Battle Creek, Michigan, has a rich and varied history that began in 1774 as a Native American village of the Potawatomi and Ottawa tribes. The city got its name from an encounter in 1824 between a land surveyor and two Potawatomi Indians that didn't quite end well. With the arrival of the railways, fast-growing local industries found a national market, and various types of goods were shipped to the city from all over the world.
And now, the city is known for being the home of the Kellogg Company.
In the late 19th century, facilities like the Battle Creek Sanitarium experimented with serving its patients healthy food, which led to ready-made meals for breakfast and which is how Kellogg was created, becoming the city's most important industry. Most of these small grain companies disappeared by 1910, but Battle Creek remains the grain capital of the world, and Kellogg's products are staples on breakfast tables around the world.
Kellogg's corporate headquarters is located in downtown Battle Creek, which is also where the Battle Creek Station of the US Army Corps of Engineers is located. Amtrak has a stop at the city's airport and offers a direct connection to Grand Rapids and Detroit.
Besides the picturesque bridge, the city's main street, Battle Creek Road, houses a number of historic buildings, including the Old Town Hall. Other points of interest include the Binder Park Zoo, Linear Park, Willard Library, and many others.
There are also many ways to explore and discover the beautiful nature of Battle Creek and its many natural features, such as the Goguac River, Lake of the Woods, and the nearby Great Lakes.
The historic Adventist Village is a great place to learn about the history of the Christian faith in Battle Creek and its connection to the Great Lakes region. Various exhibits are designed to inform visitors about the history of Battle Creek, as well as its history as a tourist destination.
Battle Creek is known for different eras in its history, but it was an Army town during both world wars.
Michigan's largest public park is located at the intersection of Battle Creek and Kalamazoo River, with more than 1,000 acres of land. There is a large park with a variety of activities for children, such as canoeing, kayaking, hiking, fishing, swimming, and much more.