WEIRD Things NOBODY Knows About Michigan!
- Andrew McManamon
- 4 hours ago
- 8 min read
Think you know Michigan? Think again. This state is hiding some of the weirdest, most mind-bending secrets that even lifelong Michiganders don’t know about. From ancient discoveries to downright bizarre stories, these are the weird things that will make you see Michigan in a whole new light. Let’s get to it.
I have made several videos over the years about Strange things about Michigan, Haunted places in Michigan, creepy legends in Michigan that I will link at the bottom of this article, as well as things you may not know as an outsider looking in, and as always, the 5 things I am about to throw at you are WEIRD things even the insiders don’t know.
Weird Things About Michigan
Michigan's Prehistoric Copper Mines
Starting off with #5 on this list, I’ve been slacking on giving the upper peninsula some love, so we have The Mystery of Michigan’s Prehistoric Copper Mines. Thousands of years ago, long before Europeans set foot in North America, the Upper Peninsula was home to an ancient copper mining operation of unimaginable scale. Between 5,000 and 7,000 years ago, over 1.5 billion pounds of pure copper were extracted from the region, particularly around Isle Royale and the Keweenaw Peninsula.
Here’s the strange part—no one knows exactly where all that copper went. While the Native American Old Copper Culture used it for tools, weapons, and trade, the sheer amount mined doesn’t match the artifacts we’ve found. Some pieces made from Michigan copper have been discovered as far away as the Gulf Coast and Northeast, yet it still doesn’t account for billions of pounds.
This mystery has sparked wild theories:
Did ancient civilizations from Europe or the Middle East sail across the Atlantic to mine it? Were prehistoric trade routes far more advanced than we realize? Or—if you believe the more out-there stories—was this copper harvested for purposes beyond our understanding?
What we do know is that ancient miners, using only stone tools, left behind thousands of pits on Isle Royale and beyond. These silent scars in the Earth are evidence of a forgotten industry that predates written history. The question remains: Where did all the copper go? And who were the people behind one of Michigan’s greatest unsolved mysteries? Some archaeologists argue that the copper was primarily traded among Indigenous cultures in North America, while others insist the scale of mining points to a much larger, global connection. To this day, modern explorers and scientists continue to search for answers among Michigan’s rugged northern wilderness, where the whispers of the past linger in every pit and quarry. It’s a story that leaves us wondering—just how much of our history has been lost to time?
Weird Things About Michigan
The Shaking Grounds Michigan
Moving on over to #4, we have The Shaking Grounds of Michigan: A Story of Mysterious Tremors Michigan, while not traditionally associated with earthquakes, has a peculiar history of mysterious ground shaking that leaves scientists and residents scratching their heads. From unexplained tremors in southern Michigan to surprising quakes caused by human activity, the “shaking grounds” of Michigan are both strange and significant. Take the 2015 earthquake near Galesburg, for example. A magnitude 4.2 quake struck southwest Michigan, rattling homes and surprising residents as far as Chicago and Ohio. Scientists determined the culprit was an ancient fault line, long dormant, buried deep beneath Michigan’s bedrock. It was a reminder that the Earth here isn’t quite as calm as we thought. But sometimes, the shaking comes with no clear explanation.
In 2011, residents of Clinton County reported hearing loud booms followed by violent tremors, shaking homes and rattling nerves. Yet, no seismic activity was recorded. Some blamed collapsing underground voids or natural gas pockets, while others speculated military testing—but no definitive answer was ever found. Then, in 2020, Monroe County experienced another unexplained tremor. The ground shook, dishes rattled, and residents rushed outside for answers. Was it an earthquake? An explosion? Scientists suggested nearby quarry blasting, but for those who felt it, the cause remained unsettlingly unclear.
