Historic Mill Creek Discovery Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Historic Mill Creek Discovery Park |
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The Historic Sawmill
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 Historic Mill Creek Discovery Park
Location in Michigan
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| Location | Mackinaw Township, Cheboygan County, Michigan, USA |
| Nearest city | Mackinaw City, Michigan |
| Area | 625 acres (2.5 km²) |
| Governing body | Michigan Department of Natural Resources/Mackinac Island State Park Commission |
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Campbell Farm Site
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| Area | 6 acres (2.4 ha) |
| NRHP reference No. | 78001496 |
| Significant dates | |
| Added to NRHP | January 31, 1978 |
Historic Mill Creek Discovery Park is a special place in Michigan, USA. It used to be called Historic Mill Creek State Park. This park is a mix of a state park, a nature preserve, and a historic site. It covers 625 acres (about 2.5 square kilometers).
The park is managed by Mackinac State Historic Parks. This group also runs the Mackinac Island State Park. You can find Historic Mill Creek Discovery Park about 5 miles (8 kilometers) southeast of Mackinaw City, Michigan. It is located right on U.S. Highway 23.
What is Historic Mill Creek Discovery Park?
Historic Mill Creek Discovery Park is a place where you can learn about history and enjoy nature. It shows how people lived and worked long ago. The park also protects important natural areas.
How Does the Park Preserve History?
The park is home to a very old sawmill. This sawmill first started working around 1790. It helped supply wood to the early settlements in the Straits of Mackinac. This area was important for the fur trade.
Who Built the Original Sawmill?
A man named Robert Campbell built the first sawmill. He needed to provide lumber for places like Mackinac Island. In 1793, the sawmill even helped fix buildings at Fort Mackinac. This shows how important the mill was back then.
Who Else Owned the Mill?
The sawmill was very busy during the fur trade era. A special house was built around 1820 for the person who ran the mill. In 1819, Michael Dousman bought the mill. He kept it running for many years.
Why Did the Sawmill Close?
In the 1830s, people started wanting less beaver fur. This meant the fur trade slowed down. After Michael Dousman passed away in 1839, the sawmill was no longer used. The buildings slowly fell apart over time.
How Was the Sawmill Rebuilt?
Even though the original buildings disappeared, some wood cut by the mill survived. This wood was used in buildings on Mackinac Island, like the Mission Church and Mission House. These buildings were built in the 1820s and are still standing today.
What Did the Old Wood Tell Us?
Experts studied the saw marks on these old timbers. These marks gave them clues about how the original sawmill worked. They learned how the saw's teeth were shaped and how fast it moved. This information helped them rebuild the mill to look just like it did long ago.
When Were the Reconstructions Made?
Scientists also dug up the sawmill site in the 1970s. This helped them learn even more. The creek dam and sawmill were rebuilt in 1984. The sawmill was updated again in 2007. A building called the British Workshop was rebuilt around 1994. The mill operator's house was rebuilt in 2005.
What Can You Do at Mill Creek Today?
Today, Historic Mill Creek Discovery Park offers many fun activities. You can explore nature and see history come alive.
Explore Nature Trails
The park has about 3.5 miles (5.6 kilometers) of nature trails. A small part of these trails is easy to access for everyone. You can walk along the creek as it flows towards Lake Huron. The creek is fed by the Dingman Marsh, a wetland in the Mackinaw State Forest.
See History Come Alive
During the summer, people dressed in old-fashioned clothes work at the park. They use old tools to make things like wooden shingles. They also show how the sawmill and other tools from the 1820s worked. It's like stepping back in time!
Learn About Plants and Animals
A park naturalist gives talks about the animals and plants that live in the nearby forests. You can learn about the local wildlife and the different types of trees and flowers.
Visit by Trail
The North Central State Trail connects to Historic Mill Creek State Park. This means you can even bike or walk to the park from other areas.
