HOME | The City on Three Lakes

A HARBOR.
A HISTORY.
A COMMUNITY.

Where water shaped a region—and the people who built their lives along its shores.

From early waterways and Indigenous routes to working harbors, bridges, and Coast Guard cutters, The City on Three Lakes traces the story of Charlevoix through the lens that defined it most: its connection to the water. Richly illustrated and deeply researched, this volume brings together generations of stories, images, and maritime heritage into a single, enduring record.

PRESS KIT

TRACING THE CURRENTS
OF THE PAST.

Through historical narratives, original scholarship, and detailed research, the book traces the evolution of Charlevoix’s waterways — from the era of Indigenous homelands, to early settlement, navigation and industry, to the infrastructure, culture, and individuals who have defined life along the lakes.

Bringing together more than 875 images — rare archival photographs, historic maps, and newly commissioned contemporary photography — this landmark work reveals the deep interconnectedness of the waters, landscapes, and communities that define life along Lake Charlevoix. Through vivid storytelling and meticulous visual documentation, it offers the most comprehensive pictorial record of the area’s maritime legacy ever assembled, illuminating the people, traditions, and events that have shaped the region across centuries.

Proceeds from the sale of The City on Three Lakes support the curatorial and educational mission of the Charlevoix Historical Society’s Museum at Harsha House.

SPECIFICATIONS:

Format: Hardcover

Dimensions: 9.75 × 12 inches

Length: 682 pages + Flyleafs

Publisher: Charlevoix Historical Society / Mission Point Press

Content: historic and contemporary photography, maps, regional history, and narratives

Publication Date: July 1, 2026

ISBN: 978-1-968761-45-5

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The Authors

Drawing from extensive archival collections, historical photography, and years of research with the Charlevoix Historical Society, David L. Miles and Ole Lyngklip explore the maritime and cultural history of one of northern Michigan’s most distinctive communities.

David L. Miles

David L. Miles is an award-winning historian and author specializing in the history of Charlevoix, Michigan. He has written ten books and produced two documentaries. His latest book, Boulders: The Life and Creations of Earl Young, Charlevoix’s Master Builder in Stone, was selected by the Library of Michigan as a Michigan Notable Book, and received a State History Award from the Historical Society of Michigan, both in 2021. He also contributed to an Emmy-winning documentary on Earl Young that aired on Michigan PBS.

Ole Lyngklip

Ole Lyngklip is a first-time author who began curatorial collaborations with the Charlevoix Historical Society in 2018 with the exhibit 150 Years of Photography. The exhibit, which he co-curated with David Miles, documented Charlevoix’s photographic history from the late 19th century to the early modern era. His second exhibit in 2023, A Maritime History of Charlevoix, co-curated with Miles, sparked the idea for this project. He sits on the boards of the Charlevoix Historical Society and the William L. Clements Library, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.

BRIDGING OUR PAST
WITH OUR FUTURE.

The Charlevoix Historical Society is dedicated to curating, preserving and sharing the rich history of the Charlevoix area. Through its collections, museum exhibits, programs and publications, the Society educates the public, celebrates the unique heritage of the region, and offers resources that foster research and a richer understanding of Charlevoix’s past. Its Museum at Harsha House is located at 103 State Street in Charlevoix.The Society’s landmark preservation work was recognized with the 2025 Michigan Governor’s Award for Historic Preservation.

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