Chicago Road

US-12 Byway: The Route 66 of Michigan!

Old Sauk Trail – U.S. Route 12 Heritage Trail (Central Section)

West to east – from Mottville to Somerset Center:
Mottville Bridge
Mottville Bridge

1. Mottville – A delightful stop in historic Saint Joseph County

      • Mottville Camelback Bridge – Historic Marker
      • Mottville Canoe Park – Mottville to Bristol Paddle Route (9 miles, lightly trafficked)
      • Mottville Reservoir
      • Jaywalker Restaurant
White Pigeon Prairie Land Office
White Pigeon Prairie Land Office

2. White Pigeon – Oldest village in the State of Michigan

      • White Pigeon Prairie Land Office – Historic Marker (oldest surviving land office in Michigan: 1831-1834)
      • Tasty Nut Shop
      • White Pigeon LS&MS Railroad Depot
      • Chief Wahbememe Burial Site – Historic Marker
Strand Theatre
Strand Theatre
Sturgis Historical Museum
Sturgis Historical Museum At the Depot
Sturgis Police & Fire Station
Sturgis Police & Fire Station
Sturgis Municipal Light & Power Building (1899-1936)
Sturgis Municipal Light & Power Building (1899-1936)

3. Sturgis – The Electric City

      • Downtown Sturgis & Strand Theatre
      • Sturgis Dam Hydroelectric Plant & Langley Covered Bridge Historic Site
      • Sturgis Railroad Depot and Historical Museum & Old Depot Dog Park
      • Sturgis Municipal Light & Power Building (1899-1936)

Nearby: Colon – The Magic Capital of the World

      • Abbott Magic Co
      • Fab Magic Co Inc
      • Colon Magic Museum
      • Sterlini Theater

4. Bronson – Gladiolus Capital of the United States

      • Downtown Bronson & Bronson Public Library
      • Chicago Road Historic Marker at the Bronson Roadside Park
      • Bronson Floral Co.
      • Bill’s Steak House
Tibbits Opera House, Coldwater
Tibbits Opera House, Coldwater

5. Coldwater – An abundance of fishing lakes

      • Tibbits Opera House in Historic Downtown
      • Capri Drive-In Theater
      • Benedict Doll House & Wing House Museum
      • Harriet Quimby Historic Marker at Branch County Memorial Airport

6. Quincy – Gateway to the Chain of Lakes

      • Quincy Park on First Lake of Chain of Lakes
      • Downtown Quincy
      • Branch District Library – Quincy Branch – Historic Marker
      • North Main Street Park

7. Allen – Antique Capital of Michigan

      • Old Allen Twp. Hall Shops-Downtown & Captain Moses Allen Historic Marker
      • The Livery Antiques-Village Hall-Old schoolhouse
      • A Long Way Back-Peddlers Alley
      • Allen Antique Barn-Capitol Antiques-Allen Antique Mall

8. Jonesville – A town with a lot of ‘firsts’

      • Grosvenor House Museum – Historic Marker
      • Downtown Jonesville & Grace Episcopal Church – Historic Marker
      • J.J. Deal And Son Carriage Factory – Historic Marker
      • Jerry Russell Trail

Nearby: Hanover

      • Hanover Market
      • Hanover’s Backwoods Bar-Grill
      • Hanover-Horton Area Historical Society – Hanover High School Historic Marker
      • Perrine Park

9. Moscow – Nicknamed ‘Sleepy Hollow’

      • Moscow Township Hall – Old Michigan and Ohio Railroad Moscow Depot – Historic Marker
      • The Oaks Tavern
      • The Chocolate Vault
      • Moscow General Store

10. Somerset Center – Home of McCourtie Park

      • McCourtie Park
      • W. H. L. McCourtie Estate – Historic Marker
      • Goody’s Sauk Trail Diner
      • Lake LeAnn – Source of the Grand River

Further east: Michigan Avenue (Eastern US-12 Byway)