Caspian, Michigan - 49915

Photos courtesy of:
Ken Huisjen

Caspian is a small community located about 5 miles south of Iron River in Iron County. Beginning in 1884, this was a thriving iron mining area when the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad built a station here. The original name given to the community was Palatka, with a post office opening under that name in 1906. The town became the headquarters of the Caspian, Baltic and Fogarty Mines which opened under the ownership of the Veroner Mining Company. The operation became large enough that in 1908 an adjoining town had to be built to provide enough housing for everyone - Caspian. However, the original Caspian was poorly located, so another town, New-Caspian, was built nearby. This one was so successful that the Palatka Post Office was relocated there in 1915. The combined community was renamed Caspian in 1918, and incorporated as a village a year later.


Caspian has survived the years because of lumbering and tourism. This town is presently known for its fine historical museum which has preserved much of the area’s iron mining history/heritage - well worth the visit. It contains some of the lift towers from the mines, visible from almost anywhere in town.