Michigan’s geology—full of ancient limestone, underground mines, and collapsing cavities—adds another layer to the mystery. In the Upper Peninsula, quarry blasts and old mining operations trigger man-made quakes, while in other areas, shifting bedrock and weather cycles seem to play tricks on the land. Even more bizarre are the stories of “skyquakes”—loud, booming sounds heard across Michigan that some believe are caused by atmospheric disturbances or deep underground shifts. Others think there’s something more mysterious at play. So the next time you feel the ground shake in Michigan—whether it’s a natural quake, a man-made tremor, or something entirely unexplained—know that this state, quiet as it seems, is full of secrets beneath its surface. Michigan’s shaking grounds are a strange reminder that the Earth is never as still as we think.
Weird Things About Michigan
Gravity Hill of Michigan
Stepping over to #3, we have Gravity Hill: A Place That Defies Logic. There’s a place where the rules of gravity seem to break (and there's actually a few of them). It’s called Gravity Hill, and it’s a spot that will make you question everything you know. Here, cars roll uphill, water appears to flow against gravity, and the experience leaves visitors stunned. The story is simple: park your car at the bottom of the hill, put it in neutral, and watch as your vehicle begins to move—uphill. Skeptics say it’s an optical illusion, caused by the way the surrounding landscape tilts, tricking your eyes into seeing a slope where there isn’t one. But locals tell a much creepier tale.
According to legend, this hill is haunted. Years ago, a school bus full of children broke down here, and a tragic collision ended their lives. Now, their spirits remain, protecting others from the same fate by pushing cars uphill to safety. Some say if you sprinkle baby powder on your car’s bumper, you’ll find tiny handprints after your car moves—proof of ghostly intervention. Many visitors leave convinced they’ve experienced something supernatural. “It feels like the car is moving on its own,” one person said. Others claim to have seen handprints in the dust, or heard faint whispers in the quiet night air. So what’s really happening at Gravity Hill? Is it an optical illusion? A ghost story brought to life? Or something we can’t yet explain? Whatever you believe, one thing is certain: Gravity Hill isn’t just a trick of the eyes—it’s a place that lingers in your mind long after you’ve driven away.
If you’re curious, visit at night for the full effect. Bring baby powder if you dare, and prepare for an experience that might leave you with more questions than answers. What really happens at Gravity Hill? That’s for you to decide.
Weird Things About Michigan
Dinosaur Gardens of Ossineke, Michigan
Moving right along to #2 there’s The Dinosaur Gardens of Ossineke (AH-SINA-KEY) – Michigan’s Forgotten Prehistoric Park. Yes, Michigan has it’s own Jurassic park kinda. Deep in the forests of Ossineke, Michigan, lies one of the state’s strangest attractions: The Dinosaur Gardens. This surreal park is home to life-sized concrete dinosaurs, cavemen, and even statues of Jesus, blending history, faith, and whimsy into a bizarre roadside wonder. Built in the 1930s by artist Paul Domke, the Dinosaur Gardens was meant to educate visitors about prehistoric life. Domke hand-sculpted over two dozen massive dinosaurs and cavemen using concrete and wire mesh, placing them along winding forest trails. Families marveled at the 30-foot-long brontosaurus, the snarling T. rex, and scenes of early human life. Yet, among the dinosaurs, Domke also added religious statues, including Jesus, blending faith and science in a way that left visitors puzzled.
As the decades passed, the park fell into decline. By the 1970s, the once-bright sculptures were cracked and moss-covered, and overgrown trails made it feel more like a haunted forest than a tourist attraction. Explorers visited to capture its eerie charm—giant dinosaurs looming in silence, half-forgotten in the woods. In recent years, parts of the park have been restored, and its colorful dinosaurs now attract curious visitors once again. But the surreal mix of prehistoric creatures, cavemen, and religious symbolism continues to fascinate and baffle those who stumble upon it. If you ever find yourself near Ossineke, take a detour to this quirky relic of Michigan’s past. It’s a place where dinosaurs still roam, faith lingers quietly, and history feels just a little out of step with reality.
