• Sunday-What'sUP August 4 - 08:18 am

As pointed out in Sunday's Pasty Central Day in History, the building of the Mackinac Bridge marked the end of the Separation Movement to spin off the State of Superior from the mitten of Michigan. These rugged guys at work are part of the army of men and women who fought the battle to join the two peninsulas with a highway between 1956-58.

Friday's Day in History cited the Separation Movement surfacing in the New York Times way back in 1855, just 18 years into the State's history. But somehow Michigan avoided joining the ranks of the Dakotas and Carolinas in having a North and South.

Today's photos are just a few samples of the rich visual history of building the Mighty Mac, preserved in the online U.P. Digitization Center. The diver in the first shot is the U.P.'s answer to Steve McQueen, but instead of escape tunnels, he's on his way down to inspect the caissons where the bridge supports were being formed. Speaking of inspectors, the second shot is an amphibious boatload full, heading not for Normandy's beaches but fanning out along the early route of the future structure. Finally, in the third photo the dream has become a reality, and these brave men enjoy the view from its lofty heights.

If you haven't had a chance this summer to travel the bridge or sneak across the Wisconsin border... there's still time before the snow returns. In fact August is probably about the best combination of good weather and fewer insects, to visit this region that once could have been the State of Superior.

Have a good week :o)

tough men.

Very interesting as usual, Charlie, thank you. That last photo makes the soles of my feet tingle.:-o

To that generation, "it was just a job". Brave guys!

Greetings Charlie and all:

RE: Pasty Day in History.

What about the efforts in the 70s to make the U.P. the 51st State of the Union? As I recall that proposal had some big U.P. politico names behind the movement, and may have actually shown up in Lansing.

Shouldn't that have been mentioned in Pasty Day in History as well?

JT

Hey, JT. The article referenced by Day in History was written in 1956. It was that article that made the assertion that the "Separation Movement" had come to an end. There were other efforts made in subsequent years to establish the State of Superior, but nothing like the push earlier in the century when the U.P. was the booming mining capital of North America.

I love the bridge and I love all of Michigan and am glad we remain "a" state.

we just crossed the mac back into god's country today. we had the pleasure of showing off the bridge to our "canadian family" lori and claude allard and their son matheau. we insisted they plant their feet on yooper soil and talked them into going back via the soo.

It's too bad that the efforts to make the U.P. the State of Superior failed; we wouldn't be under the dictatorship that we are now.

Good pics.

Those guys are way braver than I am, that's for
sure. I don't even like a 2 step ladder.

Great shots..timeless..and this past sunday i sat on
the north side of our great bridge for hours just
watching freighters,ppl...and our iconic bridge
thinking of the brave souls that put her together...