Join us from home or at the St. Ignace Public Library for the History of the Michigan’s State Ferries, a ZOOM presentation with Les Bagley.

Before the Mackinac Bridge connected Michigan’s peninsulas, only ferryboats crossed the historic Straits of Mackinac. Ice-crushing railroad ferries first appeared in the 1880s. With increased automobile ownership and improved roads, Michigan became the first state to operate a ferry boat as part of its highway department. Researcher and ferry boat fan Les Bagley will discuss the history of Michigan’s State ferries.

This presentation is free to attend. Registration for online attendance is required and must be completed by 5 PM on Monday, August 4, 2025. Registration is recommended for those attending in-person at the library. Register here.

A lifelong ferry fan, Les Bagley has spent over three decades researching the history of Michigan State ferries and has produced previous articles and videos about them.