The Mackinac Bridge is seeking a steeplejack

Posted on by farlane

Mackinac Bridge Steeplejack by MightyMac.org

If you’d like this to be your next office, the Mackinac Bridge Authority is hiring for the unique job of steeplejack – get all the details & apply right here. The Science & Media Museum shares the history of steeplejacks & steeplejacking:

During the 20th century, expanding cities, new technologies, and changing lifestyles generated demand for new housing, offices and infrastructure—increasingly built to towering proportions. The booming construction industry depended on skilled workers capable of navigating great heights … Named for their historical role maintaining ecclesiastical buildings, ‘steeplejacks’ are the skilled tradespeople who assess, maintain and construct tall buildings, structures and towers.

Click for lots more including very cool photos, and more sure get everything you need to know about the Mighty Mackinac Bridge on Michigan in Pictures!

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Get ready for the 2024 Mackinac Bridge Walk!

Posted on by farlane

This photo was the fourth most popular photo of 2024 on Michigan in Pictures!!

Mackinac Bridge Walk & Herbert C Jackson by the Mackinac Bridge Auhtority

The Mackinac Bridge Walk is a Michigan tradition that takes place every year on Labor Day morning. People may begin their walk on either end Monday, September 2024 anytime between 7 AM and 11:30 AM and walk as much of the bridge as they are able to do before the bridge reopens to traffic at noon. Walkers may start their Mackinac Bridge Walk from Mackinaw City or St Ignace at either end of the Mighty Mac, and there are no longer busses traveling across the bridge during the walk. Get all the details from the Mackinac Bridge Authority.

The photo above shows the freighter Herbert C Jackson passing under the bridge, and Mike Rezabek took the pic of the walk below from the deck of the Jackson to complete the 360 view. Click for more of Mike’s shots!!

Bridge Walk from Herbert C Jackson by Mike Rezabek

So much more about Michigan’s Mighty Mackinac Bridge on Michigan in Pictures!

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Night Moves: Mackinac Bridge Edition

Posted on by farlane

Mackinac Bridge Night Reflections by Michigan Nut Photography

If you’ve been following Michigan in Pictures for any length of time, you are almost certainly familiar with the work of Michigan Nut aka John McCormick. He just announced that his 2025 Michigan Calendars are available so what are you waiting for??

Get your Christmas gifts early on his website!

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Shelf cloud over the Mackinac Bridge

Posted on by farlane
Shelf Cloud Over Mackinac Bridge by Michigan Native Photography

Shelf Cloud Over Mackinac Bridge by Michigan Native Photography

I saw a couple other photos of this cloud as it rolled across the Straits of Mackinac & northeast Michigan the other day but wowzas – the Mighty Mac takes it!! Our friends at the Earth Science Picture of the Day have an excellent post on the difference between roll clouds & shelf clouds:

Roll clouds and shelf clouds are found near the leading edge of thunderstorms and form when relatively cool air, from the storm’s downdraft, forges ahead into the warm, moist air that’s feeding the storm. The main difference between roll clouds and shelf clouds (both are called arcus clouds) is that a roll cloud is detached from the parent thunderstorm, whereas a shelf cloud (right) is affixed to the base of a cumulonimbus cloud.

NOTE: Just learned that this picture is from 2018 – still love it! (buy it here)

You can follow Michigan Native Photography on Facebook or Instagram and view & purchase more work on their website.

There’s more weird, wild Michigan weather on Michpics including a monster roll cloud over Lake Michigan from June of 2016.

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Best to fly OVER the Mighty Mackinac Bridge

Posted on by farlane

Michigan Air National Guard by Michigan National Guard

Popular Mechanics shared that 65 years ago this Sunday, an Air Force pilot flew into the record books but out of active flight duty by flying a B-47 bomber under the Mackinac Bridge:

Sixty years ago this week a person standing next to Michigan’s Mackinac Bridge might have been witness to an amazing sight: a six engine U.S. Air Force nuclear bomber flying between the spans of the bridge, barely clearing the structure. The stunt was roasted in the local press, which declared the incident “capricious” and “foolish”, and ended the military pilot’s flying career.

The incident, which took place on April 28th, 1959, involved Air Force Captain John S. Lappo, a native of Muskegon, Michigan. Lappo flew his B-47 nuclear bomber under the Mackinac Bridge.

