Bold Boys in Michigan History-a companion to Great Girls in Michigan History-explores the stories of twenty boys who did some amazing things before they turned twenty years old. Author Patricia Majher presents easy-to-read mini-biographies about both highly acclaimed and lesser-known Michiganders, all of whom have led remarkable lives that will intrigue and inspire.

This collection offers a diverse group that represents different cultures, time periods, and parts of the state. Woven into each chapter are life lessons that will encourage young readers to nurture their...

The whaleback ship reflected the experiences of its inventor, Captain Alexander McDougall, who decided in the 1880s that he could build an improved and easily towed barge cheaply by using the relatively unskilled labor force available in his adopted hometown of Duluth, Minnesota. Captain McDougall's dream resulted in the creation of the American Steel Barge Company. From 1888 to 1898, the American Steel Barge Company built and operated a fleet of forty-four barges and steamships on the Great Lakes and in international trade. These new ships were considered revolutionary by some and...