Download - Hometown Brochure - Week 9 Homework
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8/14/2019 Hometown Brochure - Week 9 Homework
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Traverse City, Michigan
Traverse City (pronounced /trvr s?ti/) is
a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is the
county seat of Grand Traverse County, al-
though a small portion extends into Leelanau
County It is the largest city in the 21-county
Northern Michigan region. The population
was 14,532 at the 2000 census. In 2007, the
Traverse City micropolitan area was estimat-
ed to have a population of 142,075. Despite itsmodest population, Traverse City functions
as the major commercial nexus for a seven-
county area totaling over 2,700 square miles
(7,000 km2) and, along with cross-peninsula
counterpart Alpena, is one of Northern Lower
Michigans two anchor cities.
Traverse City is the Cherry Capital of the
World, holding an annual week-long Cherry
Festival the rst full week in July to celebrate.
Besides cherries, the surrounding Tuscany-
like countryside produces grapes, and is
one of the centers of wine production in the
Midwest. Tourism, both summer and winter,
is another key industry. Freshwater beaches,
a mild summer climate, upscale golf resorts,
vineyards, a nearby National Lakeshore, pro-
digious snowfall, nearby ski resorts and thou-
sands of square miles of s urrounding forests
make Traverse City (based on AAAs 2005
TripTik requests) the second most popular
tourist destination in the state behind Macki-
naw City. In addition, the historic downtown
area of Traverse City is the home of many
shops, restaurants, and ofces. Traverse City
is a home rule charter city under the Home
Rule Cities Act, incorporated on May 18,
1895. The city is governed by six commission-
ers and a mayor, elected at-large. Together
they comprise a seven-member legislative
body. An appointed city manager serves as
chief executive for city operations.
Geography
The city sits at the head of Grand Traverse
Bay, a long protected water of Lake Michi-
gan. The city sits at the base of the Leelanau
and Old Mission Peninsulas. The Boardman
River forms Boardman Lake in the city before
draining into the Bay.
Arts and culture
The Interlochen Arts Festival, held at various
venues at the campus of the Interlochen Cen-
ter for the Arts, features c oncerts, plays, art
exhibits, readings, and dance productions bystudents and guest artists. The Arts festival
has both a summer and winter s eries.
The Traverse City Film Festival, founded by
Michael Moore, takes place every summer.
The ve day event showcases notable rare
independent lms and documentaries, as well
as discussion boards with directors, actors
and others involved with the lm industry.
In 2007, the lm festival acquired the historic
State Theater, which it fully r
ing on November 17, 2007 fo
screenings.
The Dennos Museum Center
campus of Northwestern Mic
is home to a collection of Inui
sculpture, drawing and print
also home to a childrens mu
various ongoing exhibitions.
Two major arts groups are ac
City. The Traverse City Art C
classes, a small exhibition spa
round member art shows. Th
Art Works Alliance is a mem
group, founded by local artis
in 2005.
www.VisitTraverseCity.c
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8/14/2019 Hometown Brochure - Week 9 Homework
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Historical markersThere are thirteen recognized Michigan his-
torical markers in Traverse City. They are:
Bingham District No. 5 Schoolhouse
City Opera House
Congregation Beth El
Grand Traverse Bay
Grand Traverse County Courthouse
Great Lakes Sport Fishery Greensky Hill Mission
Ladies Library Association
Novotnys Saloon
Park Place Hotel
Torrent House
Perry Hannah House
Traverse City State Hospital
WelcometoTraverseCityM
ichigan Traverse City is named after Traverse Bay, which the city
earned its name from 18th ce
voyagers who made la grand
the long crossing across th
Grand Traverse Bay.
In 1847, Captain Boardman o
Illinois, purchased the land athe Boardman River at the he
arm of the bay. During that y
his son, and their employees
and sawmill near the mouth
1851 the Boardmans sold the
nah, Lay & Co (Perry Hannah
Lay and James Morgan), who
mill greatly. The increased in
mill attracted additional settl
community.
As of 1853, the only operatin
in the Grand Traverse Bay reone located at Old Mission, w
known as Grand Traverse.
ington, D.C. in 1852, Mr. Lay
in getting the U.S. Post Ofce
new post ofce at his newer s
the newer settlement had bec
Grand Traverse City, Lay p
name for its post ofce, but th
suggested dropping the Gra
name, as to limit confusion b
ofce and the one at nearby O
Lay agreed to the name Trav
the post ofce, and the villagname.
Visiting Traverse City
The National Cherry Festival, held during
the rst full week of July every year, is the
main tourist draw to Traverse City. The fes-
tival features parades, reworks, live music,
and cherries. It is estimated that the Grand
Traverse region produces up to 360,000,000
pounds of cherries annually.
The Old Mission Peninsula is a great place
to sea kayak. One gets close to shore, light-
house, picnic grounds and parks. The bay
offers a shelter from the prevailing westerly
winds and from the Lake Michigan waves.
Maps, rentals and guided tours are available.
The small Traverse City State Park, with
about 250 campsites, is located some three
miles (4.8 km) east of downtown on 47 acres
(19 hectares) including a quarter mile beach
on the East Bay arm of Grand Traverse Bay.
The Leelanau Peninsula north of Traverse
City contains many attractions and areas of
interest, including the Leelanau Sands Casino
in Peshawbestown, Fountain Point and the
Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore.
There are over 50 wineries in the Traverse
City/northwestern lower Michigan area.
Most offer free wine tasting. Due to the sandy
soil with its good drainage, several vintners
have produced award winning Reislings and
Pinot Grigios.