Ishpeming, the birthplace of American skiing

Ishpeming is best known as an iron-mining town — its name is said to come from an Ojibwe word for “high place” or “heaven,” and its skyline is marked by the old shaft-house headframes of the Cliffs Shaft Mine, one of the largest iron mines Michigan ever had, now a museum. But Ishpeming holds another, more surprising distinction: it’s widely considered the birthplace of organized skiing in the United States.

Scandinavian immigrants who came to work the mines brought their skis with them, and the snowy, hilly country around Ishpeming was perfect for the sport. The town built ski jumps, held competitions, and in 1905 became the home of the national ski association that organized the sport across the country. That deep history is why the U.S. National Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame is located here, honoring the athletes, jumpers, and pioneers who shaped skiing and snowboarding in America. It’s a fun, very Upper Peninsula kind of museum — equal parts sports history and local pride.

Winter is still central to life here. The hills around Ishpeming and neighboring Negaunee hold ski jumps — including the historic Suicide Bowl complex — and one of the only natural luge runs in the country. Add reliable lake-effect snow by the foot, miles of cross-country and snowmobile trails, and the city’s mining-era character, and Ishpeming makes a strong case as one of the most genuinely wintry towns in Michigan.