Mackinac Island

[Chako]

Yesterday, I took my first visit to Mackinac Island in Michigan USA. I was curious about all the things I have heard about the Island over the years...and I was starting to feel a little left out as all my friends had been there at least once if not more.

I didn't bring a camera as the weather was rainy. My trusty cell phone did come in handy though. The first photo is that of Mackinac bridge taken on of the Island ferries. The suspension bridge is a bit interesting as the 2 middle lanes consist of grates. If you look just right, you can see all the way down. 
 


This shot was taken on the Island's main street, just as I got out of the ferry's terminal. It appears there are 4 competing companies. The architecture of the buildings on the island was something to see. This is just one of the many hotels found on the main street. Plenty of small shops all catering to the tourist are to be found down this long street. It appeared that every second shop was a fudge shop. Mackinac Island is renown for its fudge. Most of these shops will make the fudge in plain view of the tourist.



Another interesting fact of Mackinac Island...there are no motor vehicles. Everyone either walks,  uses a bicycle, or a horse. Horse drawn carriage tours are very popular with the tourist. I had to take the Island tour. Come to think of it, I have never seen so many bicycles in my life. Everywhere I turned was a rental shop....or bicycles just parked everywhere. In this photo, I am on one of the many horse drawn tour carriages. The driver speaks as we amble along giving us a good account of the local history and flavor.



Every building on the Island appears to be quaint and picturesque. I would say the main style was Victorian. This was one of the many historical buildings on the Island.



The one thing I will remember about Mackinac Island...the smell of the horses. They are everywhere on the Island. One of the tour guides told us they have around 900 horses, with half of that working on the island any given day. This is a big operation. With that said, the smell of horse poop and pee, and the general smell of the horses themselves, leaves an indelible impression on ones person. It was not disagreeable...but it hammered home that at one time, every community before the advent of the motor engine smelled like that. So one could say, it smelled of history. \



This is the Grand Hotel. Originally it had approximately 100 rooms. Now it holds 300 or so room. The architecture, as with every building I saw here, was stunning.



The horse tour section is run like a well oiled race team. Here is the pit stop crew changing our horses in less than 40 seconds.



The horse drawn buggy tour last around 3 hours and is well worth it for your first visit. The first section of the tour that goes through the built up areas is done with a 2 hours team. The second half is done in larger carriages with a 3 hours team. This later section goes through the State Park which consist of 80% of the Island. The State Park was a Federal Park up to the point where US troops left the island (They did the upkeep of the park). It is a very nice park with no bears, deer, or anything larger than a medium sized mammal. Our guide told us they take any winter deer that finds themselves on the island via the frozen lake quickly as they don't want any of them on the island. Something about the plants needing protection. He also warned us to not pick up any flowers, as that is a 600 dollar fine. Well, here is our tour guide taking us through some of the Park.

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During our "Park" portion of the tour, we went past Skull Cave (First Nation burial ground) that was caved in to keep pesky tourist from grave desiccation, and we also saw the Islands cemetery. The highlight was Bridge Rock.



As we were getting back to the main street, we went past Fort Mackinac. I being a sucker for all things historical, and I do love old Forts, had to take the opportunity to visit it. Here is the back area of the troop barracks. The whole building has been converted into a museum.



Here is the back palisade with the barracks on the right.



Inside the barracks, lots of interesting historical exhibits. Here are two of them. That is a 12 pounder, and the second is one of many swords on display.

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Looking north past the barracks to some of the officer's buildings. Here is a bit of history. There is an older wooden fort down by the Mackinac Bridge. That is Fort Michimillimac (which I didn't see this trip...but I will in the future). Fort Mackinac was built out of stone as it was seen that the older fort wouldn't stand up to the British. So if you visit Mackinac City, there are two historical forts to visit.



One of the many plaques that dot the Fort.



Here is a display found in one of the officer's quarters. Many of the buildings have period furnished rooms that are roped off.



Fort Mackinac has 3 block houses. This photo shows the Eastern Blockhouse. The view from the Fort was breathtaking to say the least, as it was build on a prominent point on the Island.





This building you see was the Fort's hospital. Inside, were many medical exhibits. It was very interesting.



