By the Forth of July the Keweenaw Peninsula has completed the transition from quiet winter months to its bulging summer population. Over the years businesses have appeared to meet the needs created by this summer rush. One such establishment here in my hometown was Swank's Restaurant and Cabins. While the cabins were a couple of blocks from the beach, the small restaurant was right on the water's edge, with a lovely view near the mouth of Eagle River. Today you will recognize this spot as the home of Eagle River Inn and Fitzgerald's Restaurant.

Thanks to Marion Streder for sharing this memory from her shoebox, and to Neil Harri for the birds-eye view of the current-day beach. If you have high resolution, you can explore more of this famous waterfront and see where an old shipwreck still lies off the shore.Maybe we'll see some of you tonight for the fireworks up at Copper Harbor. Be careful out there today. Have a good week :o)

Safety first! Have a great time everyone!! Blessings!

WOW! can't get over how clear the water is. There are no bodies of water (at least all the ones I've seen) that can compare with the color and clarity of the GREAT Lakes!! You 'UPers' are so fortunate to be so close to 'em. Charlie, I love the "Swank", reminds me of places we would eat while travelling in the south years ago. Memories!

I can't believe I've walked by that old shipwreck many times and never knew it was there. What ship was it and when and how did it sink? Does anyone know?

Is Swank's still in business? Anyway, Happy 4th of July. God bless the U.S.A.

The shipwreck is the Traveller.It sunk on August 17,1865.There are a few others out on the sawtooth reef. There will be images of them on my next photo DVD, Keweenaw Summer, coming out later this month.
I remember the motel being built in about 1960 or 61. We would go to the beach for a swim after a day on the family farm in Phoenix.
I also helped tear down the original building in 1983.

I can remember when the motel was built. There was a fair amount of controversy and many predictions that it would be washed away in a storm. So far the storm hasn't happened and the motel is now a fixture of the Eagle River beach.

how deep is that water where the ship is sunk?

a lot of tannic acid flowing into the lake...some strange currents coming out of there.

Happy 4th of July

mow go think about what it means besides a day off and a reason for a picnic :)
well, some people have it off. My wife is working as are a lot of others. Gotta make a buck I guess.

any parades up there in the CC ? do they still have the one in South Range ?

David, The wreck used to be in about 20' of water. I think it is much less now as sand filled in around it. The bow was visable above water on shore a couple of years ago.
Lots of parades yesterday and today.