The Mackinac Bridge is five miles long but there is only 155 feet maximum clearance between the bottom of the deck and the waters of the Great Lakes (Lake Huron and Lake Michigan) below. The B-47 bomber is 28 feet high, meaning there wasn’t much margin for error in Lappo’s flying.

Read on for more.

The Michigan National Guard shared this this is a pic of four A-10 Thunderbolt IIs and a KC-135 Stratotanker flying (safely) over Michigan’s iconic Mackinac Bridge back in 2016. The aircraft were based at Selfridge Air National Guard Base in Macomb County, Mich. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Master Sgt. Elizabeth Hollicker) You can see their latest pics on Flickr.

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The Mighty Mac

Posted on by farlane

Mighty Mackinac by Greg Jarman

Mighty Mackinac by Greg Jarman

UP TV-6 shares that the Mackinac Bridge Authority is expecting about 20,000 crossings of the bridge this weekend, about the same as 2021. Whether you’re traveling or staying put this weekend, I hope you have a good one & remember those who have put their lives on the line for this country.

Greg took this photo back in 2016. See more in his Print gallery on Flickr.

Lots more about the Mighty Mackinac Bridge on Michigan in Pictures.

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Michigan Meltdown

Posted on by farlane

Melting by Julie

Melting by Julie

mLIve’s Mark Torregrossa shares that although it might be a little cool today, much of Michigan’s lower peninsula will leap into the 70s and even low 80s on Saturday. In the Upper Peninsula and within a few miles of a Great Lake, you’ll only have temps in the 60s. Still, nothing to sneeze at right?

Julie got this great shot of the melting ice at Mackinac last April. See more in her Spring & Summer gallery on Flickr.

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Wave Goodbye to Winter Wonderland

Posted on by farlane

Michigan's Winter Wonderland by TP Mann

Michigan’s Winter Wonderland by TP Mann

Most of Michigan will see highs in the 50s or 60s today and while there’s (of course) still some snow & subzero temps ahead, the temperature trend is most definitely UP!!

TP took this shot of the Mighty Mackinac Bridge in late February. See more in his Michigan Winter Scenes gallery on Flickr!

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Happy 185th Birthday, Michiganders!

Posted on by farlane

Mighty Mac at 50 by Julie

Mighty Mac at 50 by Julie

On January 26, 1837 Michigan was admitted to the Union as the 26th state. The Freep has a feature with some fun facts about Michigan a few years ago. One that caught my eye was this one:

What’s a Michigander?

The term many of use and love today was coined by none other than Abraham Lincoln in 1848. Then an Illinois congressman, Lincoln referred to Michigan governor Lewis Cass, who was running for president as a Democrat, as a “Michigander”, meaning he was as silly as a goose. Lincoln was mad at the Democrats for making more than they should have of Cass’ military experience, and the term was meant as an insult. “There is one entire article of the sort I have not discussed yet;” Lincoln said, “I mean the military tale you Democrats are now engaged in dovetailing onto the great Michigander.”

They note that while neither is official, many prefer “Michiganian.” I have always been a fan of Michigander, but I confess this fact is making me reconsider!

Julie took this photo at a big birthday for Michigan, the 50th anniversary of the opening of the Mackinac Bridge which (IMO) is what made Michigan, Michigan.  See MANY more photos in her Michigan album on Flickr & enjoy our collective birthday!

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Thoughts on beating Ohio…

Posted on by farlane

View from the Top of the Mackinac Bridge by Ken Scott Photography.jpg

View from the Top … of the Mackinac Bridge by Ken Scott Photography

On Saturday, the Michigan Wolverines defied recent history and absolutely thrashed the Ohio State Buckeyes 42-27 in the Big House. While this is certainly a huge victory by Michigan over Ohio, it pales in comparison to one the greatest fleecings in history, the trade of the 468 square mile Toledo Strip for the entire Upper Peninsula. Not bad eh? Read all about it in Michigan, Ohio & the Best Worst Deal Ever on Michigan in Pictures.

Ken took this photo looking north at a portion of Michigan’s haul from one of the towers on the Mighty Mac with St. Ignace, Mackinac Island and Round Island on the horizon. See more in his Mackinac Stuff gallery on Flickr & for sure view and purchase his work at kenscottphotography.com

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