Then the rains fell, and I put away my cell phone as I didn't want to damage it. However, the rains let up as I was leaving the Fort via the North Portcullis that leads down to the village. Now this was very nice, with the white stones gleaming...very beautiful.



There are around 400-500 permanent year round residents. That number swells during tourist season to around 5000. Everywhere I went, I kept seeing these female scouts. They were the Governor's Eagle Scout Guard. They just stood around at designated post, looking rather somber, but willing to answer questions or help tourist find their way around the island. It was all very American. I enjoyed my first foray onto the Island. I can see myself going back in the future.

[Chako]

I am adding this here as this is somewhat related. The next day, there was a nice showing of tall ships at the Roberta Bondar Pavilion in Sault Saint Marie, Ontario. This was called Sails on the St. Mary's. This is part of the War of 1812 celebrations.

The 3 ships that docked were the square topsail schooner Lynx, the Clipper Topsail Schooner Pride of Baltimore II, and the U.S. Brig Niagara. The place was packed with visitors. I decided to brave the crowds and see them as I also have a thing for tall ships.

The major sponsor of this tour had a nice little panel truck and trailer. The trailer's sides featured a map of the events scheduled. This was the most northern port of call of the tour.





The schooner Lynx, being the smallest vessel there, was jam packed with people touring the upper and lower decks. I must say, living below decks must have been a special hell. The tallest headroom I could find on any of the ships, was 5 feet  I am 6 feet tall. Can you cay misery?



Here is one of 4 carronades that the Lynx carries.



I took this for those who enjoy rope work.



Here, you see the Pride of Baltimore II in the foreground, and the larger U.S. Brig Niagara in the background.



Taken on the Pride of Baltimore II.



Taken off the bow of Pride of Baltimore II. This is the U.S. Brig Niagara. To think that in the 1800s, they crammed 155 men on that Brig to man 18 32 pounder carronades and 2 12 pounder long guns, and sails.



Here, 4 crew members of the Pride of Baltimore II working on the bowsprit. You wouldn't get me up there. Issue is, that is one of the lowest places you can climb on her rigging. 



Here is one of those 32 pounder carronades. A lot larger than those found on the Lynx. Today, she only caries 2 to 4 of these for demonstration purposes.



Bellow decks of the U.S. Brig Niagara. Only 5 feet of headroom on this large vessel...argh. I did find this lantern rack interesting.



Still inside the U.S. Brig Niagara showing one of the tables. Still no headroom to speak of though.



Onshore, there were a few other things going on, all centering around the War of 1812. Just to show you how interesting things are...all of the tall ships are US, and yet, onshore, the British ruled the day. Back in the 1800's, you wouldn't have seen that.



There were many things going on shore. Here, a group are singing old songs.



There was also a rather large Voyageur/British soldier encampment.



So the day was full of historical anachronisms and disconnects...not that anyone cared. It still made for rather entertaining historical fun. The interesting thing about this old war, both sides declared victory...and that didn't happen much in the annals of history.

If you are interested in the War of 1812, or are wondering what the heck I have been talking about...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/War_of_1812

Now the tie in. This is an excerpt from the above link...

"The British scored an important early success when their detachment at St. Joseph Island, on Lake Huron, learned of the declaration of war before the nearby American garrison at the important trading post at Mackinac Island in Michigan. A scratch force landed on the island on July 17, 1812 and mounted a gun overlooking Fort Mackinac. After the British fired one shot from their gun, the Americans, taken by surprise, surrendered. This early victory encouraged the natives, and large numbers moved to help the British at Amherstburg. The island totally controlled access to the Old Northwest, giving the British nominal control of this area, and, more vitally, a monopoly on the fur trade."

So, I had to buy some souvenirs. At Mackinac Island, I bought a historically accurate peace pipe, and on Sails on the St. Mary's, I bought a powder horn from a local artist that does beautiful scrimshaw work.

So here is a crappy photo of both hanging on my wall.

[Top-Gear-24]

Great pics  .

That looks like the kind of trip I would love to go on myself, nice historical setting, great scenery, what more can you ask for  .

Thanks for sharing  .

[Nhoj]

Thanks for sharing that cool trip! I find old military forts interesting. That reminds me that I'm going to a revolutionary war fort soon. I'll take pictures.

[Chako]

That sounds good Nhoj. I am always up for historical fort shots.