While most people who visit Mackinac Island are familiar with the impressive fort located there, there are actually two historic forts located in the Mackinac Straights. On the mainland in Mackinaw City, with the entrance located just under the Mackinac Bridge is full sized reproduction of Fort Michilimackinac. I was expecting a tourist trap fort, but found an absolutely excellent reproduction 1700s fort built on the foundations of the original ruins burned by the British during the Revolutionary War.
Not only can walk the grounds and buildings of the accurately restored fort, but you can explore underground to see the archeological remains of the original fort and the original artifacts they found. Our kids loved to be able to explore under the buildings
The wooden palisades fort was started by the French in the early 1700s when northern Michigan was part of New France to help defend the lucrative fur trade. It was greatly expanded by the British after the French lost the area was during the Seven Years War.
The British dominated the fur trade with the fort because Mackinaw City and the area around the straits were the primary rendezvous location of Indian tribes and French traders from around the Great Lakes region due to its central location where 3 of the Great Lakes come together.
But during the American Revolution in the early 1780s, the British moved the fort to Mackinaw Island a few miles away to have a more defensive position, and because loyalty of local tribes were suspect.
What the British garrison could not move they burned to the ground. The charred remains became buried in the sand dunes of the beach and were preserved for later excavations in the 20th Century. Parts of the fort that were excavated are preserved in displays underground, where the dig site of basements, building foundations, a well and the powder magazine are preserved for people to see.
We were expecting a a low-grade tourist reproduction of the fort and instead found an excellent, authentic reproduction fort filled with an incredible collection of artifacts revived at the site. The appropriately costumed reenactors were very knowledgeable and added to the feeling of going back in time.
The museum admission also covers your entry into the light house at Mackinaw City (which is a short walk from the museum), a vintage saw mill south east of town, the fort on Mackinac Island, and several smaller historic sites on the island. All had similar very good historic preservation and correct items for the period in the displays. As a serious historian, I felt it was well worth the price we paid and gave us two days worth of things to do during our trip.
Find more information on this park and the other historic sights around Mackinaw City.
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