Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All the United States Michigan Frankfort Frankfort Marine Gateway

Frankfort Marine Gateway

The structure has welcomed visitors to this scenic harbor city on Lake Michigan for many decades.

Frankfort, Michigan

Added By
Rick Brown
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
CAPTION
Close up view of the marine gateway from the west.   rickbbiking / Atlas Obscura User
Close up view of the marine gateway from the east.   rickbbiking / Atlas Obscura User
Frankfort Marine Gateway looking west toward town   rickbbiking / Atlas Obscura User
1903 Map of the Ann Arbor Railroad and Car Ferry system   Unknown/public domain
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

The Marine Gateway was constructed to honor the area’s once-vibrant Ann Arbor Railroad car ferry services across Lake Michigan to Wisconsin. Frankfort, Michigan, was home to the first Lake Michigan car ferry in 1892, linking it with Kewaunee, Wisconsin. At one time Ann Arbor Railroad car ferries linked Frankfort with Manistique, Escanaba, Gladstone, and Menominee in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, as well as Kewaunee, and Manitowoc, Wisconsin. The car ferries operated out of the Frankfort-Elberta harbor in Betsie Bay for 90 years until 1982.

The gateway was originally built closer to downtown across Main Street by local businessman Joe Winkler in 1925 and was composed of stones gathered from Lake Michigan beaches. It also featured support towers that resembled lighthouses and a model of a car ferry atop the arch. The structure has been moved and updated several times since 1925 and now sits on the hilltop at the eastern edge of town. It still includes the lighthouses and the car ferry.  

Initially, the Marine Gateway only stated “Frankfort” on one side and “Scenic M-22 Road” with an arrow pointing toward the route on the opposite. Later versions included statements such as “The Home of the Ann Arbor Railroad Car Ferry Fleet,” “A Growing Resort City,” “Beautiful Crystal Lake Resorts 2 Miles North.” 

Today, the Marine Gateway states “Frankfort Welcomes You” on one side and "Frankfort Welcomes Your Return" on the opposite side.  It is an iconic visual and historic reminder of summer trips up north, weekend getaways to the beach, and family vacations.  

Related Tags

Roadside Attractions Transportation Roads

Know Before You Go

Use caution when stopping to visit or photograph the Marine Gateway, due to traffic on M-115 and sight distance on the hilltop. The sign spans M-115 (Frankfort Highway) close to the entrance to the Dollar General store.

Community Contributors

Added By

rickbbiking

Published

July 17, 2019

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Sources
  • https://www.record-eagle.com/news/business/frankfort-builds-on-shipping-history/image_9e81ffb1-4fba-5b92-b5b4-bc2269dcb838.html
  • http://www.trainweb.org/annarbor/AARRHistory/Building%20Ann%20Arbor%20RR/Bldg_AnnArbor-RR.html
  • https://www.behance.net/gallery/21327443/Ann-Arbor-Railroad-Car-Ferries-(1892-1982)-Part-1
  • http://frankforthistory.org/betsie-bay-harbor/
  • https://upnorthlive.com/news/local/the-story-of-frankfort
  • http://frankforthistory.org/about-us/
  • https://www.ancestry.com/boards/localities.northam.usa.states.michigan.counties.benzie/666/mb.ashx
  • https://frankfort-elberta.com/
Frankfort Marine Gateway
1308 Frankfort Hwy
Frankfort, Michigan, 49635
United States
44.633808, -86.214634
Get Directions

Nearby Places

Gwen Frostic Prints

Benzonia, Michigan

miles away

Old Benzie County Courthouse

Beulah, Michigan

miles away

Manning Memorial Lighthouse

Empire, Michigan

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Michigan

Michigan

United States

Places 271
Stories 28

Nearby Places

Gwen Frostic Prints

Benzonia, Michigan

miles away

Old Benzie County Courthouse

Beulah, Michigan

miles away

Manning Memorial Lighthouse

Empire, Michigan

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Michigan

Michigan

United States

Places 271
Stories 28

Related Places

  • National Route 66 Museum

    Elk City, Oklahoma

    National Route 66 Museum

    An Oklahoma museum that celebrates the history of the "Mother Road."

  • Purano Jhangajholi, Nepal

    Mulkot Mirror Wall

    This twisty section of highway in the Himalayan foothills is lined with thousands of small mirrors.

  • The pharmacy

    Wiesloch, Germany

    Stadtapotheke Wiesloch

    This inconspicuous pharmacy went down in history as the first gas station in the world after fueling the first road trip ever taken.

  • Lower Lower Wacker Drive.

    Chicago, Illinois

    Lower Lower Wacker Drive

    Illegal drag racing two stories beneath Chicago’s streets.

  • Rotterdam, Netherlands

    Street Posts Museum

    An unexpected public exhibit showcases the diversity of Dutch street posts.

  • Come journey into the feudal past.

    Hakone, Japan

    Old Tokaido Way

    The centuries-old cobblestones of a feudal highway remain in the woods of Hakone.

  • Looking down Lake Como road at sunset

    Blanca, Colorado

    Lake Como Road

    The worst road in Colorado is the main gateway to some of its highest peaks.

  • Looking south not far from Caliente.  The paved path to the right of the highway connects Caliente with Kershaw-Ryan State Park and is open to non-motorized traffic.

    Etna, Nevada

    Meadow Valley Wash

    Much of the spectacular canyon followed over a century ago by the Los Angeles & Salt Lake railroad is now accessible to cars.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.