Vintage video of a trip over the Mackinac Bridge in 1958

I love this old 8mm film of someone crossing the Mackinac Bridge in 1958. Not much has changed since then. About halfway across the bridge you even get to see Michigan's unofficial state flower - the orange traffic barrel. It's an authentic steel drum painted orange - not one of those plastic ones you see nowadays. The only thing missing is the audio from AM 530 or 1610 that tells you a brief history of the bridge and gives the current bridge conditions. I always listen to that each time I cross the bridge and I don't think it has changed since I can remember.

Be sure to check out my Mackinac Bridge page for more information on the remaining 50th Anniversary celebrations and the annual Labor Day Bridge Walk.

If the video player doesn't appear, watch it here.

It's the little things that count

When we ship your gift baskets we take great care to make sure that #1, they arrive in as short a time as possible and #2 that they look great when the recipient pulls them out. One of the things we do is put a Michigan state map in each box along with the gift basket. Since 90% of our gift baskets ship outside of Michigan (you guys love showing off the great Michigan products :) ) I find it only appropriate to help potential visitors to our fine state find there way around. We also place a label (see photo below) on the outside of the box so that as soon as the basket is delivered the recipient knows that there is a great gift basket inside.

Of course, we have always provided the free gift card messages and will continue to do so. It is a great pleasure to help so many folks send such great gift baskets across the country. These are just a few of the things we do to make sure that your gifts are memorable and enjoyed by the recipients.

Thanks for being such great customers!

Andrew Norton, Owner Gift Baskets From Michigan LLC

Today in Michigan History

Via MichiganHistoryMagazine.com July 18, 1863

Michiganians campaign in Mississippi.

Following the July 4th surrender of the Confederate stronghold of Vicksburg, Mississippi, Union troops under the command of General William Tecumseh Sherman captured Jackson, the state capital. Six regiments of Michigan troops and one Michigan battery were part of Sherman's army.

7 Wonders of Southwest Michigan

The Kalamazoo Gazette was inspired by the recent announcement of the new 7 Wonders of the World released on 7/7/07 and created their list of the Seven Wonders of Southwest Michigan. It's a quirky piece that they must have needed to fill out the paper for the day as there wasn't enough real news. I found it interesting and I think I should create a Seven Wonders of Michigan list sometime. For now, I'll share their Top Seven for Southwest Michigan.

1. Lake Michigan/South Haven Beaches
2. Kalamazoo Promise - free college tuition as a graduate of Kalamazoo Public Schools
3. State Theatre
4. Sunset Auto Theater - Hartford
5. a) Kal-Haven Trail; b)Portage Creek Bicentennial Parkway
6. Gene The Pumpkin Man
7. Plainwell Ice Cream

That's the list for Southwest Michigan as the Kalamazoo Gazette sees it. Feel free to expand or expound on the list in the comments section.

We will be closed the week of July 23rd

We will be closed for 1 Business Week beginning 5pm on July 20 and we will reopen on July 30 at 9am. Any orders placed after 5pm on July 20 and during the week of July 23 will not be shipped until July 31. All orders placed before 5pm this Friday, July 20, 2007, will ship this week. Summer is usually a slower time for us and we will be taking a brief break before summer passes us by. Thanks for your continued support of Michigan businesses and the Michigan farmers who grow the fruits that we sell as jams and such.

Andrew Norton, Owner Gift Baskets From Michigan LLC

Interesting article about Pictured Rocks

If you have never visited the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore near Munising in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, this article in the Mining Journal might convince you to head north. I have hiked the Pictured Rocks area (nothing too rugged) but have not had the pleasure of viewing the impressive rock formations and waterfalls from a boat. According to the article, viewing the Pictured Rocks from a boat is the best way to go as far as what you get to see. I would love to take a Pictured Rocks Cruise sometime as well as take a shipwreck tour from a glass bottom boat via Shipwreck Tours which is also based out of Munising.

Pictured Rocks Cruise Ticket Prices: Adults - $31 Children 6-12 - $13 Children 5 & Under - Free

Shipwreck Tours Ticket Prices: Adults - $27 Children 6-12 - $11 Children 5 & Under - Free

Pictured Rocks National Lakseshore official website