Visiting historic Fort Mackinac on Michigan’s Mackinac Island is less of a lesson in history than it is an experience of it. Here are five places to see on a visit to Fort Mackinac with the family:
There is no wrong way to see and visit Mackinac Island. But what could a perfect day look like visiting ONLY Mackinac Island State Park? Learn more here.
Mackinac Island is blessed with a number of natural springs which percolate through limestone bedrock. Some, like Dwightwood Spring and Croghan Water, are well known. Others not as much. Learn more about them here.
When you think about the Great Lakes fur trade, you probably think about canoes, right? While canoes were an integral part of the trade, they weren’t the only watercraft on the lakes.
One of the “missing” buildings at Fort Mackinac is the blacksmith shop.
As winter snow and frigid temperatures finally give way to spring, maple sugaring season begins in northern Michigan.
Ever wondered how we make bread at Michilimackinac?
It’s time for another deep dive into the collection!
One of the more unusual archaeological projects to take place at Fort Mackinac was an excavation that took place under a standing structure. The main question that excavation was looking to answer? Who built the Officer’s Wood Quarters, and when was it built?
Mackinac State Historic Parks maintains more than 100 buildings. Most are public, like the buildings inside Colonial Michilimackinac and Fort Mackinac. Others are behind the scenes, like the Petersen Center. Learn more about the administrative office of MSHP here.
Robert Campbell constructed a water-powered sawmill at Mill Creek about 1790, being the first of its kind in northern Michigan. Prior to the mill, trees were turned into lumber entirely with hand tools for more than 100 years at the Straits of Mackinac.
The earliest archaeological excavation at Fort Mackinac took place at one of its earliest structures, the British well.
