Mackinac Island History

Delve into Mackinac Island history when you visit Fort Mackinac and the Mackinac Island State Park! Over 80 percent of the Island is within the State Park and offers wonderful wooded trails and historic sites. In 1875- it was named a national park but was later turned over to the State of Michigan for management.

Mackinac Island history began thousands of years ago when the Great Lakes were formed by advancing and retreating glaciers. This pristine island exists as a result of that process. It is made primarily of limestone and has many geographical sites of interest including Arch Rock, Sugar Loaf Rock, Skull Cave and Devils Kitchen. You will marvel at the natural formations, views from the high bluffs and the beautiful waters.

Native Americans used the Island as a gathering place long before white explorers came to the area. The Ottawa and Chippewa were the predominant tribes. There are still Island residents that trace their heritage to those tribes and add a wealth of culture to Mackinac Island history.

The first known white explorer to visit the Island was the French missionary Father Marquette, in the mid 1600's. His statue is the centerpiece of Marquette Park- at the foot of Fort Mackinac. The Island later became an important location to the fur trade. John Jacob Astor had his fur-trading headquarters on the Island. The building is located on Market Street and is open to the public.

The original French fort, Michilimackinac was located where Mackinaw City is today and is open to the public from early May to early October. The British took over that fort during the French and Indian War. They felt that Mackinac Island was a better strategic location, so they disassembled that fort and moved some pieces across the ice to the island in 1780.

The new Fort Mackinac was sited on the Island’s bluff overlooking the natural harbor.

Notable People and Events

• Fort Mackinac was built by the British in 1780
• The Grand Hotel was built in 1887


• The Governor's Mansion, originally a private cottage, was built in 1902
• The first summer cottages were built in the 1880’s
• German U-boat (now housed at Chicago’s Museum of Science and Industry) stopped overnight as it was towed to Chicago in the early 1950’s
• The royal yacht Britannia with Her Royal Majesty Queen Elizabeth II sailed through the Straits of Mackinac
• Freighters and ore boats continue to pass through the Straits of Mackinac to this day


• Mackinac Bridge connecting the upper and lower peninsulas of Michigan was completed in 1957
• "This Time For Keeps" starring Esther Williams was filmed on the Island in 1947
• "Somewhere In Time" starring Christopher Reeves, Jane Seymour, and several locals as extras, was filmed in 1980
• President Gerald Ford visited the Island during his presidency. He had stayed on the Island with his Boy Scout troop as a member of the Governor’s Honor Guard years earlier.

One of our favorite bits of Mackinac Island history is a Native American legend that tells of an enormous sea turtle, Makinauk, who kindly allowed his back to be used for the creation of a new world. Hence, to this day, Mackinac Island is referred to as The Great Turtle.

How should you pronounce Mackinac? Although the French spelled Mackinac ending in “c”, they pronounced it as if it ends in “w”. The English spelled it ending in “w” and pronounced it that way too. Both Mackinaw City and Mackinac Island are pronounced “Mackinaw”. This is a good thing to know when you visit the Island!

Insider Tip:

There are many points of interest within the Mackinac Island State Park that do not require an admission price. You can hike and/or bike to many places like Skull Cave and Sugar Loaf and even Fort Holmes.