The Bay Furnace Ruins are the crumbling stone remains of a 19th-century iron-smelting blast furnace located on the southern shore of Lake Superior in Alger County, Michigan. Built in 1870, the 45-foot sandstone stack is all that survives of the short-lived industrial company town of Onota, which burned down in 1877.
Iron Smelting Blast Furnace
When you visit this place, you will get to see first-hand the Iron Smelting Blast Furnace used in the 1800’s. There is a campground on site where you can get a site for $26/day, small trails nearby, and an observation deck overlooking Lake Superior.
Since there is a bay of water directly in front of the ruins, the water is warmer than directly in Lake Superior itself. You can view Grand Island from this observation point. There were people wading around in the water looking for rocks.
Ducks and Weddings
While there, a group of ducks walked right up to us. They were pretty friendly and must be treated friendly by the locals.
Nearby, we saw a wedding structure and found out that this was a popular place for photo shoots and wedding ceremonies.
To get a permit for a wedding at the Bay Furnace Ruins (located in the Hiawatha National Forest), you must contact the local Munising Ranger District Office at 906-387-2512. A Special Use Permit is generally required only if your wedding has 75 or more people, or involves commercial vendors; smaller non-commercial gatherings may not require a formal permit, but you must still coordinate with the district office.
Wild Medicine
While exploring the area, my wife came across the flowers of the Mullen plant, which will help her open up her lungs from the decreased air quality from the nearby wildfires we had.
To open your lungs using mullein flowers, you can steep them in hot water to make a herbal tea or use them as an oil extract. Strain the liquid well through a fine cloth to remove the tiny hairs, which can irritate your throat if swallowed.
Making Mullein Tea
- Put one to two small spoons of dried mullein flowers in a cup.
- Pour boiling water over the flowers.
- Cover the cup and let it sit for 10 to 15 minutes.
- Use a coffee filter or cloth to strain out all the tiny plant hairs.
- Drink the warm tea slowly.
Safety and Helpful Tips
- Strain carefully: Always use a tight filter so tiny plant fuzz does not get in your drink.
- Wild plants: Do not pick plants near roads because they hold car dirt and poison.
- Check allergies: Stop using it if your throat feels itchy or tight.
Informational Signs of the Bay Furnace Ruins
If you are an information hound like me, you will like reading the history of the Bay Furnace Ruins.
Rockhounding at Bay Furnace Ruins
Even though you are not allowed to take rocks and slag from the Bay Furnace Ruins, a lot of people love to poke around and see what they can find. You can take pictures of them and throw them back, like I did.
Sometimes you can find unique patterns of the slag that was left behind from the furnaces in the 1800’s.
Have you visited this place? If so share your story and leave images below.
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