Similarly to most other areas in North America, the Upper Peninsula of Michigan was inhabited by Native American tribes, in this case Algonquian-speaking, who, given the proximity of Lakes Michigan and Superior, and the geography of the land, sustained themselves mainly through fishing. After the discovery of the New World, it was the French who first set foot on, and explored, the Upper Peninsula in the 17th century. French colonial policy in North America and particularly the Great Lakes Region was notable for its emphasis on many small fur trading outposts, rather than just a few major colonial centers, and these dotted the U. P. until it became British territory (after the French defeat in the French and Indian Wars of the 1760s). After America won its independence, Michigan became part of the United States formally with the signing of the Jay Treaty between the U. S. and the UK in 1797. The Michigan Territory was officially incorporated as a State of the U. S. in 1837.

Though the Upper Peninsula of Michigan was first considered to be economically unexploitable wilderness, the discovery of rich iron and copper deposits there in the mid-19th century brought about a mining boom, which brought in more profits for the state and the region than the California Gold Rush had generated earlier, changing the history of Michigan thoroughly. The new opportunities have driven many people in foreign lands, particularly Scandinavian immigrants–Swedes, Danes, Norwegians, and especially Finns–to settle down there and prosper in the mining industry. At one point, the majority of the U. P. population–whom the rest of the state often refers to as “Yoopers”–was actually foreign born. The copper mines of the Upper Peninsula at some point provided the vast majority of all American copper.

Today, the Upper Peninsula is still a predominantly rural area, with most of its inhabitants claiming Scandinavian ancestry. It is a beautiful natural respite for anyone who wants to take a nice, relaxing vacation away from the troubles of the modern, rushing lifestyle.