Font Size

Angeline's Bluff Lookout

Map Location

Welcome to the Vincent Rice Memorial Observation Deck overlooking Angeline’s Bluff. This escarpment, including Bonner’s Bluff and Angeline’s Bluff, indicates both a higher water level and isostatic rebound. The bluff was formed during the Nipissing stage, at this time Barney’s Lake and Lake Geneserath would have been bays of Lake Michigan.

Native American artifacts dating back 1000 years have been found in the area of Angeline’s Bluff. In 1905, a group of Natives from the Grand Traverse Bay Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians settled southwest of here at the bottom of Angeline’s Bluff in a village they named Peshabestown, along what is now Mrs. Redding’s Trail.

The bluff was named for Angeline Wabaninkee, one of the leaders of these Peshabetown Natives. Angeline remained in the area long after other Natives left the Island. She worked for the Beaver Island Lumber Company.

Mrs. Redding’s Trail is named for Mrs. Ina Redding, who came to the Island to work at the Wildwood Inn. When the inn failed she returned to Chicago. After two years in Chicago, Mrs. Redding returned to the Island in 1923 to homestead near Lake Michigan at the end of ‘her’ trail. She became known as a seamstress. Ina and Angeline were friends.


Welcome to the Vincent Rice Memorial Observation Deck overlooking Angeline’s Bluff. This escarpment, including Bonner’s Bluff and Angeline’s Bluff, indicates both a higher water level and isostatic rebound. The bluff was formed during the Nipissing stage, at this time Barney’s Lake and Lake Geneserath would have been bays of Lake Michigan.

Native American artifacts dating back 1000 years have been found in the area of Angeline’s Bluff. In 1905, a group of Natives from the Grand Traverse Bay Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians settled southwest of here at the bottom of Angeline’s Bluff in a village they named Peshabestown, along what is now Mrs. Redding’s Trail.

AAF328F1-BC48-4146-B8FD-CE08B29178D3 - Copy (2) 86A3853E-B707-4DDC-925D-FDF271317216 - Copy