Whenever Donna MacIntosh gets sprung from her apartment, it’s like a holiday for her. Cindy Lou (HI LOU & ERIC) recently picked Donna and her camera UP and they cruised through Houghton and Hancock where she snapped today’s photos, starting with Bridgeview Park on the Houghton Waterfront. It’s a great spot for a picnic, to take photos or to just sit and watch the water traffic going by in the summer. Next is a shot of Veteran’s Park, located just above the Yooper Loop in Houghton. A wonderful tribute to the Veteran’s from the town with banners now hung along the park area, too.

Donna’s next photo is looking across the Portage Canal with a view of Hancock and the variety of architecture both old and new. The next shot is one of the old ones, the Lieblein House/Hoover Center was originally built in 1895 in the Queen Anne Architectural style by William Washburn. He later sold it to Edward Lieblein and it stayed in that family until 1979 when their son sold it to Suomi College, later Finlandia University. It was designated a Michigan State Historic Site in 1979 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1980. Finlandia used it as office space until they closed in 2023, when a private individual then purchased the Historic building and is in the process of restoring it with priority of doing so as accurate a historical restoration as possible.

The photo of the Portage Lake Lift Bridge, Donna captured from the Michigan Tech Bridge Cam and it’s a great reminder that Bridgefest is taking place this week, starting on Thursday, June 11th and going until Sunday, June 14th. You can find more info about the celebration here: Bridgefest Fun

Visit Keweenaw shares a short video, highlighting that Bridgefest returns to Houghton & Hancock with four days of live music, waterfront entertainment, fireworks, food vendors and summer nostalgia on both sides of the canal – June 11-14th. It’s a chance to slow down, soak up the sunshine and make new summer memories in the Copper Country!

And finally... in line with Bridgefest, here’s a link to an older video from Michigan DOT, documenting the history and engineering challenges of building the Portage Lake Lift Bridge, one of the world’s heaviest and widest double deck vertical lift spans. It runs around 30 minutes and you can watch it on this link: Keweenaw Crossing: Michigan’s Elevator Bridge

Great photos Donna! Looks like a beautiful day to
get out & about! Have never stayed in Houghton
or Hancock or explored the waterfront parks.
Guess we should add that to a future trip UP North.

Definitely some amazing architecture to check out
too. Love the historic stone buildings and churches.

WOW....Awesome info on the pics, that I sure didn't
know~ Thanks Mary~

I made Cindy Lou take the pic of Porvoo Park!

Awesome outing!

Hi Eric!

Nice pictures, as always Donna. I keep meaning to
get down to the Houghton Waterfront. It'll be a
nice way to spend some time. I love it down there.
So much to see and do around our Copper Country.
Glad you got sprung again.

Hi
Nice that Houghton has interesting scenery. And I'm
glad Donna got out and about.

Thank you everyone~!

If you have the time, the video on that bridge, is
so amazing...And the old cars, etc...way cool!

Great shots, Donna. I was hoping to see a shot of the East Houghton Waterfront Park. Maybe it would motivate the responsible party to FINALLY repair the dock.

I reviewed the Bridge-fest schedule. Wow, there is a LOT going on!

Years ago, 26 actually, as a member of the Coast Guard Auxiliary, I participated along side the Coast Guard from the Portage Station to help with the fireworks safety patrol.

Have fun everybody.
Donna, are you up for a helicopter ride?

no way...I'm in a wheelchair now....

I know. why that dock doesn't get fixed amazes me
to no end!