Bad Axe, Michigan, is located in the northeastern area of the state within Huron county, along the Pinnebog river. The name is quite intimidating, but don't let it scare you away. This town has its roots buried deep into Michigan's history and has many badges to flash for its role in establishing the region its located in.

The Founding of Bad Axe Michigan

In 1861, Captain Rudolph Papst and Lieutenant George Willis Pack trekked through what is now Bad Axe, surveying the trail he was on for mapping. Upon locating an abandoned hunting cabin, Captain Rudolph decided to utilize its four walls as a safe harbor for the night. They discovered a worn down "bad" axe within the structure by the light of a lantern. This must have been an eerie discovery, but nevertheless, they remained in the location for the remainder of the evening.

The Lieutenant found the name Bad Axe Camp to be catchy and recommended to the Captain that they tag it to the location on the area's survey. A little less than ten years passed by, and the camp transitioned into the Bad Axe Post Office. The post station was established by Charles E. Brown and was then ran by him as well.

Two years after the post station was up and running, voting among the county supervisors made Bad Axe the county seat. This took Bad Axe down a road that wasn't foreseeable by the original declarers of its value. By 1885 it was in planning by the council to become a village with Septimus Irwin as the president. Following this declaration, Bad Axe bloomed into the first city of Huron County in 1905, with Joseph Freemont as the mayor. As Bad Axe began to grow in popularity, the legislature voted to change the name to Huron for the sake of ease in pronunciation and clarification. Still, the townspeople were not comfortable with this transition and insisted the original name remain- and it did.

Visiting Bad Axe Michigan

If you find yourself wondering where to go in the mitten state, and the city of Bad Axe has yet to be crossed off your list, don't wait any longer. The name may create caution, but it's genuinely just a front- Bad Axe is beautiful and authentic in more ways than one. The city itself has various shops, museums, festivals, parades, and parks that are all glorious and inviting, but even on the town's outskirts, there are sights to be seen (if you're from Michigan, I assume you are not surprised).

If you are visiting and looking for some quaint places to stop by on your stroll through downtown, ensure to leave some love for the local businesses. As with any Michigan city, there are small boutiques and restaurants at every corner. A historical pioneer log cabin village within the city can be an educational and exciting experience. You're able to tour a log cabin home, a schoolhouse, a chapel, an old-style store, and a blacksmith shop to get the real feel of what it was like during the initial settlement of Bad Axe.

If you wonder when the best time would be to come, it depends on what sort of crowd you are comfortable with. Consider visiting during the Huron Community Fair or later in the year to bear witness to the Christmas Parade for a more extravagant atmosphere. If you prefer to experience the city in its normal state, use it as a spring getaway when the weather is still crisp enough to keep the tourists at bay.

Turnip Rock

One of the most beautiful places in Michigan is just a few miles from Bad Axe. Turnip Rock deserves to be highlighted, as its impact on Huron County has indeed helped increase traffic, but also has created a haze of wonder starting with the first settler to lay eyes on it. Turnip Rock is wondrous because of its oddity and shape, first and foremost, but then secondly because of its trip to access the landform. You can only reach Turnip Rock with a kayak or canoe, making it an adventure in itself. Luckily though, it's a simple trip from Port Austin if you are good with navigation and the weather permits.

The downfall to this experience is that, unfortunately, Turnip Rock is on private property, meaning that you cannot step direct foot onto the natural wonder. There is even a local police department segment that focuses specifically on protecting this "island." It is courtesy to practice Leave No Trace principles when exploring one of the United States' most unique rock formations.

With this in mind, ensure you are also consciously aware that climbing the rock formation is prohibited. Besides being private property, making climbing technically trespassing, the actual reliability of the formation is uncertain. There have been many people who tried to take on the challenge and ended up injured as the outer layer of rocks are in the constant process of erosion, leaving them fragile and dangerous for climbing.

If you're looking for something to make up for the lack of interaction you can have with this sight to see, don't forget the caves that are nothing short of enchanting. At one point, a favored hiding spot of fugitives, it now makes a serine spot for kayakers to get the most out of all their hard work- and by hard work, I mean HARD WORK. The trip takes anywhere from 2 to 4 hours if you're starting at Port Austin, and the weather is quaint. This is not a novice rated trip, though, so don't take it lightly. There have been many cases of kayakers getting pulled out into Lake Huron, leading to rescuing.

Saving the Safe

A recent discovery relating to the forming of Bad Axe has made headlines in the Huron Daily Tribune. Upon selling a local furniture store, an artifact was located and brought to the public's attention. Marla Kopah discovered an antique safe that dates back to 1877. This relic was genuinely jaw-dropping, as atop the swinging door the name "Septimus Irwin” was inscribed.

The artifact is elaborate in design, despite the layers of rust and age on the surface. Shades of green, red, and gold all highlight the designs that are still recognizable. This discovery is impeccable in beauty and radiates nostalgia to all who view it. When the presence of the safe became conflicting in value as it appeared to be both highly important but yet gaudy and messy, Marla's husband, Anthony, reached out to the Bad Axe Historical Society to determine its origins.

Upon this connection, it was confirmed that the safe indeed belonged to the first president of Bad Axe, Septimus Irwin. That dates the safe back to at least 1885 and puts its value in place at $7,500- regardless of being empty!

The owner of the furniture store was not left out of this situation, morally so. His only request for this discovery is that the relic remains within Bad Axe, as it embodies such a large part of the cities founding. Unfortunately, there is not enough room in the museum for the larger than average safe, so it has been decided that there will be a showcase of photographs to help bring the story to life. The public of Bad Axe is excited about this, as its place in history brings the beginning of the county's existence into a slightly fuller circle.

Stop by & Stay a While

Whether you’re a history buff and find the background story of Huron County to be inspiring to the settling of Michigan, or you just love to travel, you are guaranteed to enjoy a trip to Bad Axe. The scenery, the stories, and the adventure that ties into such a place have worked like bait on a fishing line since the first settlers stepped foot into that dusty cabin and laid witness to the used and abused ax.

If you are feeling inspired by all this talk of rust and relics, try Northern Nail Polish’s Bad Axe shade from the Fall 2020 collection. Its shimmering brown tint pairs well with the tones and textures of autumn, while symbolizing the start of such a magnificent, rustic city.

There is no way that Captain Rudolph and Lieutenant George could have ever predicted that evening's outcome or the value of that ax head. From all the residents now and before in Bad Axe Michigan, there is a hum of gratitude, as the community here is strong and serene- despite such a rough-around-the-edges name.