Coldwater and the old Chicago Road

Coldwater grew up on the Chicago Road — the old Sauk Trail that became US-12, the main route between Detroit and Chicago. In the 1800s the town was a day’s travel from either city, which made it a natural stopping point for travelers, traders, and performers. That location left Coldwater with a downtown full of handsome 19th-century buildings; the stretch of Chicago Street through the middle of town is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The crown jewel is the Tibbits Opera House, built in 1882 and still going strong. It’s the second-oldest operating theatre in Michigan, with an ornate French Second Empire front that was fully restored a few years back. In its heyday it was the main performing-arts stop between Detroit and Chicago; today it hosts professional summer theatre, concerts, films, and children’s shows year-round. If you’re new to town, catching a show here is one of the nicest ways to spend an evening.

The Tibbits Opera House is at 14 S. Hanchett Street in downtown Coldwater; you’ll find the schedule at tibbits.org.