Located out on the middle of Michigan’s celebrated Lake Huron, Mackinac Island is
a popular destination with tourists around the world thanks to its 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 its 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 its 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 its 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 commemorating the fallen leader.
Tourists are also drawn to Fort Holmes on account of its 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 its
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 its 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 its 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 the 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 its 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 provides a ton of fun and educational
value for visitors.
Some of the many things that make Historic Mill Creek Discovery Park stand out from other
state parks include its historically themed live show portraying its namesake sawmill
in action, as well as its 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 its 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 the 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 its 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 section 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 its 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 its 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 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?
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