Grand Traverse College, latter known as Benzonia College, was a college in the North-west lower peninsula of Michigan during the 19th Century at Benzonia, Michigan

Benzonia, Michigan

Benzonia is a village in Benzie County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 519 at the 2000 census. The village is located within Benzonia Township at the southeast end of Crystal Lake on U.S...

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The college was patterened after the model of Oberlin College

Oberlin College

Oberlin College is a private liberal arts college in Oberlin, Ohio, noteworthy for having been the first American institution of higher learning to regularly admit female and black students. Connected to the college is the Oberlin Conservatory of Music, the oldest continuously operating...

. It opened in 1858 and offered primarily college preparatory and teacher training curriculum. In 1891 it changed its name to Benzonia College. It stopped offering college courses in 1900 but continued as Benzonia Academy to offer college preparatory courses until 1918.

One of Grand Traverse's most eminent alumni was historian Bruce Catton

Bruce Catton

Charles Bruce Catton was an American historian and journalist, best known for his books on the American Civil War. Known as a narrative historian, Catton specialized in popular histories that emphasized colorful characters and historical vignettes, in addition to the basic facts, dates, and analyses...

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