PANORAMA
Baraga County - Michigan Department of Conservation
September 26, 1935: "L'Anse---On Panorama Hill, 18 miles from M-35 in Baraga County, a crew of CCC boys is building a 120-foot fire tower which will be among the highest elevated fire towers in the State. Because the road to the tower passes through the famous Yellow Dog plains where Jackpine grows in patches straight as white pine, and because the tower is situated just at the edge of the Huron Mountains, this project has already become a mecca for tourists." (Northport Leader)
February 23, 1936: "Enrollees at Camp Big Bay, CCC camp located south-east of this village, as well as Chief Foreman Danford Elmblad and other members of the Michigan Emergency Conservation work technical personnel have proudly announced the completion of the Panorama Hill fire tower and towerman's cabin, begun last fall.
The tower is a 99-foot steel structure of most modern design, and the cabin is of native logs. It boasts a porch and large fireplace. The tower is mounted on a reinforced concrete base, and has pine steps to the lookout perch.
Tower and cabin are located in L'Anse township of Baraga county, centrally located and potentially an invaluable aid to the Fire division of the Conservation Department in protecting this great area of unsettled, picturesque game country." (The Escanaba Daily Press)
March 12, 1936: "L'Anse--Completion of a ninety-nine foot steel fire tower on Panorama Hill in L'Anse Township, Baraga County, has been announced by the Big Bay CCC camp." (Saline Observer)
1937-38: “To provide towermen with comfortable living quarters, a cabin has been constructed at Panorama Hill tower site. Cabins are approximately 23 feet by 21 feet in size, of either log or frame construction and are equipped with cupboards, built in bunks, a fireplace and concrete porches.” (Ninth Biennial Report, The Department of Conservation)
NGS Data Sheet
DESIGNATION - PANORAMA
PID - RK0595
STATE/COUNTY- MI/BARAGA
COUNTRY - US
USGS QUAD - BULLDOG LAKE (2017)
STATION DESCRIPTION
DESCRIBED BY COAST AND GEODETIC SURVEY 1955 (NET)
THE STATION IS IN SECTION 13, T. 50 N., R. 30 W. AND AT THE SITE OF
THE PANORAMA LOOKOUT TOWER. IT IS APPROXIMATELY 14 MILES NORTH OF
CHAMPION, 2-1/4 MILES EAST OF SUMMIT LAKE AND 1/2 MILE WEST OF THE
BARAGA-MARQUETTE COUNTY LINE.
TO REACH FROM THE POST OFFICE IN BIG BAY, GO SOUTHERLY ON COUNTY ROAD
550 FOR 2.0 MILES TO A SIDE ROAD RIGHT (COUNTY ROAD 510), TURN RIGHT
AND GO SOUTHWESTERLY ON GRAVEL ROAD FOR 2.6 MILES TO A REVERSE Y,
CONTINUE SOUTHERLY ON COUNTY ROAD 510 FOR 0.5 MILE TO A SIDE ROAD
RIGHT, TURN RIGHT ON LANSE ROAD AND GO 1.2 MILES TO THE JUNCTION
OF THREE ROADS, KEEP LEFT FORK AND GO 1.9 MILES TO FORK, KEEP LEFT
FORK AND GO SOUTHERLY FOR 2.0 MILES TO A FORK, KEEP RIGHT FORK AND
GO WESTERLY 2.5 MILES TO TRIANGULATION STATION TRIPLE ON THE
RIGHT, CONTINUE WESTERLY 3.0 MILES TO SALMON TROUT RIVER,
CONTINUE WEST, NORTHWEST, THEN WEST FOR 2.2 MILES TO A POINT
WHERE THE OLD ROAD GOES STRAIGHT AHEAD THROUGH A RAVINE AND THE NEW
ROAD CURVES LEFT AROUND THE RAVINE, TAKE THE LEFT FORK 0.3 MILE TO
A REVERSE Y WHERE THE NEW ROAD AGAIN JOINS THE OLD ROAD AND TO THE
AZIMUTH MARK ON THE RIGHT. CONTINUE STRAIGHT AHEAD 0.9 MILE TO TWO
SIDE ROADS RIGHT AND A SIDE ROAD LEFT, CONTINUE STRAIGHT AHEAD 0.5
MILE TO SIDE ROAD RIGHT, CONTINUE STRAIGHT AHEAD 0.9 MILE TO
SIDE ROAD RIGHT, CONTINUE STRAIGHT AHEAD 0.55 MILE TO FORK, KEEP
RIGHT FORK AND FOLLOW MAIN TRAVELED ROAD 1.6 MILES TO A CABIN, BEAR
LEFT AND FOLLOW TRACK ROAD UP STEEP GRADE FOR 0.15 MILE TO THE
LOOKOUT TOWER AND THE STATION.