Bois Blanc Island (Ontario) facts for kids
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Nickname: Boblo Island
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Aerial view of Bois Blanc Island (1941)
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 Bois Blanc Island
Location in Wayne County, Michigan
Bois Blanc Island
Location in Ontario
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| Geography | |
| Location | Detroit River |
| Coordinates | 42°05′44″N 83°07′14″W / 42.09556°N 83.12056°W |
| Area | 1.10 km2 (0.42 sq mi) |
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Canada
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| Province | Ontario |
| County | Essex |
| City | Amherstburg |
| Additional information | |
| Time zone | |
| • Summer (DST) | |
Bois Blanc Island, often called Boblo Island, is an island in the Detroit River. It is located on the Canadian side of the border and is part of Amherstburg, Ontario. The island is about 4 kilometers (2.5 miles) long and 0.8 kilometers (0.5 miles) wide. It covers an area of about 110 hectares (272 acres).
The main shipping route for boats going north on the Detroit River passes between Bois Blanc Island and the Amherstburg mainland. A stone lighthouse was built in 1836 at the southern tip of Boblo Island. This lighthouse helps guide ships entering the Detroit River from Lake Erie. Today, it is part of the Bois Blanc Island Lighthouse and Blockhouse.
The name "Bois Blanc" means "White Woods" in French. This name comes from the many birch and beech trees that grow in the area. "Boblo" is an English way of saying the French name. Many islands in the Great Lakes with the same name are also called "Boblo" by local people.
The island was very important for defense when Fort Amherstburg (now Fort Malden) was built in 1796. This fort was built to protect the Detroit River after the city of Detroit was given to the Americans. Cannons from the fort could reach the island, which helped control the river.
Boblo Island has a very interesting past. It was connected to the ancient Sauk Trail, an old path used by Indigenous peoples. In 1718, early European records described 70 First Nation families peacefully farming the land. Later, French Catholic missionaries had a mission there for the Wyandot (also called "the Huron Indians") in the 1700s.
During the War of 1812, the island was the headquarters for Shawnee Chief Tecumseh. He was a famous leader of a large group of Indigenous tribes known as Tecumseh's Confederacy. The island was also a landing spot for 60 Canadian "Patriots" during the Upper Canada Rebellion on January 8, 1838. It also played a role in the Underground Railroad, helping many people find freedom in Canada. It's thought that about 30,000 people crossed into Canada through this area between 1834 and 1860.
Boblo Island Amusement Park: A Look Back
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Bois Blanc Island is widely known as the former home of the Boblo Island Amusement Park. This popular park opened in 1898 and closed its doors on September 30, 1993. Some of its most famous rides included the Nightmare, Falling Star, Wild Mouse, Sky Streak, and Screamer.
For over 85 years, visitors traveled to the park on two special passenger steamboats: the SS Ste. Clair and the SS Columbia. These steamers were a big part of the park's charm, carrying people between Detroit and the island.
A famous legal case, Bob-Lo Excursion Co. v. Michigan, happened because of these ferries. In 1948, the U.S. Supreme Court made an important decision about whether the state of Michigan could stop racial discrimination on the ferries. This case helped define how the Commerce Clause of the U.S. Constitution works.
During the Vietnam War, Canada became a safe place for people who did not want to join the U.S. Army. Boblo Island became a secret way for Americans to enter Canada without going through official customs. People would take the boat from Detroit to Boblo Island. Once there, they would trade their return tickets with people who had come from Amherstburg, Canada. This allowed them to switch boats and travel to Canada without being stopped at the border.
Boblo Island Today
Today, Boblo Island is being developed into a community called Boblo Island and Marina Resort Community by Amico Properties Limited. The island now has many homes and condominiums. Residents and visitors can reach the island using a private ferry.
The two historic steamboats, Columbia and Ste. Clair, were temporarily changed for the 2014 movie Transformers: Age of Extinction.
Sadly, the Ste. Clair was completely destroyed by a fire on July 6, 2018. It was docked on the Detroit River when the fire started. The fire could not be put out, and the boat was a total loss. What will happen to the remaining parts of the ship is still unknown.
