Lake Michigan History

Lake Michigan is one of the largest and most beautiful lakes in the United States. The shoreline surrounding Lake Michigan stretches to over 1,600 miles and has an average length of around 307 miles, along with an average depth of 279 feet, with the deepest portion dropping all the way down to an astounding 923 feet! The history of Lake Michigan dates back almost 3 billion years ago, during the Precambrian Era, when violent volcanic explosions and numerous rock formations were taking place on the earth. As time moved forward toward the Pleistocene Era, around 1 million years ago, better known as the “Great Ice Age”, ice glaciers made their move toward the Great Lakes from the artic circle and then receded over time. When the glaciers started to melt, they left behind huge amounts of water, forming so called “glacier lakes”. These lakes were quite a bit larger than our present day Great Lakes, but as the melting process was augmented by higher temperatures, the land began to grow taller and taller, creating huge gouges, which eventually formed the Great Lakes.

Some of the first individuals to explore Lake Michigan were French explorers, who scoured the region back in the 1600’s. A man by the name of Samuel de Champlain, who explored a lot of the northeastern part of the United States, gave Lake Michigan a nickname called the “Grand Lac.” By 1679, Lake Michigan was called “Lac de Illinois” named after the gateway to Indian country. History also holds other interesting accounts, which gave Lake Michigan its early roots. Jean Nicolet was the first man from Europe to set foot on the land we know today as Wisconsin back in 1634. When he arrived on the shores of Green Bay, he was welcomed by Winnebago Indians, known as “Puans” to the French explorers. On a 1670 map, Lake Michigan had a different name and was called “Lake of Purans”. Maps dating back to 1688 have the lake labeled as “Lac de Illinois”, so the waters of this gorgeous lake have obviously undergone some name changes over the centuries.

Lake Michigan is the only one of the five Great Lakes that can be called an “all American lake.” The other four Great Lakes border Canada, but Lake Michigan lies completely within United States territory. This breathtaking lake was used as a center for transportation and commercial interests in cities surrounding the lake, such as Chicago. Navy Pier, located in the “Windy City” of Chicago was used as a military training facility back during World War I and World War II, and then turned into a university campus for a short time, before becoming a huge tourist attraction filled with rides and historical entertainment. The beauty of Lake Michigan holds many fantastic sights and sounds. Gorgeous white sand shorelines dotted with beach grass engulfed sand dunes line the perimeter around the lake, and there are also numerous parks, along with camping sites for the entire family to enjoy. Modern day tourists can also take a Chicago charter boat trip over Lake Michigan and get a wonderful view of the “Windy City” and all its beauty. American Yacht Charters offers some great deals on Chicago charter boat tours over Lake Michigan and will be able to accommodate your group according to size and requirements. We offer private charter boats, sailing charters and lessons, family fun cruises, corporate events and much more! American Yacht Charters cherishes the wonderful history and beauty of Lake Michigan and wants to take you and your guests on the cruise of a lifetime around the city of Chicago. This historic Lake, shaped by Mother-Nature’s fury, during a time when only fire and rock were colliding, still holds enigmatic fantasy over all of us and is waiting for new modern day explorers, like yourself to come and discover its hidden secrets and treasures!

To Inquire about a Charter Boat Click Here