Situated near the tip of Old Mission Peninsula, along the East Arm of Grand Traverse Bay, Old Mission is an unincorporated community in Peninsula Township, Grand Traverse County.
The community is served by M-37 (Center Road), which connects to Old Mission through Swaney Road. The unincorporated communities of Ogdensburg, Mapleton, and Neahtawanta are south of Old Misson, also on the peninsula, but the only incorporated cities and villages within fifty miles of Old Mission are Traverse City, Kingsley, Lake Ann, Elk Rapids, Suttons Bay, Buckley, Fife Lake, Kalkaska, Empire, Honor, Mesick, Northport, Thompsonville, Copemish, Beulah, and Benzonia, with Traverse City being the only one within thirty miles.
North of Old Mission, at the tip of the peninsula, is Old Mission Point Park, which includes Mission Point Light, constructed in 1870 as an exact copy of the Mama Juda Light, now destroyed, which was built on the Detroit River in 1866. Deactivated in 1933, the lighthouse is maintained by Peninsula Township as Lighthouse Park.
Under the terms of the 1936 Treaty of Washington, the United States government agreed to provide local Ottawa and Ojibwa tribes with a mission and schools for their reservation. Henry Schoolcraft, then the Indian agent representing the government, selected the peninsula on Grand Traverse Bay.
Old Mission was founded by the Reverend Peter Dougherty, a Presbyterian minister, who built a log cabin and mission church there in 1839.
A post office was established as Grand Traverse on April 26, 1850, with Robert Campbell as the first postmaster. When the reservation was moved to Omena n 1852, it was called New Mission, at which time Grand Traverse became Old Mission, and the post office was renamed Old Mission on February 1, 1869.
Currently, the post office uses the 49673 zip code, but it is used for post office box service only, while the postal area is served by the Traverse City post office, which uses the 49686 zip code.
The Dougherty Mission House was designated a Michigan State Historic Site in 1956, and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2011, while the Old Mission Inn (previously known as Hedden Hall or the Porter Hotel) was designated a Michigan State Historic Site in 1980, and listed on the National Register in 1982.
Currently, there are no public schools on Old Mission Peninsula. K-12 students are served by Traverse City Area Public Schools.
The focus of this category is on the unincorporated community of Old Mission, Michigan. Appropriate topics include businesses, industries, schools, churches, organizations, attractions, events, and recreational opportunities in the area.
Recommended Resources
As fifth and sixth-generation farmers and gardeners on the Old Mission Peninsula, CSA Farms grows apples, apricots, blueberries, cherries, nectarines, peaches, pears, plums, raspberries, rhubarb, and strawberries, which are sold via its CSA Shares program. A profile of the farm, its history, a seasonal produce calendar, information about costs, pick-up locations, and the contents of the bins that are received by standard shareholders. A weekly newspaper, contacts, and a FAQ are included.
http://www.peakseasoncsa.com/
Built by the Reverend Peter Dougherty in 1842, the mission was supported by the US government under the terms of the Treaty of 1836, the mission taught religion, English, carpentry, and blacksmithing. In 2004, restoration of the building began was deeded to Peninsula Township in 2006 and became part of the Michigan Historic Preservation Network. The history of the building and house, several photographs, videos, and other media, as well as information on touring the building, are featured.
https://www.doughertyoldmissionhouse.com/
Located at the end of M-37, in the northern tip of the Old Mission Peninsula, the lighthouse operated from 1870 to 1933, when it was decommissioned and later replaced with an automatic buoy light. Owned by Peninsula Township, the lighthouse may be toured (for a fee) on most days from May through October, and on weekends in November. Also available is a Lighthouse Keeper Program, where people may apply to be lighthouse keepers. Application procedures and a handbook are provided.
https://www.missionpointlighthouse.com/
The digital daily newspaper covers the Old Mission Peninsula, north of Traverse City, Michigan, offering Peninsula news, editorials, history, photographs, profiles of Peninsula people and businesses, reports on various governmental and civic meetings, vintage recipes, and other features, all of which may be viewed online, along with a community calendar, advertising opportunities, and an online store offering promotional apparel, books, and other items. Contributions are accepted.
https://www.oldmission.net/
Constructed in 1869, the building has had only four owners in its more than a hundred and fifty years, with the original owners, George and Betsy Hidden, operating the hotel for thirty-three years. Currently, the oldest continually operated hotel in Michigan features six individually apportioned rooms and suites, each of which are highlighted here, with photos, descriptions, and online booking. An online store offers promotional apparel, mugs, and other items. Contacts are provided.
https://oldmissioninn.com/
Situated in Old Mission, Michigan, near Traverse City, the yoga studio was established in 1997, and operated by Maureen Bosker, who is certified through Yoga Alliance to teach 200/300 hour training in Ashtanga Yoga. The Registered Proprietary School offers retreats, workshops, and teacher training sessions, each of which are highlighted here, along with testimonials, a gallery of photographs, the address, a map, telephone number, email address, and an online contact form.
http://www.yogainthewoods.com/
