Fort Michilimackinac State Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Fort Michilimackinac State Park |
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View from inside Fort Michilimackinac
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 Fort Michilimackinac State Park
Location in Michigan
Fort Michilimackinac State Park
Location in the United States
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| Location | Wawatam Township Emmet County, Michigan |
| Nearest city | Mackinaw City, Michigan |
| Governing body | Michigan Department of Natural Resources |
Fort Michilimackinac State Park is a cool state park in Michigan, USA. It's located in Mackinaw City, right by the Straits of Mackinac. This park is home to Fort Michilimackinac, which is a very important historical site. You can also find the Old Mackinac Point Lighthouse and its signal tower here, which used to have a loud foghorn!
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Explore Colonial Michilimackinac
Colonial Michilimackinac is like stepping back in time to 1715. It's a recreated French village and military base where people traded fur. Later, British soldiers and traders took it over.
Today, you can watch exciting re-enactments of what life was like during the 1770s. These shows even include parts of the American Revolutionary era. Colonial Michilimackinac is a National Historic Landmark and a recognized museum.
Discover Fort Michilimackinac
Fort Michilimackinac was an important fort and trading post in the 1700s. It was first built by the French around 1715. Later, the British took control of it.
The fort was located in the Great Lakes region of North America. It sat on the southern shore of the Straits of Mackinac. This spot was key because it connected Lake Huron and Lake Michigan. Today, the fort's site in Mackinaw City, Michigan is a National Historic Landmark. It's now an outdoor museum where you can explore history.
A Look Back: Fort Michilimackinac's History
This area was first home to a French fort. But the British later took it over. It became a big part of their trading network. This network stretched from the Mississippi River all the way to the St. Lawrence River. The fort was a vital supply point for traders in the western Great Lakes.
French Beginnings and Rebuilding the Fort
The French first arrived in the Straits of Mackinac in 1671. Father Jacques Marquette started a mission in what is now St. Ignace, Michigan. In 1683, they added Fort de Buade to protect the mission.
However, in 1701, a French leader named Antoine Laumet de La Mothe, sieur de Cadillac moved the soldiers to Fort Detroit. He also closed the mission. But by 1715, the French decided they needed to be back in the Straits of Mackinac. So, they built Fort Michilimackinac again.
British Control and a Surprise Attack
The French gave the fort to the British in 1761. This happened after the French lost the French and Indian War. The British kept using the fort as a major trading post.
However, the Ojibwe (Chippewa) people in the area were not happy with the British rules. On June 2, 1763, a group of Ojibwe planned a clever trick. They played a game of bag'gat'tway (like lacrosse) outside the fort. This was a way to get inside without suspicion.
Once inside, they surprised the British. Most of the British people at the fort were killed. The Ojibwe held the fort for a year. Then, the British managed to take it back.
Moving to Mackinac Island
Eventually, the British thought the wooden fort on the mainland was too easy to attack. So, in 1781, they built a new fort. This one was made of strong limestone and was on nearby Mackinac Island. They called it Fort Mackinac.
After the new fort was built, Fort Michilimackinac was left empty.
Fort Michilimackinac Today
The fort grounds were named a National Historic Landmark in 1960. Today, it's a popular place for tourists. It's part of Colonial Michilimackinac in Mackinaw City.
The site has many reconstructed wooden buildings from the past. It's also known as the most explored early French archaeological site in the United States. Digs happen every summer to uncover more history. You can watch daily cannon and musket firing shows. These are performed by people dressed in old-fashioned costumes. There are also cooking demonstrations where visitors can even join in!
