Fort Wilkins Historic State Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Fort Wilkins Historic State Park |
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IUCN Category III (Natural Monument)
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Flagpole in front of Lake Fanny Hooe at Fort Wilkins
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 Fort Wilkins Historic State Park
Location in Michigan
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| Location | Grant Township, Keweenaw County, Michigan |
| Nearest city | Copper Harbor, Michigan |
| Area | 700 acres (280 ha) |
| Elevation | 620 feet (190 m) |
| Designation | Michigan state park |
| Established | 1923 |
| Administrator | Michigan Department of Natural Resources |
| Website | Fort Wilkins Historic State Park |
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Fort Wilkins
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Officer Quarters
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| Location | Fort Wilkins State Park |
| Built | 1844 |
| NRHP reference No. | 70000279 |
| Added to NRHP | July 8, 1970 |
Fort Wilkins Historic State Park is a special place in Copper Harbor, Michigan, managed by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. It protects a very old army outpost called Fort Wilkins, which was built in 1844. This fort is so important that it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1970.
The park covers about 700 acres, which is like 700 football fields! You can go camping here and enjoy day-use areas. The park also includes the Copper Harbor Lighthouse, which was built in 1866. Fort Wilkins Historic State Park is also connected to the Keweenaw National Historical Park.
Exploring Fort Wilkins' Past
Copper Harbor is at the very top of the Keweenaw Peninsula, right next to Lake Superior. It has one of the best natural harbors in Keweenaw County. This made it a key spot when copper was found nearby in the 1830s.
In the early 1840s, many people rushed to the peninsula hoping to find copper. The U.S. government worried about possible trouble. Also, shipping companies wanted a lighthouse to help boats bring supplies and take copper away. So, in 1844, Secretary of War William Wilkins decided to build Fort Wilkins.
The Story of Fort Wilkins
The U.S. Army moved into Fort Wilkins in 1844. The fort is located east of Copper Harbor, between Copper Harbor and Lake Fanny Hooe. Soldiers were sent there to help keep law and order. They also aimed to keep peace between the miners and the local Ojibwa people. Some Ojibwa (also called Chippewa) were not happy about a treaty that gave their land to the United States.
However, the fort turned out to be mostly unnecessary. The Chippewa people generally accepted the new settlers. The miners also followed the rules. The Army built 27 buildings at the fort. These included a guardhouse, a place to store gunpowder, and homes for officers. There were also barracks for soldiers, a hospital, and shops. Many of these buildings are still standing today. Others have been rebuilt after archaeologists studied the area.
When the fort first opened in 1844, two groups of soldiers were stationed there. But when the Mexican–American War started, these soldiers were sent to Texas. They were replaced by another group, who were also sent to Mexico in 1846. After that, only one caretaker, Sgt. William Wright, stayed at the fort.
After Sgt. Wright passed away in 1855, the fort was rented out. A doctor named John S. Livermore wanted to turn it into a health resort. He hoped people would come there to relax during the summer. But his plan didn't work out after he died in 1861.
After the American Civil War, the U.S. Army came back to Fort Wilkins. They stayed for three years, from 1867 to 1870. The Army needed a place for soldiers to finish their time serving after the war. Different groups of soldiers were stationed there during this time. The Army finally left the fort for good in August 1870.
Becoming a State Park
In 1848, work began on the Copper Harbor Lighthouse complex. It stands on the eastern point of land at the harbor's entrance. In 1923, the old fort and the lighthouse became a state park for Michigan.
Today, the park is open to visitors during the summer. Staff members dress up in old army uniforms. They show what life was like at the fort during its last summer as an active army post. It's a great way to step back in time!
