Bewabic State Park

Herbert F. Larson was appointed as engineer-manager of the Iron County Road Commission in 1917. Taking advantage of a 1913 Michigan law, Larson purchased for the county individual tracts of land as well as wide rights of way along what is now US-2, to be set aside as parks for public use. He particularly looked for and obtained some of the last stands of virgin timber in the county. Larson is credited, in 1919, with the establishment of the first roadside park in America on Stager Lake along US 2. The success of the Stager Lake park led Larson to purchase land for other parks, including the area that is now Bewabic State Park.

Bewabic Park was created in 1923, when Larson purchased a 120-acre farmstead on Fortune Lake, along what is now US 2, containing a stand of virgin timber near. Larson turned the farmhouse into a caretaker's residence, and installed a bathing beach, picnic area parking lot, and campground. However, the improvements at the park were minimal until 1933, when workers from the Civil Works Administration (CWA) were assigned to the park.

One hundred and seventy CWA workers were assigned to Bewabic Park in 1933. They constructed a footbridge and trail to access an island in Fortune Lake, built a bandstand and tennis courts, added stoves and tables to the picnic area, and built a large wooden picnic shelter known as "The Wigwam." The CWA program was soon halted, but in 1935 it was replaced by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC). In 1935, one hundred and eight CCC workers began work in Bewabic Park, and continued until 1937.

The CCC workers implemented an extensive plan for Bewabic Park, which included constructing buildings designed by local architect Abraham Anderson and implementing landscaping designed by Glenn Case Gregg of Michigan State College. The workers moved the farmhouse, tore down the associated barns, and expanded the picnic area. They built a log bathhouse that included dressing rooms and store rooms for canoes, a stone restroom, and stone drinking fountains. They also constructed more benches and tables, installed a playground and footpaths, and expanded the camping area.

In 1966, Bewabic Park was purchased by the state of Michigan as part of an acquisition program to substantially expand the state park system. The next year the state purchased 40 adjoining acres to create the present park. In 1971, the bathhouse was remodeled, and in 1975 the campground was substantially increased in size. However, the park still contains significant examples of the rustic park architecture originally built by the CWA and the CCC.