Traverse City

Andrea Hellfritz

Traverse City – Queen City of the North

ISBN 978-3-86821-009-5, 181 S., 111 Abb., € 22,00 (CD-ROM, 2008)

(Cultural Studies in the Heartland of America, Bd. 3)

This thesis portrays Traverse City, a city of the American Midwest and an important economic and cultural center of northwestern Michigan. Founded as a logging camp in the late 1840s, it took the city nearly 50 years to become first a permanent settlement, then a village and finally, in 1895, a city. The situation of Traverse City today, including information about the form of government, important industries, and demographic data is described in the first part of the thesis. Another part is dedicated to the history of the city and individuals that influenced the establishment and development of the town. Historical sites in and around Traverse City are also depicted, including the City Opera House – a classic example of Victorian-style theaters and one of the few opera houses still standing that were built in Michigan in the 1880s. Another part is devoted to Northwestern Michigan College, its areas of study, its University Center and other institutes and academies that are part of the college. Finally, a short overview of some environmental issues the Great Lakes are facing is given.