The Dinosaur Gardens isn’t just a park—it’s an unforgettable piece of Michigan’s weird and wonderful history.
Weird Things About Michigan
Glowing Lights of Lake Michigan
Last but not least we have #1, The Glowing Lights of Lake Michigan – A Mystery Beneath the Waves. Lake Michigan is a place of beauty and mystery. From ghost ships to the eerie Michigan Triangle (which I talked more about in another video i’ll link HERE), the lake has long held secrets. But one of its weirdest phenomena remains largely unknown: the glowing lights beneath the water.
For decades, fishermen, sailors, and divers have reported seeing soft, pulsing lights deep below the surface. These aren’t ordinary reflections or sunlight—they move, they follow, and sometimes they form patterns before vanishing without a trace. One fisherman near South Haven described it like this: on a calm night, he noticed a faint green glow beneath his boat. At first, he thought it was algae, but then the light began to circle him. “It wasn’t natural,” he said. “It felt like something was watching me.” After ten minutes, the light blinked out, leaving nothing but darkness. Another story comes from a group of divers near Traverse City, exploring one of the lake’s shipwrecks. In the distance, they spotted a strange glow. Thinking it was sunlight, they swam closer, but the light darted away, as if it knew they were coming. “It wasn’t a reflection,” one diver explained. “It was something else.”
So what’s causing the lights? Theories range from natural gas seeps on the lakebed to residual energy from the mysterious Lake Michigan Stone Circle, an ancient structure over 10,000 years old. Others tie the lights to ghost ships—the souls of sailors lost in the lake’s countless wrecks—while some suggest something even stranger: unidentified submerged objects (USOs).
The truth? No one knows....
Lake Michigan has always held its secrets. And for those who’ve seen the lights, the experience stays with them forever. One fisherman summed it up best: “I thought I knew this lake, but those lights… they made me realize how much we don’t understand. Maybe we never will.” So, the next time you find yourself near Lake Michigan on a quiet, still night, take a closer look. You might just see something glowing beneath the waves—a silent, pulsing reminder that some mysteries are meant to remain unsolved.
My question as always is, have you heard of any of these 5 things before? And what other weird things about Michigan do you know that some people may not? Drop them in the comments below ⬇️
If you’re not too weirded out to move to Michigan, I help people all over the world move to, within and out of the state of Michigan, and I love it, so if you ever need anything don’t hesitate to reach out I’m happy to be a resource. Until next time.
MENTIONED LINKS ⬇️
→Strange Things About Michigan: https://youtu.be/QK7TaB5VmYY
→Haunted Places In Michigan (Part One): https://youtu.be/rWCec9UaBtE?si=gTi9RYgmnF_MnIar
→Haunted Places In Michigan (Part Two): https://youtu.be/yIQOm3xAEoo?si=7j5M0JOnuJSmRe2w
→Haunted Places In Michigan (Part Three): https://youtu.be/li6DCbG9K24
→Haunted Places in Michigan (Part Four): https://youtu.be/anJrnwlkhL0?si=CezIHMV9Ni2-AxwX
→Haunted Places In Michigan (Part Five): https://youtu.be/ltEZdERycw0
→TOP 10 CREEPY Legends About Michigan: https://youtu.be/yn99U2KvTN4
Cheers,
Andrew
Andrew McManamon is a Michigan REALTOR® with Signature Sotheby’s International Realty and provides real estate services to Buyers, Sellers and Investors throughout SE Michigan including Livingston County, Oakland County, Washtenaw County, Genesee County & beyond. Andrew has become one of the pillars of Michigan real estate. Prior to his real estate career Andrew was responsible for managing a senior living facility in Brighton, Michigan as a dining supervisor and an activities assistant. Andrew’s passion to help people is unlike any other, and he continues to strive to be the best resource he can be. Andrew graduated from Cleary University in Howell, Michigan with a double major in business and marketing, and currently resides in Brighton, Michigan.
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