Munising is a city on the southern shore of Lake Superior on the Upper Peninsula of the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 2,539. In the city the population was spread out with 21.4% under the age of 18, 6.6% from 18 to 24, 23.5% from 25 to 44, 23.4% from 45 to 64, and 25.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females there were 88.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 82.9 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $33,899, and the median income for a family was $46,133. Males had a median income of $41,333 versus $24,444 for females. The per capita income for the city was $19,779. About 7.4% of families and 11.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.6% of those under age 18 and 10.1% of those age 65 or over.
Munising is the county seat of Alger County. The city is at the northwest corner of Munising Township, but is administratively autonomous.
Munising is located on the southern edge of Munising Bay, also known as the South Bay of Grand Island Harbor, across from Grand Island around the mouth of the Anna River. It is the primary embarkation point for cruises to Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore and Grand Island National Recreation Area.
The name Munising is derived from the Ojibway language. ‘Munissi’ means island. ‘Munising’ means near the island. Grand Island is located one half mile north in Munising Bay.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 9.1 square miles (23.6 km²), of which, 5.4 square miles (13.9 km²) of it is land and 3.8 square miles (9.8 km²) of it (41.40%) is water.
Munising has many waterfalls including Horseshoe Falls, Alger Falls, Munising Falls, and Miners Falls.
The most popular tourist attracting in Munising is Pictured Rocks.
Pictured Rocks
Pictured Rocks derives its name from the 15 miles (24 km) of colorful sandstone cliffs northeast of Munising. The cliffs are up to 200 feet (60 m) above lake level. They have been naturally sculptured into shallow caves, arches, formations that resemble castle turrets, and human profiles, among others. Near Munising visitors also can view Grand Island, most of which is included in the Grand Island National Recreation Area and is preserved separately.
The U.S. Congress made Pictured Rocks the first officially-designated National Lakeshore in the United States in 1966. It is governed by the National Park Service (NPS), had 22 year-round NPS employees as of May 2006, and received 476,888 visitors in 2005. Munising, on the western end of the lakeshore, is accessed by M-28 and M-94. Grand Marais, on the eastern end, is reached by M-77. Paved highways penetrate part way into the lakeshore from both ends. Travelers seeking to drive from one end of the lakeshore to the other must use County Road H-58. Roads only come close to the shoreline near Miners Castle, 12 Mile Beach, and the Grand Sable Dunes. The rest of the shoreline is only seen from land by hiking.
A 42-mile (67-km) section of the North Country Trail spans the lakeshore.
Pictured Rocks Cruises offers daily trips from Memorial Day weekend through October 10. Sea Kayaking is a popular method of exploring the park. While this may be the best way to see the natural formations, it is a serious trip in dangerous and cold water, which should not be undertaken lightly or without proper equipment (dress for the water temperature, not the air temperature). Guides are available. The most efficient port of entry to Pictured Rocks, for a sea kayak, is from the harbor at Munising.
Camping must be done only in designated areas, and is strictly regulated by the National Park rangers.
Winter sports activities include cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, snowmobiling, and ice fishing.
This page has the following sub pages.