We Bet You Didn't Know This Small Town In Michigan Is Home To The World’s Largest Weathervane
By Emily Tieman|Updated on November 21, 2023(Originally published December 23, 2022)
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Emily Tieman
Author
Emily Tieman is a lifelong Michigander and has a love for locally owned small businesses. She is a freelance writer for Only In Your State and has her own vintage content creator business.
The Great State has the most lighthouses in the United States and the largest freshwater system in the world. With boating, fishing, and swimming being popular pastimes for Michiganders, we love all things nautical. The wind plays a vital role in sailing across our powerful lakes, and the world’s largest weathervane is right here in Montague, Michigan.
Montague, Michigan is a small town located in Muskegon County on White Lake which connects to Lake Michigan.
The adorable town has less than three square miles and a population of fewer than 2,500 people. You’ll be able to get away from it all and enjoy a relaxing walk around the quiet and quaint downtown.
Montague is home to the world’s largest working weathervane, which is located in Ellenwood Park. When you drive around, you can’t miss the massive weathervane dominating the tiny town.
The weathervane was created and donated in 1984 by Whitehall Metal Studios and is Montague’s own claim to fame. The hand-forged weathervane is made of steel and aluminum, stands 48 feet tall, and weighs 4,300 pounds. Did we mention that it has a working weather station in its base? Talk about an industrial marvel!
The ship you see at the top of the weathervane is the Ella Ellenwood schooner which was built in 1869. The ship’s home port was White Lake in Montague, and in 1901 she ran aground eight miles north of Milwaukee, far away from home.
The ship began to break apart due to powerful wind and waves. In the spring of 1902, a portion of the wooden "Ellenwood" plate had washed up in White Lake Channel by complete chance. The ship had made her way back home after all! The 115-year-old nameplate and a model of the Ellenwood can be found inside Montague city hall.
The maritime weathervane is so popular that you can stay at an Inn just steps away from the monument. The Weathervane Inn is a gorgeous lakeside hotel with upgraded rooms that have a balcony, a whirlpool tub, and a cozy fireplace.
If you love learning about weather, seeing nautical history, or staying in a picturesque small town, you’ll enjoy visiting the world’s largest weathervane in Montague.
Let's fly over the beautiful White Lake and the towns of Whitehall and Montague, Michigan in this video from Randy Claypool. Can you spot the world's largest weathervane in Montague?
You can learn more about the world’s largest weathervane and the Ellenwood on the City of Montague website. While visiting, you can book your stay at the Weathervane Inn. Have you seen this giant monument in person? Let us know your thoughts!
