Michigan History Magazine

Geologists and rock collectors: Do you have a Yooperlite in your collection?

Yooperlites were first confirmed in Michigan in 2017 by Erik Rintamaki, who found them off the coast of Lake Superior and gave them the Michigan-themed name. These glowing treasures are sought after by rock hunters, who use 365nm UV flashlights at night to spot them. The best time to search for Yooperlites is in the spring after the ice breakup, which moves the rocks along the shore, or just after a storm when the water churns them up and deposits them closer to the water’s edge. They have been found across Michigan but are most prevalent on the beaches of the Upper Peninsula, especially near Whitefish Point, Grand Marais, and the Keweenaw Peninsula. The display pictured below is located at the A. E. Seaman Mineral Museum in Houghton, Michigan, which is designated as the state’s official mineral museum.

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In the mid-nineteenth century, when Chicagoans were flocking to the shore of Lake Michigan to escape city life, Swedish immigrants Rudolf and Karin Ruben built a simple but stately house on Duck Lake, near Whitehall, Michigan. In 1914, they bought four acres of land for $600 and opened a tent camp resort, where people could vacation for only $8 a week.

They built a Craftsman-style home on the property in 1919 as the resort prospered, and seven cottages and a dining hall were built for a more upscale experience. .” The resort operated until 1937, when economic hardship during the Great Depression made summer vacations hard for families to afford. Soon after, gasoline and tire rationing during World War II prevented travel, and many resorts like the one on Duck Lake were forced to close their doors. In 1997, Chris and David Pequet bought the Ruben House. Now called Duck Lake Inn, the beautiful little house once again welcomes vacationers to west Michigan for four weeks every summer.

The Michigan Heritage Home program will sunset on June 30, 2026, so if you have ever considered applying for this award, NOW is the time to do it! Learn more about the program and get your application in before June 30 at https://hsmichigan.org/awards/michigan-heritage-home