Battle Creek is a city in Calhoun County, West Central Michigan, with a population of 51,000 (2019). It is well known for its breakfast cereal industry (Kelloggs and Post both started here) and the Battle Creek Sanitarium which was a high-end health spa started by W.K. Kellogg that was very popular with well-to-dos of the time. It is also known as the home of Sojurner Truth, famous for her work for women's rights and African American freedoms.
Understand
The city was prosperous for much of the 20th century, but like many small Midwestern cities, manufacturing jobs have declined in number and wages have stagnated. Kellogg Cereal, which supported the now-closed Cereal City attraction, has been especially hard-hit.
The city is located next to Fort Custer, a large National Guard base. Part of the old Fort Custer army base is now a State Park.
The city annexed several nearby areas in the 1980s and 90s, and now has an area of 43 square miles, much of it sparsely-populated.
Get in
By car
Battle Creek is located between Chicago and Detroit on Interstate 94.
By bus
Greyhound stops at the Intermodal station downtown.
By train
By plane
See
Battle Creek is the home of the Kellogg Company and Post Foods (division of Kraft Foods), famous for cereal and breakfast foods. The factories are located on the east side of town, but no tours are offered.
- Hart-Doyle-Inoye Federal Center, 74 North Washington Ave, 42.3254°, -85.1898°. The former Battle Creek Sanitarium building and its twin-towers dominate the city skyline. The building itself has a fascinating history, but current security guidelines mean that non-employees cannot enter the facilities. 2018-03-13
- Sojurner Truth monument, 42.31616°, -85.17988°. Sojurner Truth, famous for her work in both women's rights and African American freedoms, was from Battle Creek and a large statue of her likeness can be see coming into town from the expressway, surrounded with various information placards.
- First United Methodist Church of Battle Creek, 42.31603°, -85.17909°. One of Martin Luther King, Jr's last speeches was given here. A plaque commemorates the altar from which the speech was given.
- Binder Park Zoo, 7400 Division Drive, 42.2465°, -85.155°, +1 269 979-1351, info@binderparkzoo.org. 2018-03-13
- Kellogg Community College, 42.3349°, -85.1772°. Has a permanent art collection distributed throughout the campus. 2019-03-17
- Leila Arboretum, 42.339°, -85.2136°. 2019-03-17
- Kingman Museum, 175 Limit St, 42.337°, -85.2114°, +1 269-965-5117, office@kingmanmuseum.org. A natural history museum. Has a advanced planetarium. 2019-03-17
- Kimball House Museum, 196 Capital Ave. 2019-11-23
Do
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Firekeepers Casino, 42.297°, -85.0749°, +1 877-352-8777. It has many slots and tables games, restaurants, bars, and a stage which attracts many high-profile performers.
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Fort Custer State Recreation Area, 5163 Fort Custer Dr, Augusta, 42.3183°, -85.345°, +1 269-731-4200 (park). Part of the old Fort Custer army facility, centered on Eagle Lake. The State Park offers camping, swimming, and boating. 2021-07-13
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W.K. Kellogg Auditorium, 42.32237°, -85.18094°. 2019-03-17
Events
- Field of Flight, Battle Creek (Michigan). Month: July. Each year, around the Independence Day holiday, the Field of Flight takes place at Kellogg airport. This includes an air show (often including the USAF Thunderbirds), a carnival midway, and the famous hot air balloon launch.
- CerealFest, Battle Creek (Michigan). Month: mid-June. takes place every summer in downtown Battle Creek, featuring parades, entertainment and free cereal.
- Festival of Lights. Month: late November. takes place every throughout Battle Creek with most buildings sporting Christmas lights, and light-up displays of the 12 Days of Christmas with a Kellogg's twist.
Buy
Eat
The usual chain-type family restaurants are clustered near I-94 on the southern edge of town.
Drink
Sleep
motels are mostly located near the Interstate highway.
Connect
Go next
- Kalamazoo
- Gull Lake is a half-hour NW of the city.
- Marshall is a pretty little town east of Battle Creek, the Dark Horse Brewery there has excellent micro-brew beer in a casual atmosphere. Marshall also has many fine Victorian houses and a pedestrian-friendly downtown.