August Explorations: History, Lighthouses, & Lakeshores

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August Explorations: History, Lighthouses, & Lakeshores

August carried us through some of the Midwest’s quieter corners and into the wide-open sweep of the Great Lakes. Along the way, we wandered through a German village of spires, a canal town with echoes of the past, and finally to the lakeshore where the wind and water never rest. Each stop told its own story — sometimes surprising, sometimes humbling, but definitely worth the journey.

Oldenburg: The Village of Spires

We began in Oldenburg, Indiana, a quaint town rooted in German tradition and Catholic heritage. On a weekday morning, the streets were hushed — very few cars, a handful of locals, the church bells chiming across the tiny +town. Quiet as it was, the architecture spoke volumes. Bavarian-inspired details, convent towers, and soaring steeples lived up to Oldenburg’s nickname: The Village of Spires.

Founded by German immigrants from Cincinnati in the early 1800s, Oldenburg’s historic district preserves more than 100 buildings, each carrying a piece of that legacy. Every July, the town bursts into color and sound for Freudenfest, a festival of food, music, and tradition. Though our visit felt subdued, the character of the town — its roots, its faith, its architecture — still made it a worthy stop.

Metamora: A Canal Town Remembered

From spires to waterways, our next stop was Metamora and the Whitewater Canal State Historic Site. I carried fond childhood memories of it and the bustling little shops. The brochures painted the same picture — but the reality was much quieter, worn down even. The canal was nearly dry, the boat absent, and only a few shops remained open.

It wasn’t the lively place I remembered, but it still offered something: a glimpse into Indiana’s canal history and the chance to slow down with a camera in hand. If you’re planning to visit, check seasonal hours first. At its best, Metamora still tells the story of the canal era — you just have to catch it when it’s ready to share.

Michigan City: Light on the Water

Later in the month, we drove north from southern Indiana, past cornfields rustling in the breezes and windmills turning slow circles against the horizon. Along the way, a new sight caught our eye: barns with steep gables and cupolas — a style I’ve since learned may be called Belvedere barns. If anyone knows for sure, we’d love to hear from you.

By late afternoon, we arrived at Indiana Dunes National Park and then to Michigan City’s East Pierhead Lighthouse. Standing since 1904, it remains Indiana’s only public operating lighthouse — a steel catwalk stretched across the pier, a silhouette against the sky. Once, it allowed keepers to reach the beacon no matter the weather. Today, it’s a living piece of Great Lakes history.

The scene around us felt alive: gulls calling overhead, fishermen casting lines, surfers chasing waves, yachts and sailboats anchored nearby. We waited on the pier for the clouds to break, hoping for a splash of color at sunset. The sky stayed gray, but even so, there was beauty in the in-between — the rhythm of waves, the scent of the lake, and a calm that belongs to water in constant motion.

St. Joseph & Beyond: Chasing Sunsets

The next morning, cool and gray, we crossed into Michigan. At first, we stopped at Silver Beach, only to realize Tiscornia Beach offered direct lighthouse access. Climbing the dune, the sight opened before us: tall grasses, wide sands, the lighthouse framed perfectly against the lake. I dropped to my knees in the sand to capture the view — a photo worth every step.

We spent the day exploring the coast, visiting lighthouses and small towns along the way, until we reached Grand Haven. James walked the long pier out to its lighthouse while I saved my energy for the evening’s shoot back at Tiscornia Beach. By sunset, the beach was alive with photographers capturing senior portraits, families gathered in blankets, and us — waiting for the horizon to soften into color.

This time, the sky delivered. We stayed until the light faded, watching the lake and lighthouse glow in the evening calm.

Closing Reflections

If your goal is to chase a Great Lakes sunset, go early. Bring a blanket, a windbreaker, and of course your camera. But more than that — bring the patience to wait, to watch, to listen.

Whether it’s a quiet German village, a fading canal town, or the restless edge of Lake Michigan, August reminded us of something simple: the Midwest doesn’t need to shout. Its beauty lingers in stillness and motion, in history and horizon. And once you’ve seen it, you’ll want to return again and again.