|
Indian
Dunes National Lakeshore
Understanding
the history of the voyageur (French-Canadian canoeists and
fur-traders of the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries) is a great way
to enhance your visits to some of the national parks along the
Great Lakes. Against
a tableau of great waterways, magnificent shorelines, towering
cliffs and wild forests, these proud adventurers solidified the
French colonial presence in the north, while encouraging
settlement and expansion to the west and repelling English and
American aggression from the south.
Grand
Portage National Monument, Voyageurs National Park, Indiana Dunes
National Lakeshore, Pictured Rocks and Apostle Islands all derive their historical significance, in part, from
their place in the story of these men transporting goods on the
lakes and rivers that span from Montreal to Lake Superior and
beyond.
Today, diminished crowds and special events make winter the perfect time
for a visit. All visitors, ranging from day-trippers to
cross-country skiers and snowshoers, can enjoy access to trail
networks within some of the parks while picking up a history
lesson or two.
|
