The Straits of Mackinac

Separating Michigan’s Lower and Upper Peninsulas

And connecting Lake Michigan to the west with Lake Huron to the east. We camped in Mackinaw City for 5 nights, just south of the Mackinac Bridge. We visited a lot in 4 days of touring and learned a lot about the history of this area, spending 2 days around Mackinaw City, 1 day trip on Mackinac Island, and 1 day visiting Sault Ste. Marie. Note, both Mackinaw and Mackinac are pronounced MA·kuh·naa. (And Michilimackinac is pronounced muh·shi·luh·MA·kuh·naa.)

Anishinaabek (Odawa, Ojibway, and Potawatomi) people, have lived in the Mackinaw City area for thousands of years. The island has been a sacred place for them, and oral traditions and archaeological evidence indicate that Native settlement may date back to 1000 A.D.. The Anishinaabek called the island “Great Turtle” and used it for fishing, trapping, navigating waterways, and as burial grounds. The island’s name, Mackinac, comes from the Native American name Michilimackinac, which the French interpreted as “Place of the Great Turtle”

Sites visited around Mackinaw City

The first touring we did, was to drive over the “Mighty Mac“, for a short visit to St. Ignace. Back to Mackinaw City, we bought a membership to Mackinac Historic State Parks to visit all it’s sites, in Mackinaw City and on Mackinac Island.

• Father Marquette National Memorial, in Straits State Park, St. Ignace. It recognizes that Father Marquette founded St. Ignace, in 1671. He also founded the first European settlement in Michigan at Sault Ste. Marie, in 1668.
• Bridge View Park, St. Ignace, on the northwest end of “Mighty Mac”
• McGulpin Point Lighthouse
• Old Mackinac Point Lighthouse, part of Mackinac Historic State Parks
• Colonial Michilimackinac, also part of Mackinac Historic State Parks, with a recreation of Fort Michilimackinac. The original was built by the French in 1715, taken over by the English in 1761, and abandoned for a move to Mackinac Island and building Fort Mackinac in 1781.
• Historic Mill Creek, another site in the Mackinac Historic State Parks, with a working, water-powered Rip Saw Sash Sawmill. Supposedly one of 3 n the US…and we know of 1 in Sturbridge, Mass!!!
• Icebreaker Mackinaw Maritime Museum, on the USCG Icebreaker WAGB-83, known as the “Queen of the Great Lakes” and “The Largest Icebreaker on the Great Lakes”. She was built as part of the war effort during World War II to meet the heavy demands of war materials and transportation during the winter months.

Sites visited around Mackinac Island

We had a great day (~10:00 to 8:30) on Mackinac Island. Much of it was our 2nd National Park, 1875 to 1895, before becoming Michigan’s 1st State Park!!! And…the ferry we took to the island diverted to go under “Mighty Mac” and on our return we got to see the sun setting over the bridge. Highlights from Mackinac Historic State Park on the island (aside from “just” walking around on this island with no automobiles):

• Biddle House, featuring Mackinac Island Native American Museum and Benjamin Blacksmith Shop
• American Fur Co, Store, Dr. Beaumont Museum, and McGulpin House
• Fort Mackinac, where we had a lovely lunch with a great view
• Arch Rock, reached via a very vice Botanical Trail

Sites visited around Saulte Ste. Marie

We decided to take the hour drive north to Sault Ste. Marie, to visit the Soo Canal Locks, on St. Mary’s River, connecting Lake Superior to the west with Lake Huron to the east. We spent a couple of hours there, exploring the Visitor Center and watching ships and boats go through the Locks. We saw the 1,004′ long/50′ high James R Barker bulk carrier go east and the USCG Buoy Tender SPAR go west through the Locks. The latter was notable, as we had seen it docked in Muskegon 10 days earlier! In addition to the Soo Canal, we visited:

• River of History Museum, presenting the history of the oldest community in Michigan.
• Museum Ship Valley Camp, a lake freighter that served on the Great Lakes for almost 50 years and is now a museum ship. Among its many exhibits, are 1¹/₂ Lifeboats from the Edmund Fitzgerald.

Moved on to Munising, MI in the UP today

For more pictures, see (in-work) Adventure Album:  Great Lakes East

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