Mackinac National Park facts for kids
Mackinac National Park was a special nature area, like a big preserve, located on Mackinac Island in northern Michigan. It was the second national park ever created in the United States, right after Yellowstone National Park! This park opened in 1875 and was about 1,044 acres big. People loved visiting Mackinac Island for summer vacations, which is why the park was created.
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How Mackinac National Park Began
This park came to be thanks to people like Thomas W. Ferry. He was a U.S. Senator from Mackinac Island. Senator Ferry worked hard to make the park happen. A special bill was introduced in 1874, and President Ulysses S. Grant signed it into law on March 3, 1875. The national park covered 821 acres. Nearby, Fort Mackinac kept 103 acres, and the rest of the island was owned by private citizens.
What Made the Park Special?
The park lands were right next to Fort Mackinac, which was a United States Army base at the time. The park also included amazing natural spots like Arch Rock and Sugar Loaf. These are cool rock formations that visitors could explore.
How the Park Was Managed
The commander of Fort Mackinac was in charge of the park. Soldiers from the fort even acted as park rangers, just like at Yellowstone National Park. The park was allowed to build roads and trails. It could also rent out small pieces of land for buildings to help cover its costs, because the government didn't give it money to run. The park's land also had to be available for the army to use for training or in times of war.
From National Park to State Park
In 1895, Fort Mackinac was no longer needed as an army base. At the request of Michigan's Governor John T. Rich, the national park and the fort were given to the State of Michigan. This meant Mackinac National Park became Mackinac Island State Park. It was the very first state park in Michigan!
Important Rules for the State Park
There was one important rule when the park was given to Michigan: it had to stay a state park. If it ever stopped being a state park, it would go back to the United States government. This rule caused a small problem in the 1960s. The city wanted to rent some park land to make the island's airport bigger. But renting land for an airport was not considered a "park use." Even so, the park itself expanded and still runs the airport today.
