Alpena’s Downtown District

Where small-town charm meets artistic expression and modern comfort. 

Where it all began, on the shores of Lake Huron and the banks of Thunder Bay River. The heart of this Northeast Michigan community is Downtown Alpena. 

Historic downtown Alpena is located in Northeast Michigan on the shores of the Thunder Bay River and a few minutes walk from Lake Huron. As one of the most significant ports of the lumber era, downtown Alpena is home to a significant amount of historic buildings from the turn of the 19th century that have been preserved & renovated over the years. The banks of the river were stacked high with white pine forested from the interior of the region and floated down the river to be loaded on to ships waiting in the harbor.

Today, downtown Alpena is home to over 200 businesses, including six art galleries, two live theaters, a movie theater, a winery, headquarters to the only Marine Sanctuary located on the Great Lakes, and a variety of coffee shops, restaurants, pubs, and boutique shops. The quaint streets are bustling with small-town charm, melding with public art, garden green-space, and modern commerce. 

Start exploring the downtown HERE!