Google, Pure Michigan Announce Project to Boost Street View Maps

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Michigan attractions will now be more accessible to people using Street View in Google Maps through a new partnership announced today by Pure Michigan and Google.

“As part of the Michigan community, we hope that making this Street View imagery available to people all over the world will encourage them to discover some of the state’s most beautiful and significant places, some of which are right in their backyards,” says Steve Silverman, Google Maps Street View program manager.

Attractions such as Mackinac Island, Sleeping Bear Dunes, and the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore will now have 360 degree, fully navigable imagery, using Google Trekker technology. To view the images, visit michigan.org/GoogleTrekker.

Members and volunteers of the Pure Michigan team and the Department of Natural Resources took about 44,000 images last fall. They traveled for four weeks using the Street View Trekker — a backpack system with a camera on top, worn while walking or kayaking. The imagery is captured automatically. The technology was unveiled in 2012.

Michigan’s attractions now join sites such as the Grand Canyon, the Galapagos Islands, and the Taj Mahal, among others.

The full list of captured Michigan attractions includes:

Agate Falls in Trout Creek and the Presque Isle River

Bond Falls

Brighton State Recreation Area

Detroit Riverwalk

Ford Field

Fort Gratiot Lighthouse

Island Loop Route National Water Trail in St. Clair County

Mackinac Bridge

Mackinac Island

Ocqueoc Falls in Millersburg

Palms Brook State Park

Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore

Pinckney State Recreation Area

Silver Lake State Park and Sand Dunes

Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore

State Capitol building in Lansing

Tahquamenon Falls State Park

Wagner Falls