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http://www.southbendtribune.com/article/20...1/12300324/1130

Historic status sought for Michigan Road route
Michigan Road served pioneers; it is hoped to draw tourists.

By VIRGINIA RANSBOTTOM
Tribune Staff Writer

PLYMOUTH — Michigan Road has been nominated as a historic state byway not only to preserve Hoosier history, but to tap into the growing market of heritage tourism.

"Heritage tourism is becoming more popular as a lot of people are taking shorter trips, especially with the economy nowadays," said Kurt Garner, co-organizer of the Historic Michigan Road Byway steering committee. "They're taking day trips to historic sites, routes and scenic byways."

The primary purpose to build Michigan Road in the 1830s was to spur development of the northern part of the fledgling state, as well as create access to shipping ports on the Ohio River and Lake Michigan.

Today, Michigan Road is hoped to spur tourism for nearly two dozen downtowns by putting them on Indiana's map as a historic byway destination.

"Most people think because it's named Michigan Road it goes to Michigan, but it doesn't," Garner said. "It goes to Lake Michigan."

The route generally follows highways 421, 29, 25, old U.S. 31 to South Bend, then U.S. 20 to Michigan City.

"I think it will bring traffic to Plymouth through the downtown," said business owner Jim Vinall of the City Center. "It's the downtowns that are hurting."

Other downtowns on the Michigan Road route include Michigan City, New Carlisle, South Bend, Lakeville, LaPaz, Plymouth, Argos, Rochester, Fulton, Metea, Logansport, Burlington, Michigantown, Kirklin, Indianapolis, Shelbyville, Greensburg, Napoleon, New Marion and Madison.

Michigan Road was the state's first road commissioned by the Indiana State Legislature in 1826 and became a key thoroughfare in opening Indiana for settlement.

The route connected Madison on the Ohio River to Michigan City on Lake Michigan via Indianapolis, the new state capital.

Not only was it used by pioneers, but as a path to freedom by runaway slaves and the trail down which the American Indians were removed from their lands.

"Today there's a number of great old buildings, barns, farms and everything to identify with as being a Hoosier," said Garner, a historic preservationist who helped place Plymouth on the National Register of Historic Places.

Michigan Road's 270-mile stretch would become the first state byway to traverse the state in a north/south direction.

Lincoln Highway, from east to west, is also awaiting status by the Indiana Department of Transportation as a historic byway.

"That would tie the whole state together," Garner said.

Having two designated byways intersecting in Plymouth would also assist in promoting the Marshall County Museum's new Crossroads Center, established to commemorate the position at the crossroads of America.

"South Bend and Plymouth are unique in that they both have byways that intersect," said Garner.

The Michigan Road historic byway nomination application was submitted to InDOT on Dec. 21 by the steering committee made up of people from the 15 counties on the route.

Those people include elected and appointed officials, Main Street, economic development and tourism directors, historians and business owners.

If approved by the state, the Historic Michigan Road Byway would not only be recognized on state maps, but with directional signage and marketing materials.

"It won't happen overnight, but will be an extended process," Garner said.

The steering committee said receiving the historic byway designation would help in preparations for commemorating the state's bicentennial in 2016.

For more information go to: www.HistoricMichiganRoad.org.

Staff writer Virginia Ransbottom:
vransbottom@sbtinfo.com
574-235-6344

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http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-ap-...0,2073296.story

Historic status sought for Ind.'s Michigan Road

PLYMOUTH, Ind. —
Indiana's first major route connecting the Ohio River with Lake Michigan is on its way to being designated a historic state byway.

Organizers are seeking the designation for Michigan Road not only to preserve Hoosier history, but to tap into the growing market of heritage tourism. The Historic Michigan Road Byway steering committee in December sent its nomination for the route to the Indiana Department of Transportation, which could act on the designation in the coming months.

The 270-mile route was built in the 1830s, connecting Madison on the Ohio River to Michigan City along Lake Michigan via Indianapolis, which was then the new state capital.

If approved by the state, the Historic Michigan Road Byway would be recognized on state maps, along with signs and marketing materials.

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http://thenewsdispatch.com/articles/2011/0...43627940241.txt

The Road To Unity

Photo by Deborah Sederberg
Former Historic Michigan Road could become state byway
By Deborah Sederberg
Staff Writer
Published: Monday, January 3, 2011 5:10 PM CST
MICHIGAN CITY — Locals sometimes view Michigan Boulevard, commonly referred to as “The Boulevard,” as a trafficky thoroughfare that, depending on the season and/or road repair, and yes, politics or temperament, can divide the city.

Now, however, a statewide steering committee has asked the Indiana Department of Transportation to name The Boulevard a state byway and use it to help unite the state.

According to a press release from Mayor Chuck Oberlie and City Councilman Rich Murphy, “The history of our city is intertwined with the history and legacy of what then was known as the Historic Michigan Road (in Michigan City now Michigan Boulevard.

