The young woman driving the Muskegon Trolley was pleasant and knowledgeable about her community. Since it was the last (or next to last, I forget) run, she took a flexible route while keeping an eye out for cruise guests that had not yet made it back to the ship. She invited me to sit up in front of the yellow line beside her. I accepted. Whenever I appeared interested in a photo, she stopped for me to take it.
I'm sorry there wasn't more time to spend in Muskegon, but I wouldn't have given up any of the earlier events of the day.
While I waited for the Trolley, I walked around the area adjacent to our docking location.
I didn't care for the Zen garden. These remains of an old pier were much more Zen to me.
A mute swan family was hanging out in a slough near the dock.
When I mentioned them to the Trolley driver, she said the swans were non-native and invasive pests. This is only one family, but there are numerous locations overrun with them. I found one reference that said the county of Muskegon is considering a culling program to reduce their numbers.
The Charles H. Hackley House was completed in 1889. It was the height of style in its day. Imagine it next door to the Meyer May house, which was built only 20 years later. Shocking indeed. I confess that I like them both, but perhaps not next door to one another.
Instead, next door is the Thomas Hume House. Hackley and Hume were partners in the lumbering firm of Hackley and Hume. As the lumber industry declined, both men diversified.
The two homes shared a carriage house, now being restored, and together make up the Hackley and Hume Historic Site.
Tours of these and other historic properties were included on the standard offerings at this port.
The driver kept a sharp lookout and collected stragglers throughout our trip downtown. We loaded on the ship and were soon ready to leave for our last evening on Lake Michigan.
As we left the harbor we passed the NOAA Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory Lake Michigan Field Station. The building dates from 1905 as a Coast Guard station. The Coast Guard conveyed it to NOAA in 1990 along with other buildings at the site.
NOAA is on the chopping block. So much is in jeopardy at the current time. Too many people in power don't appreciate the role research plays not only in understanding the environment but in protecting commerce as well.
The south breakwater light was our goodbye to Michigan. The city of Muskegon is attempting to gain ownership of the light in order to restore it as it is now in dire straits.
The light has been in service since 1879, but the current superstructure dates to 1929 or thereabouts. Sources online differ.
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