Navigating the Great Lakes - Activities

Eagle Harbor Lighthouse, Keweenaw County Historical Society

NPS Photo

Keweenaw County Historical Society

Background

Not familiar with the Keweenaw Peninsula? Start here:

• Keweenaw National Historical Park Website
• Keweenaw County Historical Society

This lesson is about shipping in the Great Lakes. From 1840 to around 1900, ships were the best way to move people and things into and out of towns on the Keweenaw Peninsula. Sailing on the Great Lakes can be very hard. Lighthouses were built to help sailors travel safely. Water from Lake Superior flows all the way to the Atlantic Ocean! But taking a ship from Lake Superior to the ocean wasn’t possible until we built canals to help. Ships cannot pass over waterfalls such as Niagara Falls.

 

Check out the activities below!

 

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  Activity #1 Introduction Video

  Introduction to Navigating the Great Lakes

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  Activity #2 Lighthouse Tour Video

  Tour the lighthouse!

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  Activity #3 Making a Keeper's Log

  Make your own Journal!

 

Copper TRACES Students

Find more activities and learn about the Keweenaw

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