National Register of Historic Places

Pickle Barrel House

Burt Township, Alger County, Michigan
Listed
February 4, 2004
Type
Building
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
03001548

About this property

The Pickle Barrel House is a two-story cabin built to in the shape of two barrels. The house design is based on the artwork of William Donahey, an author-illustrator who created the Teenie Weenies cartoon characters that were two inches (5.1 cm) tall and lived under a rose bush in a pickle barrel. The house was used as a summer home by Donahey and his wife for ten years. It is currently located in Grand Marais on Michigan's Upper Peninsula near the southern shore of Lake Superior. It is near the intersection of State Highway M-77 and County Highway H-58 in this gateway town to the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. The main part is a 16-foot-tall (4.9 m) barrel and has two stories. The main floor is for the living area, and the upstairs is a bedroom. A smaller barrel serves as the kitchen, and the two barrels are connected by a pantry. There is an outdoor seating area with a large historical marker.

Location

Burt Township, Alger County, Michigan
46.67110, -85.98491

Categories

ARCHITECTUREENTERTAINMENT/RECREATION
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

Unlimited access

Everything a full report reveals about Pickle Barrel House

This page lists Pickle Barrel House. A full Aubrey report for an address near it pulls together this listing alongside battlefield records, land patents, and every other historical record within a chosen radius:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
First month just $5.99, then $11.99 a month. Unlimited locations, cancel anytime.

Every location is different. Not every section appears for every place, only what the historical record actually holds turns up in a report.

Start your Pickle Barrel House report
Or see a real report first

Nearby Historic Sites

Grand Marais Harbor of Refuge Inner and Outer Lights
Industrial
1.2 mi
Au Sable Light Station
Industrial
7.3 mi
Ten Curves Road-Manistique River Bridge
Industrial
29.4 mi
Luce County Sheriff's House and Jail
Industrial
31.4 mi

Questions about this property

When was Pickle Barrel House listed on the National Register?

Pickle Barrel House was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on February 4, 2004.

What type of historic resource is Pickle Barrel House?

Pickle Barrel House is classified as a building in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Pickle Barrel House?

The period of significance for Pickle Barrel House is recorded as the industrial era.

Can I research the history near Pickle Barrel House?

Yes. Aubrey Research reports search National Register listings, battlefield records, land patents, and other primary historical sources within any radius of a US address. A report for an address near Pickle Barrel House will include this listing and all other historical records in the area.

More in Alger County

Historic places, battles, and census history across Alger County.

Explore AlgerCounty ›

More historic places in Michigan

Browse all historic places in Michigan.

View Michiganhistoric sites ›

Conflict records

Explore 19,000+ military engagements across American history.

Browse US conflicts ›

Michigan history

Colonial settlement, territorial period, and statehood narrative.

Michiganhistory ›

Research the history near this site

An Aubrey US report for an address near Pickle Barrel House will include this listing alongside battlefield records and other historical sources within your chosen radius.

Research your locationView a free sample report