Grand Marais, Michigan: Pickle Barrel House Museum

After finishing the west to east drive of Pictured Rocks, you come across the little village of Grand Marais on Lake Superior. The park doesn't attract enough people to be a major jumping-off point for exploring, but a few basic services are available.

What's more, there's a tourist attraction tucked away here.You just don't see many Pickle Barrel Houses, and the story behind it is an interesting one.

Cartoonist William Donahey wrote a popular strip for the Chicago Tribune in the 1920s, and also did illustrations for the ads of a pickle company. Reid-Murdock and Co. showed its appreciation by constructing a summer cottage for Donahey - shaped like a pickle barrel. I guess free housing is always appreciated.

After Donahey departed, the village used it as something of an information center and gift shop for several years. But in 2003, the Historical Society turned it back into a cottage for use as a museum. Looks like a fun place to take the kids.

The Museum is just down the street from The Dunes Saloon Lake Superior Brewing Company, which deserves a plug. Yes, there is beer there, but the pizza is very tasty. 

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