When most of us think of Cadillac, our minds might go to something on four wheels, but when Michiganders hear that word, it brings memories of year-round family fun in one of the most beautiful towns in Michigan. While the trails, lakes, and entertainment are all convincing reasons to plan a trip to Cadillac, folks will also get lost in the rich history this community has to teach visitors. Here are six destinations I highly recommend visiting in this town:
Get lost in the pictures, interviews, and artifacts that tell the story of how Cadillac, Michigan came to be at the Wexford County Historical Society. The museum will literally take you back to the early days of this community with a fabricated walking tour of what downtown used to look like. Starting here definitely inspired some of the other stops I made when travelling through Cadillac.
You might be asking yourself what this famous rock band has to do with Cadillac. Well when the Cadillac High School football team needed some extra motivation in 1974, they looked to the Hall of Fame rock group for inspiration. After rattling off wins in their last 7 games of the season, Kiss heard about their story. They came to the small town of Cadillac the following year to play the school's 1975 Homecoming dance and the rest is history. Now you can relive the story through their Kisstory Tour.
Explore some of Cadillac’s most historic buildings through a two-mile walking tour of old downtown. Many of these buildings now have different purposes, but the foundation of this community lies in the origin of these structures.
This is the centerpiece of downtown Cadillac where you can learn more about the town’s history, take in live music, or even shop at their farmer’s market that gives visitors a chance to taste the flavors you can only find in Northwest Michigan.
Cadillac would not be here today if not for the thriving lumber industry in the 1800s. As one of the few non-river lumber towns, they needed to get creative when it came to methods of transporting tons and tons of wood. Thanks to the Shay Locomotive, that’s now proudly on display in the Cadillac Commons, this community was able to overcome its disadvantages and lean on lumber as their first big industry.
Those who’ve driven through Cadillac realize it’s surrounded by water. Lake Cadillac is a popular destination for recreation on the water and relaxation.
Just like many of the recreational opportunities you’ll find in Cadillac, its history can be enjoyed year-round. It’s just another reason to mark this community on your map for an exciting educational adventure.
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