Located out on the middle of Michigan’s celebrated Lake Huron, Mackinac Island is a popular destination with tourists around the world thanks to it’s tranquil scenery and interesting history. There’s plenty to do and see while visiting the island, and we’ll be taking a look at some of the best activities in this video. The island is a particularly great retreat for nature lovers, as over three quarters of the island has been given state-park designation. From visiting one of Mackinac Island’s historical forts to checking out the butterflies at Wings of Mackinac, join ViewCation as we take a look at the best things to do on Mackinac Island, Michigan.
Visit One of Mackinac Island’s Historical Forts
There are a few notable historical forts that can be visited while on Mackinac Island, and we’ll be taking a close look at two of them in this video! The two we’ll be looking at are Fork Mackinac and Fort Holmes, which stand as the island’s most popular. Of the two, For Mackinac is the one that draws in the most tourists. At the time of it’s military use, the large for was used as an encampment for military members and their families. Today, the fort has been renovated to look just as it did back then, but it’s many building house historical exhibits instead of active military members.
Fort Mackinac is comprised of 14 individual buildings, and each of these buildings today houses a separate exhibit showcasing a unique aspect of both the fort and it’s surrounding area’s historical significance. Together, these 14 exhibits make up one of the most interesting museums that can be found not only on Mackinac Island, but in the entire state of Michigan! You’ll learn everything you need to know about Fort Mackinac and it’s military use through the museum’s many exhibits, including the reason that Mackinac Island was chosen as the fort’s strategic location.
Visitors to Fort Mackinac today will be treated to much more than just pictures and artifacts, as shows are put on that attempt to bring audiences back into the past in a much more visceral way. These shows include mock firings of authentic cannons, as well as displays of the kind of military exercises that soldiers would’ve done back in the day. All of these various attractions certainly make Fort Mackinac one of the most fun places on Mackinac Island to visit.
Besides Fort Mackinac, history buffs visiting Mackinac Island will also get quite a bit out of visiting Fort Holmes. While Fort Holmes doesn’t provide quite as epic of an experience as Fort Mackinac, it’s still got plenty of it’s own appeal. The historical fort originally went by a different name, but it was renamed Fort Holmes in honor of the American Major Andrew Hunter Holmes. The military man was killed during the War of 1812. Today, the historical fort does much more than just commemorate the fallen leader. Tourists are also drawn to Fort Holmes on account of it’s unique construction, which utilized both wood and dirt. There’s also the fact that the fort sits on the tallest hill on the entire island.
Experience the Wonder of Old Mackinac Point Lighthouse
Old Mackinac Point Lighthouse isn’t actually located on Mackinac Island itself. Instead, the historical lighthouse is situated across the water on the shore of Mackinac City. Still, the attraction is often lumped in with those featured on Mackinac Island due to it’s close proximity. Old Mackinac Point Lighthouse is only a ferry ride away from Mackinac Island, and taking the ferry ride will give you an idea of what it was like back when the lighthouse was in use.
Today, the Old Mackinac Point Lighthouse is no longer used the way that it once was. Instead, like the aforementioned historical forts, it has been converted into a museum of sorts that has plenty to teach to it’s visitors. The lighthouse has been renovated to look just the way that it did back in the day, and there are several exhibits that will show visitors what it was like back in the times that the lighthouse was in use. Visitors can take free tours of the lighthouse, and the lighthouse also houses the Straits of Mackinac Shipwreck Museum. As the name suggests, the museum teaches visitors about the history of the many shipwrecks that can be found lining it’s namesake Straits of Mackinac. The area containing these 12 notable shipwrecks has now been designated as the Straits of Mackinac Shipwreck Preserve, and it’s located in the waters between Lake Michigan and Lake Huron.
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Take the Kids to Historic Mill Creek Discovery Park
We mentioned in the intro that over three quarters of Mackinac Island has been given state-park designation, and the most popular state park on the entire island is arguably Historic Mill Creek Discovery Park. The state park used to go by the designation of Historic Mill Creek State Park, but the word “discovery” has since been added to it’s name because mere state-park status didn’t seem exciting enough for the attraction-filled destination. Historic Mill Creek Discovery Park is certainly much more than just your average state park, as numerous attractions are featured at the park that provide a ton of fun and education value for visitors.