“As far back as 1828, the location of the mouth of Trail Creek at Lake Michigan, where Michigan City proudly stands today, was looked at as the northern terminus for this state-long roadway.”

The 270 miles of road began in Madison, Indiana, and ended at Michigan City.

“The primary purpose of the road was to spur development of the northern part of the state and to create access to shipping ports on the Ohio River and Lake Michigan,” according to the press release.

The nomination, submitted Dec. 21, “has received nearly 80 letters of support and endorsements from a myriad of boards and individuals along the route, including the Michigan City Common Council,” the press release noted.

Murphy has been working for two years now with Andrews University officials on the project and is thrilled with the nomination. This is an appropriate time to get news of the nomination, he said Sunday, “especially with the Michigan Boulevard beautification project in progress.”

Julie Manner, a member of the city’s Historic Review Board, couldn’t be happier. She also hopes the area can tap into the growing heritage tourism industry, which she believes could boost local economic development.

Murphy said, “Increased tourism to our area will increase revenue from shopping, lodging, dining and recreational activities, which will boost the viability of our main streets.”

The route connected Madison on the Ohio River to Michigan City along Lake Michigan via Indianapolis, which was then the new state capital. It generally follows U.S. 421 from Madison to near Frankfort, then what are now state highways through Logansport, Rochester and Plymouth on its way to South Bend, then U.S. 20 to Michigan City.

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Here is the LaPorte County angle of The Michigan Road

http://www.jimgrey.net/Roads/MichiganRoad/14_La_Porte.htm

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http://thenewsdispatch.com/articles/2011/0...e5080027397.txt

Destination: Michigan City

Published: Thursday, January 27, 2011 5:07 PM CST
One dictionary’s definition of heritage is “something handed down from one’s ancestors or the past.” Indiana’s distant past gives us Historic Michigan Road.

Present Day gives us the term “heritage tourism,” which can be deceptively educational for a family in search of a lesson.

Combine the two, and Michigan City need only open the door to fiscal opportunity.

Mayor Chuck Oberlie and City Councilman Rich Murphy did so in December.

They announced that an application nominating the former Historic Michigan Road between Madison, which lies along the Ohio River, and Michigan City as a state byway to the Indiana Department of Transportation. It would make it the first to traverse Indiana from south to north.

“The history of our city is intertwined with history and legacy of the Historic Michigan Road. As far back as 1828, the location of the mouth of Trail Creek at Lake Michigan, where Michigan City proudly stands today, was looked at as the northern terminus for this state-long roadway,” Mayor Oberlie said then.

After all, the primary purpose of the 270-mile-long road was to spur development in northern Indiana. Visitors mean value for La Porte County locals if Indiana approves a byway designation for the Historic Michigan Road.

Known locally as Michigan Boulevard, the road generally follows highways 421, 29, 25, then Old U.S. 31 to South Bend, then U.S. 20 to Michigan City.

So next time the kids are in the car and they’re not looking at the DVD players in front of them, ask them if they think you’re there yet.

The appropriate response? Not until we see the signs for Michigan City.

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http://emichigancity.com/news.htm#byway

Michigan Road Historic State Byway Nomination Presentation

Mayor Chuck Oberlie and City Councilman Rich Murphy announced today that INDOT has scheduled May 24th as the day to hear a presentation on the Michigan Road Historic Byway application.

“Last December, working with a group of representatives from 13 Indiana Counties, Michigan City was proud to include our own Michigan Boulevard as part the Michigan Road Historic Byway application,” Mayor Chuck Oberlie said. “On May 24th, our team will have an opportunity to make a strong case for this historic designation before INDOT in Indianapolis.”

Representing LaPorte County as part of the presentation team will be Michigan City Councilman Rich Murphy.

“If approved, this 270 mile connection from the southern tip of Indiana at Madison to Michigan City in Northwest Indiana would be the first the first state byway to traverse the state in a north/south direction,” Councilman Murphy said. “This would create a defined tourism corridor from the Ohio River to Lake Michigan.”

Information on the application for the Michigan Road Historic Byway designation can be found at HistoricMichiganRoad.org.

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http://pharostribune.com/local/x564433696/...c-Michigan-Road

Pharos-Tribune
May 30, 2011
Decision nearing for historic Michigan Road
Presentation made to INTO on Tuesday.

by Denise Massie Pharos-Tribune

LOGANSPORT — Michigan Road has just a few more steps before it could officially be designated as a historic Indiana byway.

Plymouth resident Kurt West Garner and Indianapolis resident Jim Grey have organized the effort since the idea struck them in 2008. The two, along with a panel of five others, made the final presentation to Indiana Department of Transportation on Tuesday in Indianapolis.

“I think it was a very positive experience,” said Grey. “The people from INDOT and Department of Natural Resources were pleased and impressed with work we had done.”

