to name a few that i am missing.. just how many things are there with the name Lincoln in them?

Hey Ashley, Here in my part of Ohio, we have the Lincoln Highway(State Route 30), a street named Lincoln Way East and Lincoln Way West, Lincoln High school and Elem. schools!!

i think a copper-plated quarter would be neat. i also think the image should involve isle royale and/or a wolverine. or snow. lots of snow.

It's neat to know that A.L. had a notion of the Copper Country, though he probably never visited, and that my ancestors contributed in the winning of that stupid wasteful war. Hey Toivo, please provide a map of where the marker is. As for the MI quarter, I too like the idea of a copper colored quarter, but the Feds might have to use something else in the middle so the weight is right for the slots in Baraga and other so-called vending machines? :o)

p.s. to Ashley, Let us not forget about Lincoln Park Michigan, south of Detroit, and Lincoln, Nebraska. And, Illinois folks have "Land of Lincoln" on their car tags.

Well Talking about things about Abraham Lincoln.
My Step-Father was either 5th or 6th cousin to Him. I always thought that was interesting. Don't remember exactly how but had someone in the family by that name.

The subject of Lincoln sent me in search of more information and this quote seemed to fit our nations post September 11 reality.

"The dogmas of the quiet past, are inadequate to the stormy
present. The occasion is piled high with difficulty, and we must rise
-- with the occasion. As our case is new, so we must think anew, and
act anew. We must disentrall ourselves, and then we shall save our
country."
--From the December 1, 1862 Message to Congress

i have not heard from a friend of mine in about 2 weeks, jack if you are out there.. hey send me e-mail hey? thunder is now 153 lbs and is so tall on his back legs he can reach my ceiling fans!! my great dane is growing up on me..

great danes are so cool, i have one too.

I always thought that the Michigan quarter should feature the Mac bridge. After all, it is a beautiful bridge, an engineering marvel, and one of the two things the pennisulas share.

Oops, I meant to say "one of the few things the two penninsulas share."

For those of us that need to refresh or reflect on part of America's history:

Fourscore and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent a new nation, conceived in liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.

Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation, or any nation so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure. We are met on a great battlefield of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of that field as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this.

But, in a larger sense, we can not dedicate - we can not consecrate - we can not hallow this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember, what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us - that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to the cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion - that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain - that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom - and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.

Abraham Lincoln, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, November 1863

The above words to me are chilling. If you have never visited Gettysburg, I can assure you that it is a profound experience. Go out and vote on Tuesday. It's our priviledge because of what our forefathers did. They established the free society that we enjoy. GOD BLESS AMERICA!!!

peggo

Just to add to Lowell from MO's message: When I visited "Mr. Lincoln's Neighborhood" in Springfield a few years ago, I asked the park ranger at the tomb if there were any living A.L. descendents. He said no, that his direct line died out in 1985 with the death of his great-great-grandson, Robert "Bud" Todd Lincoln Beckwith. A.L. was apparently an only child, but some distant cousins (along the lines of your stepfather's relationship) still survive.

Hey Pegg not only do we have Land of Lincoln on our plates but we also have Abe's likeness. Down here in the land of Lincoln there are ton's of things with Lincoln on them. Too many to name. And speaking of US-45 it runs a mile from my house here in Illinois so Lincoln probably traveled on it down here.

Not to spoil any fun or anything, but I'm pretty sure they already picked the design for the MI quarter...

AIMEE MTU I like it if that is the quarter, since it has all the UP on one side.

hey, there's the orange barr..oh wait, that's a lighthouse.
It would look much nicer copper plated :)

What a wealth of info today!! I really like the design of the quarter, and copper would make it perfect! How do we try to get that to happen? I also like the fact that all of the Great Lakes are included.

What are the symbols below the "christmas tree" and the lighthouse?

I remember my dad always talking about the road as a Military Road, but he never took us to the viewing platform. I also don't remember him saying that it went back to Civil War days.

And the comment from D.Smith of Wixom is really funny! I had mentioned to a co-worker in Santa Barbara that Michigan people did the hand thing. She met someone from Michigan shortly after and got a laugh out of them showing their left hand to show where they were from!!

We can't forget Lincoln, CA, where I live now!

Here in Rockford our middle school is named Abraham Lincoln Middle school and just celebrated its 75th anniversary the past week. Upon the return of alumini included John B. Anderson, Dr. Timothy Johnson of Good Morning America and Rick Nielson of Cheap Trick. Of course back then, it was Abraham Lincoln Jr. High.

Looks like a canoe under the tree and a view of the Mighty Mac under the light house.

This Yooper drove over to Gettysburg today to view Lincoln's "Gettysburg" Address (speech) site and the battlefield as I now live between the Gettysburg and Antietam Battlefields.

The big hill south of Rockland and north of the bridge is locally known as "Military Hill." Don't go that way driving a big truck!

Pasty Central surely ties people together! JEK lives between Gettysburg and Antietam. Peter and I live in Frederick, Maryland, also about half way between the two battlefields. Then just below JEK's message is Catherine from Holland, MI--my home town. Visit Big Red for me, would you, please Catherine? The mountains here are gorgeous this fall, but there's nothing like a walk on Ottawa Beach in autumn to feed the soul.

JEK, were you at the Seminary Ridge symposium this weekend at Gettysburg? Did you hear McPhearson's presentation? If so, we "saw" you but didn't know it!

Thanks RSomero, CA. Now that you tell me what they are it is perfectly obvious, but I sure couldn't tell before.

Glad I saw that there is a viewing place on Military Rd. We will have to stop and look next time. My husband said he was going to stop but the place was closed last time we went and nothing but them orange barrols

GETTYSBURG!!! I visited the battle ground once and need to go back.It's as emotional as "THE WALL" in Washington D.C.

I would have to say that the Michigan quarter has got to be the most impressive I've seen so far. It realy conveys the history of the state and tells you all you need to know,-----except----maybe---HEY!! WHERE'S THE SKEETER???

Does anyone know where a person can find a map of the entire Military Trail From Green Bay to Copper Harbor?

rb, Mi.,
This is the best I could find.... Military Trail Map The article is from Keweenaw Traveler and is quite informative.

To let everyone know that knew her DORIS L. BECK former owner of EMIL BECK'S SAUNA BATH passed away today at 7:15pm 12/29/04 to be with late husband EMIL NORMAN BECK who was born in paindale and raised in calumet. Services will be at R.G. & G.R. HARRIS FUNERAL HOMES IN GARDEN CITY, MI 48135, SUNDAY 1/02/04 VIEWING & 1/03/04-FUNERAL