Unearthing History in Mackinac State Historic Parks
An archaeological find at Michilimackinac State Park gives us a glimpse into life in a Michigan fur-trading post. An 18th-century brass ring was unearthed at House E, an abode that was once inhabited by French trader Charles Henri Desjardins de Rupallay de Gonneville, and later by an English trader.
While the ring itself may be simple, it offers a window into Michigan’s past. This trading item was known as a “Jesuit ring,” associated with the Catholic missionaries who once inhabited this area. Despite the nickname, they were used for secular trade by that time period. It’s the second of its kind uncovered from this very site; many other metal rings have been discovered all across the Great Lakes region – hardy remnants of the booming fur trade between Europeans and Native Americans from days past.
On the Straits of Mackinac, Michilimackinac State Park was established in 1909 as Michigan’s second state park; since 1959, Colonial Michilimackinac – a reconstructed fort and fur trading village – has been the site of one of the longest-running archaeological programs in North America. Every discovery made here, including brass buttons, dishware and a gaming die, reveals something about the daily lives and trading practices in 1700s Michigan.
During the summer months, you’re able to see the archeological site of Colonial Michilimackinac in action. Through October, join the living history experience as you watch muskets fire and cannons blast, learn about traditional hearth-cooking techniques and see artisans honing their crafts. Historical interpreters bring to life the stories of traders, British soldiers and French-Canadian merchants from that time.
When it was an active trading post, Fort Michilimackinac was strategically located within the French trade system; a route that traveled from Montreal through the Great Lakes region and northwest to Lake Winnipeg and further out. By 1761, the fort was handed over to the British, who abandoned it 20 years later and moved across the strait to Fort Mackinac on Mackinac Island.
Also open to visitors, Fort Mackinac is home to one of the oldest surviving houses in Michigan! The Officers’ Stone Quarters were completed around 1798, beaten out only by the French Canadian–style McGulpin House that dates back to 1790. Learn about life during the American Revolution and see military reenactments, all while marveling over panoramic views from the fort’s perch overlooking the Straits of Mackinac from its elevated position on the island.
Another area to explore is the Old Mackinac Point Lighthouse, the now-deactivated lighthouse that once guided ships through the straits. Ascend the lighthouse for its incredible views and peer into the authentically restored Keepers’ Quarters. A fog horn demonstration and a shipwreck museum shed light onto the perilous journeys that ships navigated between 1892 and 1957.
Fort Michilimackinac State Park also includes: Historic Mill Creek, home to a reconstructed sawmill that provided lumber for Mackinac Island; and The Richard & Jane Manoogian Mackinac Art Museum, where you’ll find an exceptional collection of Mackinac-inspired works spanning several centuries from Native American artifacts to contemporary art.
Click here to learn more about the natural and historical treasures within Michilimackinac State Park and here for more state park inspiration throughout Michigan.