Earlier this year, we were pleased to feature The City on Three Lakes, a new book and historical research project spearheaded by the Charlevoix Historical Society. Read all about it here! We were curious: how is a book like this made? What is involved in the preservation, research, and publication of local history? Thank you to Jen Wahi, president and publisher of Mission Point Press, for authoring this article and shedding light on some of these questions. We hope it will inspire historical societies across the Great Lakes Region that may be interested in similar projects.

We have included links to further reading, as well. We are fortunate to have so many talented historians dedicated to preserving our shared Great Lakes history.

From Archives to the Printed Page: Bringing The City on Three Lakes to Life

by Jen Wahi, President and Publisher of Mission Point Press.

Some books are published. Others are built through years of research, collaboration, and a shared commitment to preserving a story that matters. The City on Three Lakes: A Maritime History of Charlevoix & the Surrounding Region is one of those books.

When Mission Point Press began working with the Charlevoix Historical Society, we knew immediately that this would be far more than a typical book production. At nearly 700 pages, with more than 875 historic photographs, maps, documents, and other images, the project was an extraordinary undertaking.

The vision belonged to the Charlevoix Historical Society: to create a lasting visual and written history of Charlevoix and its relationship with the three lakes that have shaped the community—Lake Michigan, Lake Charlevoix, and Round Lake.