map of Michigan showing location of Port Huron

The Two RV Gypsies: Full-Time RVers
at Desmond Landing, the Vantage Point Maritime Center, and the International Flag Plaza in Port Huron, Michigan
June 13, 2013

Port Huron is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and the county seat of St. Clair County and home to the Blue Water Bridge over the St. Clair River to Point Edward, Ontario Canada, one of the busiest points of transit between Canada and the United States. The city lies at the southern end of Lake Huron and is the easternmost point on land in Michigan.

Desmond Landing is one linear mile of coastline, where the Black River meets the St. Clair River.

Desmond Landing sign
Karen Duquette at Desmond Landing
Karen Duquette at Desmond Landing
Karen Duquette at Desmond Landing

Below: The Great Lakes Maritime Center (GLMC) offers a variety of opportunities to learn about the history and current events of the Great Lakes. Video formats, displays, and speaker programs present a wide range of information.

Welcome to Vantage Point Maritime Center sign
flags at Great Lakes Maritime Center
flags at Great Lakes Maritime Center

Below: Lots of clams in a column - and rocks in a box filled with water - at the Maritime Center

clams in a column
rocks in a box filled with water

Below: A live underwater camera views activity under the St. Clair River. Plus, a displayed schedule of ship travels - in actual time is available.

Below: Artifacts and toys found in the water
of the St. Clair River

A live underwater camera
Artifacts and toys

Below: Reverse Painting on Glass

everse Painting on Glass
sign explaining everse Painting on Glass

Below: Bottles hanging in the window inside The Great Lakes Maritime Center - the photo on the left was taken from inside the Center. The photo on the right was taken outside the center.

Bottles hanging in the window inside The Great Lakes Maritime Center
Bottles hanging in the window inside The Great Lakes Maritime Center

Below: Chair outside of The Great Lakes Maritime Center with the outline of a barge engraved in the back of the chair

chair

Below: The Municipal Office Center and a red piece of art in front of it.

The Municipal Office Center

Below: A Monument honoring Jacob F. Batclielor

Monument honoring Jacob F. Batclielor
Monument honoring Jacob F. Batclielor

Below: A U.S. Coast Guard Ship

U.S. Coast Guard Ship

Below: The two RV Gypsies drove a short distance up the road and came across a big rock dedicated to the invention of the light bulb.

a big rock dedicated to the invention of the light bulb.
plaque about a big rock dedicated to the invention of the light bulb.

Below: Black Squirrels were scampering everywhere.

Black Squirrels
Black Squirrels
Black Squirrels
Black Squirrels

Below: The Blue Water Bridge is a twin-span international bridge across the St. Clair River that links Port Huron, Michigan, USA and Sarnia, Ontario, Canada.

The original span is a cantilever truss bridge with a total length of 6,178 feet and a main span of 871 feet. The second, newer span is a continuous tied-arch bridge with a total length of 6,109 feet and a main span of 922 feet.

Together, the two bridges are the second-busiest crossing between the United States and Canada, after the Ambassador Bridge at Detroit-Windsor. They also provide one of the four shortest routes of land travel between the eastern seaboard of the United States, and the central United States. The Blue Water Bridges are jointly owned and maintained by Canada and the United States: Blue Water Bridge Canada is in charge of the Canadian side, and the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) is in charge of the U.S. side. A toll is charged each way to cross the bridges, which is used to pay for maintenance and operations.

The Blue Water Bridges and a barge

Below: The two RV Gypsies enjoyed watching barges go under the Blue Water Bridges

a barge
a barge and the Blue Water Bridges
barge
sign about the Huron lightship

When The Huron retired from active service in 1970, she was the last lightship on the Great Lakes. Acquired by the City of Port Huron by mandate of area residents, the ship was enshrined at Pine Grove Park in 1972 as a tribute to her vigilance and in fond memory of a by-gone era. In 1989 the HURON Lightship was designated a National Historic Landmark. She is the only lightship on the Great Lakes to be so honored. In the photo below on the right, notice the barge passing the Huron.

The Huron
The Huron
The Huron
The two RV Gypsies in front of the Huron
The Huron
sign: St. Clair County Trail System
barges and the Blue Water Bridges
barges and the Blue Water Bridges
barges and the Blue Water Bridges

Below: Looking across at Canada at the International Flag Plaza - (photo taken by Karen Duquette from the International Flag Plaza in the USA). The two RV Gypsies drove across the Blue Water Bridge and went into that part of Canada. Those photos can be reached from the link at the bottom of this page.

view of the International Flag Plaza in Canada
view of the International Flag Plaza in Canada
Karen Duquette walking towards the Thomas Edison staute

Below: Statue of a Young Thomas Edison in front of the Blue Water Bridge, situated at the mouth of Lake Huron and the St. Clair River. Port Huron is noted as the boyhood home of Thomas Edison.

Statue of a Young Thomas Edison in front of the Blue Water Bridge
engraving on the Thomas Ediison statue
engraving on the Thomas Ediison statue

On June 14, 2002 (Flag Day), the International Flag Plaza was dedicated and now serves as a tribute honoring all those who respond to 911 calls in the United States and Canada.

There is also an International Flag Plaza across the river in Canada - Those photos can be reached from the link to Point Edward at the bottom of this page.

the International Flag Plaza sign
sign about the Blue Water Maiden
sign about the Blue Water Maiden

Below: The Blue Water Maiden is perched high on a boulder, welcoming the Lake Huron waters to the St. Clair River. The Maiden was given as a gift to the City of Port Huron by E.W. “Cap” Kiefer, to signify the abundance of water in the Port Huron Area. In August of 1964, Mr. Kiefer donated the Maiden, designed by his grandson, in a fountain which was placed in what is now known as Kiefer Park, and then it was relocated to the front of the Municipal Office Center in 1981. In 2010, the Maiden found a home back on the water’s bank at the north end of the Thomas Edison Parkway.

The International Flag Plaza flags
The Blue Water Maiden
The Blue Water Maiden
The Blue Water Maiden
The Blue Water Maiden
The Blue Water Maiden

laughing clipartBelow: Karen Duquette in her purple hat amongst the purple flowers.

Karen Duquette in her purple hat
sign about the John S. Martin ship
anchor from  the John S. Martin ship

Below are two of the many bricks on the Brick Patio. This project has been financed by the sale of memorial bricks and public donations. Memorial bricks are available for purchase.

a brick on the Brick Pati
a brick on the Brick Pati

Below: The two RV Gypsies took one last look at the Blue Water Bridges before leaving International Flag Plaza in the USA and driving over the bridge to see the International Flag Plaza in Canada. Those photos can be reached through the link at the bottom of this page and several other Michigan pages on this website.

the Blue Water Bridges
the Blue Water Bridges
the Blue Water Bridges

Menu for the two RV Gypsies Adventures in Michigan
June 8 - 13, 2013
You may visit these six sites in any order you choose.
The page you are on is grayed out and cannot be chosen.
Some sites have multiple pages so that photos will load faster.

At the Rifle Range

Detroit (2 pages)

Frankenmuth (3 pages)

Campgrounds in Michigan

Port Huron (this page)

Saint Clair

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go to the next adventure of the two RV GypsiesAFTER you have seen all six sections above,
please continue on to Point Edward, Ontario, Canada

(The two RV Gypsies visited Canada in-between the above Port Huron and Saint Clair sections, because Port Huron and Point Edward are directly across from each other at the Michigan USA/Canada border.)

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