In addition to Garner and Grey, the panel consisted of by-way committee members Richard Murphy from Michigan City, Terry Lee from Fulton County, Kado Downs from Cass County, Bonnie Maxwell from Carroll County and Katherine Taul from Ripley County.

After giving 24 presentations around the state, Garner said it was nice to hear people’s thoughts on Michigan Road and its importance.

“It was uplifting to hear others talks,” he said.

The state byway nomination draft was submitted to INDOT in September. After taking recommendations from presentations made to INDOT district offices and metropolitan planning organizations where the by-way passes through, the draft was updated.

The official nomination to designate the 270 miles of Michigan Road was sent to INDOT on Dec. 21.

The state committee will now make a decision on the nomination and pass it along to Lt. Gov. Becky Skillman, who will make the final decision.

“It went very well,” Garner said. “We were pleased with the feedback we had already received from the groups so we felt really positive going into it.”

Garner said they were told it could be just a matter of months before finding out if the designation passed or not.

Downs feels it is important to receive the designation.

“It has the possibility to impact not only our community, but the entire state through heritage and cultural tourism,” he said.

According to Downs, heritage and cultural tourism is a $52 billion industry in the U.S.

While Garner is feeling extremely confident about the passage, Grey feels differently.

“I’m cautiously optimistic,” he said. “We don’t have the approval in hand yet. We are waiting anxiously for that approval, and as soon as we have it, we need to get back to work.”

Grey said he would be disappointed if the designation doesn’t pass, but he would seek feedback and try again. If it is passed, he said, the serious work would begin soon after.

“Obviously, we put a lot of hard work into it,” said Garner. “It doesn’t end here. For us, yes, it is a milestone. By no means is it the end. If anything, it’s just the beginning.”

If approved, the committee will continue to work on becoming a 501©3 group. It will also have to create and execute a plan for signs and marketing the by-way, in addition to obtaining grant money and additional fundraising.

Michigan Road was funded by the State Legislature in 1826 and surveyed in 1829. Construction followed in 1830 and by 1836, the road was almost complete across the state. It travels through 15 counties including Fulton, Cass and Carroll.

Grey said it’s important for Michigan Road to finally be recognized, since it has been an unsung part of Indiana history for so long.

Garner emphasized the fact this will be the first designated historic by-way that travels across the entire state from north to south.

“It has the opportunity to tie the whole state together for tourism,” he said. “We are generally enthused about what it means for a lot of businesses along that road.”

Downs is also excited to see what it can do for the future.

“In this new economy, smaller communities need all the help they can get,” he said. “This could help foster some of that economic leakage. The money we have locally is kind of finite. In order to survive, we have to capture some of those outside sources.”

• Denise Massie is a staff writer at the Pharos-Tribune. She can be reached at 574-732-5151 or denise.massie@pharostribune.com.

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We are so pleased to inform you that the Historic Michigan Road has officially been designated as Indiana's newest state byway! The Lt. Governor signed the order declaring it the Historic Michigan Road State Byway on September 9, 2011.

We will be preparing a press release in the coming days. Thank you again for all of your support and interest in this important initiative!

Kurt Garner, co-chair
Historic Michigan Road Byway Committee

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http://thenewsdispatch.com/articles/2011/0...5b758157086.txt

Historic Michigan Road state’s new byway

From Staff Reports
Published: Sunday, September 25, 2011 5:07 PM CDT
Lt. Gov. Becky Skillman has signed the order creating the Historic Michigan Road between Madison and Michigan City as Indiana’s new state byway.

An application nominating the road was submitted to the Indiana Department of Transportation on Dec. 21, 2010, by a steering committee that included people from the counties through which the route passes. Members include elected and appointed officials, Mainstreet associations, economic development and tourism directors, historians and business owners.

The nomination received nearly 80 letters of support and endorsements from boards and people along the route.

Committee members made a presentation to officials from state offices of tourism, transportation and historic preservation May 24.

*
Since that time, the committee had been awaiting word of the designation.

The Michigan Road was funded by the state legislature in 1826 and surveyed in 1829 with construction following in 1830.

By 1836, the route essentially was complete across Indiana.

The 270-mile stretch of road began in Madison and ended in Michigan City by way of the new state capital at Indianapolis.

The road’s primary purpose was to spur development of the northern part of the state, as well as create access to shipping ports on the Ohio River and Lake Michigan. The road generally follows highways 421, 29 and 25, then Old U.S. 31 to South Bend, then U.S. 20 to Michigan City.

The road has become the first state byway in northern Indiana and the first to traverse the state in a north/south direction, tying the state together for tourism initiatives. The designation will be noted on official state maps. The committee anticipates the development of directional signage and marketing initiatives as the byway moves forward.

Contact the committee or take a tour of the road at HistoricMichiganRoad.org, or visit Facebook.