Wm. John Jack Foster Collection

Michigan Heritage Routes were created by legislation in 1993, the program emphasizes cooperation among local residents, their government officials, landowners and interested groups to preserve unique scenic, historic or recreational highways.

The Heritage Route Program is a grass roots program, requiring involvement by local residents to ensure that their highway and its roadsides remain in their natural and unspoiled conditions. Michigan's residents have an opportunity as individuals, groups, or entire communities to become involved in this important effort to preserve Michigan's roadsides with scenic, historic and/or recreational qualities.

There are three categories of heritage routes: scenic - a state highway having outstanding natural beauty; historic - a state highway having outstanding historic buildings, and resources along its length.; and recreational - maintained not only to serve the recreational driver, but also to capture that recreational setting of the facility or area itself, and set the mood for the recreational experience.