With More Than A Dozen Buildings, This Small Town Museum In Michigan Is A True Hidden Gem

Located at the base of the Keweenaw Peninsula, just south of L'Anse, Alberta is a former logging town that was designed and built by the Ford Motor Company in the 1930s to supply wood for its cars. This fascinating slice of Michigan history is now owned by Michigan Tech and makes for an incredible afternoon of exploration. Don't just take our word for it. Read on to learn about one of the most historic small towns in Michigan.

As you cruise along U.S. Route 41, just south of L'Anse on Michigan's Upper Peninsula, your eyes may be drawn to the large, seemingly out-of-place "Ford" logo on the shoreline of Lake Plumbago. Don't let this divert your attention from the fascinating site that lies on the other side of the highway.

The Ford Center and Forest is a conference center, retreat, and learning center that is owned and managed by Michigan Tech University, whose main campus is located in Houghton.

The focal point of the center is the former logging town of Alberta, MI, which consists of several houses and other buildings that were developed and built in the 1930s.

What makes it truly fascinating is that this small town in Michigan was the brainchild of Henry Ford, who had the village built to meet his auto company's burgeoning need for lumber and wood products.

However, as manufacturing methods changed, the demand for wood diminished precipitously.

In 1943, less than a decade after Alberta, Michigan opened for business, Ford ceased its operations there, and the community dispersed.

In 1954, the sawmill cut its last board and shuttered. The Ford Motor Company subsequently donated the sawmill and the entire village of Alberta to Michigan Tech's College of Forest Resources and Environmental Science.

Ford also donated 1,700 acres of surrounding woodlands, lakeshore, and streams to Michigan Tech when it turned the town of Alberta, MI over to the school.

A portion of the ​​North Country National Scenic Trail follows Plumbago Creek as it winds through the Ford Center's forest.

Although Michigan Tech welcomes visitors to Alberta, certain parts of the center remain off-limits, like the Sawmill Museum, for safety and other reasons. Therefore, it's best to visit the Ford Center on the web or call ahead for the most up-to-date information about visiting.

Have you visited this fascinating slice of Michigan history? Let us know in the comments. Feel free to also share if you have a favorite Michigan small town that you recommend for others to check out.

We think it's truly incredible what you may find lying along the backroads of the Great Lakes State. For example, while you're exploring the Upper Peninsula, you may also run into other abandoned villages and small towns in Michigan like Shelldrake, off Whitefish Bay, or Nonesuch, in Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park. So, when you're ready to explore some more, please refer to our coverage of small towns in Michigan. We also suggest checking out Wear Your Roots if you'd like to show off how much you love Michigan.