State History Award



Historical Society of Michigan
Book of the Year 2007

"...John C. Mitchell's Wood Boats of Leelanau A Photographic Journal captures the reader with the compelling history of wood boats - all manner of them from dugout canoes to mackinaw boats, schooners, fishing tugs, sloops, passenger steamers, mail boats, life saving rescue boats, pleasure craft, speed boats, and others. Mitchell collaborated with Leelanau County high school students, who acted as research and writing assistants, to thoroughly investigate the local marine heritage in historical records and newspapers. This wonderful, 178-page book is richly illustrated, beautifully designed, and indexed. It is a valuable reference tool disguised as a coffee table display."

---Presentation Ceremony, State History Award , Historical Society of Michigan