Ludington, Michigan, was nominated as one of 20 towns for Best Historic Small Town as part of USA TODAY’s 2026 10BEST Readers’ Choice Awards. The charming historic town took the #1 spot in 2024 and #4 in 2025.
“Ludington proved in 2024 that it could go toe-to-toe with popular destinations such as Breckenridge, Carmel-by-the-Sea and Moab — we hope to reclaim the #1 title again this year,” says Brandy Miller, executive director of the Ludington Area Convention & Visitors Bureau. “Our historical assets like our two lighthouses, Port of Ludington Maritime Museum in a 1934 U.S. Coast Guard Station, Historic White Pine Village celebrating its 50th anniversary, SS Badger, and Victorian lumber baron homes-turned B&Bs are key draws and enhance our reputation as a top historic destination.”
Spurred by its recent recognition, LACVB bid on and was awarded an $88,200 grant from the USDA Office of Rural Development to help support a Ludington Landmarks initiative to market and showcase the area’s historical assets, including a rich heritage in the lumber and shipping industries. The project will include self-guided tour routes, cultural interpretive markers, an enhancement to the online experience at PureLudington.com, and marketing the Ludington Landmarks initiative.
“Ludington has always been a visitor draw for our natural resources like our Lake Michigan shoreline, beaches and parks, but we are now also becoming known for our historical attractions, as these award designations show,” adds Miller. “This grant allows us to more proactively promote these rich cultural assets to a wider audience and make the experiences easier to navigate, while also giving visitors more reasons to visit the region.”
To kick off the new project, the LACVB in partnership with local cultural institutions created a Historic Landmarks of Ludington brochure highlighting two self-guided walking tours. The top 10 winners of the Best Historic Small Town awards, as ranked by USA TODAY 10BEST readers, will be announced April 8 at noon EDT. To learn more, visit 10best.usatoday.com/awards/ludington-michigan.
PHOTO: PURE LUDINGTON FACEBOOK
