What’s in a Name? 5 Northern Michigan Towns with Fascinating Backstories

Have you ever driven past a road sign and wondered, “How did this place get its name?” Northern Michigan is full of towns with names that sound magical, mysterious, or just plain odd—but many of them hold real stories about the land, the people, and the cultures that shaped this region long before modern maps were drawn.

At OurVenture, we believe even a simple road trip can turn into a learning adventure. So today, we’re exploring five Northern Michigan towns with names that are more than just letters on a sign—they’re echoes of explorers, legends, and lost worlds.

Grab your map and a curious mind—let’s go!

 

Petoskey — Sunbeams on the Shore

Petoskey is a name that shines—literally! This lakeside town is named after Chief Ignatius Petosega, an Odawa leader whose name translates to “rising sun” or “sunbeam of promise.” According to legend, the day he was born, a ray of sunlight fell across his cradle. His people took it as a sign that he was destined for something special.

Today, that same sense of wonder lives on in the Petoskey Stone, a fossilized coral that looks like it’s covered in tiny sunbursts—just like his name.

Explorer’s Prompt: Can you find a Petoskey stone on the beach? Count the sunburst patterns and imagine the ancient sea where they were formed!

 

Charlevoix — The Explorer’s Gift

Pronounced Shar-luh-vwah, this town is named after Pierre François Xavier de Charlevoix, a French Jesuit priest and explorer who traveled through the Great Lakes in the 1720s. He was one of the first Europeans to map this part of North America and kept detailed journals describing the land and its people.

The name was given as a tribute to his journeys—and today, Charlevoix remains a place where travelers come to discover beauty, from storybook houses to sailboat-filled harbors.

Explorer’s Prompt: Find a journal or notebook. Pretend you’re an explorer like Charlevoix—what do you see, hear, and feel around you today?

 

Onaway — A Town Named for a Love Song

Onaway is one of the few towns in the country named after a poem! The name comes from a line in Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s 1855 poem The Song of Hiawatha, which blends Native American legends with romantic storytelling. The poem included the line, “Onaway! Awake, beloved!” and became so popular that a railroad executive decided to name a new stop after it.

Now, the name lives on as a tribute to words, rhythm, and imagination.

Explorer’s Prompt: Can you write a short poem or song about your favorite place in nature? Bonus points if you include a made-up town name!

 

Leland — Where the Waters Meet

Nestled between Lake Michigan and Lake Leelanau, the town of Leland got its name from early settlers referencing nearby “Leeland Lake,” which was eventually shortened. But this area’s history goes back much further—it was once a seasonal village for the Ottawa people and became a hub for fur trading, fishing, and shipping.

Today, you can still walk the weathered docks and old fish shanties of Fishtown, a living museum where the past meets the present.

Explorer’s Prompt: Visit a working harbor or fishing area and draw what you see—boats, birds, fish, or nets. What jobs do people do there?

Boyne City — A River from Across the Sea

Boyne City sits on the Boyne River, which was named by Irish immigrants who settled in the area. It reminded them of the River Boyne back in Ireland—a place rich in Celtic history and mythology. Naming this new place after their homeland was a way of staying connected to their roots while building a new life in Michigan’s north woods.

Today, Boyne City blends small-town charm with outdoor adventure, from ski slopes to shoreline strolls.

Explorer’s Prompt: Ask your family where your last name or hometown came from. What stories are hidden in the names you carry?

 

Let the Signs Tell Stories

From Indigenous legends to French explorers and Irish dreamers, the names of Northern Michigan towns are packed with meaning. And once you start looking, you’ll never see a road sign the same way again.

So next time you head out for a drive, turn it into a storytelling adventure. Ask questions, look up origins, and let your curiosity guide you. Who knows what history you’ll uncover next?

Want more adventures like this? Check out OurVenture’s sticker collections and printable learning activities that help families explore the world—one story at a time.

Do you have a favorite Michigan town name with a cool backstory? Drop it in the comments—we’d love to feature it in a future post!

#OurVenture #MichiganHistory #Roadschooling #FamilyTravel #NorthernMichigan #CuriousKids #MicroAdventures #PlaceNames #NamesTellStories #HomeschoolAdventure