It was a good day for ducks today. Fortunately, we took our walk early today because by noon the rain started falling and has continued to fall all day. In fact, it is still raining hard here along Lake Michigan.Realizing it would not be a good day for a dune buggy ride, or a walk on the beach or anything else outdoors we took a drive to see where things are. Silver Lake State Park is within walking distance and the Little Sable Point Lighthouse is just a few miles drive from here.
There was a small shack with an “Open” sign and another sign that said guided tours were available. We kind of chuckled but decided to park and see what it was all about. When we get off the beaten path we are rarely disappointed. We stopped at an historical museum in Kentucky last year and ended up spending an enjoyab
le two hours there.
Today was no exception. What looked like run down old buildings contain some incredible and nostalgic historical items. One display included thousands of Native American arrow heads and other first people artifacts. All were donated to the historical society by one man.
Our guide, a member of the Hart Heritage Preservation Group, led us through building after building, an old mill, a church built in 1889, a fish cannery that now houses a number of great antique collections and a one-room schoolhouse.
An antique pipe organ and an antique dairy were also part. But perhaps the most interesting display was an animated display of various dolls that someone collected and put into a large room. Our guide flipped a switch and the dolls came to life playing instruments and a variety of other activities.
On the way home stopped at a roadside vegetable stand and picked up some blueberries and some ears of corn for dinner. With the rain pouring down we left the grill in the crawl space and used the stove to cook up some Amish brats that we purchased 
in Shipshewana a couple days ago.
We stopped at Mac Wood’s Dune Rides and found out the hours and cost. Definitely there is a dune ride in my near future.
After that we drove into Hart, Michigan a small town we discovered yesterday when I was looking for a hardware store to find a replacement machine bolt for our front door locking mechanism. As we were driving down the main drag Joan noticed a sign “Historic District” and suggested we check that out.
There was a small shack with an “Open” sign and another sign that said guided tours were available. We kind of chuckled but decided to park and see what it was all about. When we get off the beaten path we are rarely disappointed. We stopped at an historical museum in Kentucky last year and ended up spending an enjoyab
le two hours there.Today was no exception. What looked like run down old buildings contain some incredible and nostalgic historical items. One display included thousands of Native American arrow heads and other first people artifacts. All were donated to the historical society by one man.
Old tools, old cars, a World War II exhibit that included dozens of photos of the B-24 Liberator and a display from a local who flew on them. Also on display was his Air Medal , and I believe, a Distinguished Flying Cross, or something like that. Clearly a local hero.
A completely furnished living room from the 1930s-40s was also wonderful. Two rooms full of furry animals from the air all fine taxidermy exhibits. Two log cabins from different periods were fully furnished with period appropriate items.
Our guide, a member of the Hart Heritage Preservation Group, led us through building after building, an old mill, a church built in 1889, a fish cannery that now houses a number of great antique collections and a one-room schoolhouse.
An antique pipe organ and an antique dairy were also part. But perhaps the most interesting display was an animated display of various dolls that someone collected and put into a large room. Our guide flipped a switch and the dolls came to life playing instruments and a variety of other activities.
We were stunned by the extensive collections hidden away in these old buildings. Some of our best travel memories have occurred when we left the beaten path and taken a chance. The tour took more than an hour and we left a nice donation behind for the work of the local historical group. 
The guide told us that tomorrow night there is a free outdoor concert at the cannery starting at 7 p.m. and weather willing, we may check it out.
A grandmother who joined our historical tour with two of her grandchildren said she had been coming to the family cabin in the area for 35 years and never knew this display was here.
On the way home stopped at a roadside vegetable stand and picked up some blueberries and some ears of corn for dinner. With the rain pouring down we left the grill in the crawl space and used the stove to cook up some Amish brats that we purchased 
in Shipshewana a couple days ago.The weather doesn’t look like it is going to repair any time soon so we are locked up tight for the night.
Enjoy the photos from our tour today. I’ve also included a picture taken from our front porch of the rain.
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