Some of the many things that make Historic Mill Creek Discovery Park stand out from other state parks include it’s historically themed live show portraying it’s namesake sawmill in action, as well as it’s unique children’s playground. The park is named after the sawmill that it houses, which used to provide wood to the entire surrounding area. Today, the sawmill is used only for it’s historical appeal, and visitors to the park can watch costumed workers act out what it was like to use the historical sawmill back in the day.
Watching the workers use the sawmill is certainly interesting, but it can be a bit of a bore for children. Thankfully, Historic Mill Creek Discovery Park also houses some interactive sections that are much more exciting for kids. The park has a fairly unique children’s playground, as well as a hands-on water power station that will give visitors of all ages that chance to play with authentic replicas of 18th-century waterwheels. Besides the aforementioned attractions, Historic Mill Creek Discovery Park also features climbing walls and hiking trails, and also gives visitors the chance to go ziplining. All of these things combine to make the location much more than just another state park.
Learn About Unique Forms of Art at the Richard & Jane Manoogian Mackinac Art Museum
We’ve already discussed a few of the different museums that can be found on Mackinac Island, but this video wouldn’t be complete without discussing the Richard & Jane Manoogian Mackinac Art Museum. The museum found at Fort Mackinac gives visitors a taste of the island’s military history, and the Straits of Mackinac Shipwreck Museum shares information about the surrounding area’s maritime history. Comparatively, the Richard & Jane Manoogian Mackinac Art Museum focuses on a much more expansive, yet lighthearted, topic. True to it’s name, the Richard & Jane Manoogian Mackinac Art Museum is an art museum, though the art that it showcases varies a great deal in terms of both origin and medium. Among the many wonders that can be found within the museum include Native American pieces of beadwork, 19th century photos, and maps dating all the way back to the 1600s. The section dedicated to Native American artwork showcases a variety of different forms of art that the indigenous people of the area practiced, though the most awe-inspiring of these has to be the intricately beaded articles of clothing on display.
Though the area of the Richard & Jane Manoogian Mackinac Art Museum housing Native American art is certainly impressive, it has a hard time competing with the section of the museum that’s dedicated to educating visitors about the history of photography, This sections features a stunning variety of photographs, with some dating all the way back to the medium’s earliest days. There are photographs from the mid-1800s, and the museum also features plenty of notable photographs over the ensuing years of the mediums history. This leads up to some stunning photographs from recent years, which will show visitors just how far the medium has come.
While Native American art and historically significant photographs may seem diverse enough, the Richard & Jane Manoogian Mackinac Art Museum rounds out it’s eclectic collection with such things as maps that date all the way back to the 17th century, as well as various multimedia exhibits. There’s plenty to enjoy at the museum for kids and adults alike, and there are also activities just for children.
Visit the Stunning Natural Formation of Arch Rock
Those who want to see all that Mackinac Island has to offer in terms of natural beauty certainly won’t want to miss out on visiting Arch Rock. Arch Rock is a natural rock formation that spans fifty feet at it’s widest point, and it’s comprised of limestone. The namesake arch was formed over the years as a result of both wind and water erosion, and it was said to have taken many thousands of years. Back in the day, Native Americans claimed that Arch Rock had supernatural powers, and legends still persist that the formation retains some magical properties.
Check Out the Butterflies at Wings of Mackinac
The last Mackinac Island attraction that we’ll be taking a look at in this video is Wings of Mackinac. Wings of Mackinac is a butterfly conservatory that houses hundreds of different species of the beautiful insects. The serene location features some stunning scenery, as there are numerous flowers to keep both butterflies and tourists feeling like they’re home. Besides the butterflies, visitors can also get the chance to check out numerous birds and frogs, as well as some goats.
With all of these incredible attractions, Mackinac Island is inarguably one of the more unique locations for tourists to visit within the state of Michigan. Now it’s time to hear from you: did you know that there’s a section of water near Mackinac Island where there have been a dozen historical shipwrecks, and that three quarters of the island has been given state-park designation? As always, like this video to show your support, and subscribe and hit the notification bell if you’d like to be among the first to know when more globetrotting ViewCation videos are on their way!