fort mackinac
According to professor Francis Blouin at the University of Michigan, Mackinac Island "defines itself out of the tourist industry," the heart of which is centered at Fort Mackinac, the current headquarters for Mackinac National Park (Blouin; Mackinac State Historic Parks). How did a military fort, one that had importance during the War of 1812, become a tourist destination for history lovers and bike riding enthusiasts?
Fort Mackinac has been seen for many years as a place of beauty and important history. In 1895 the Fort was given to the state of Michigan by the federal United States government (New York Times). At this time, Fort Mackinac was seen as a place of significance, as it was integral in the settlement of the French in the Canadian/Michigan border, with missionaries and the fur trade, and was a crucial part of the War of 1812 in the Michilimackinac territory (New York Times). The New York times asserted in 1895 that "there is no more interesting army post than Fort Mackinac," and that one officer of Fort Mackinac, Capt. Kelton, said that the Fort's "posession has been disputed by powerful nations, and its internal peace has continually been made the sport of Indian treachery and white man's duplicity" (New York Times). The same Capt. Kelton also wrote a song after the War of 1812, in which he honors the Fort that stood strong throughout the war, and that stands majestically atop the island:
"Thy Northern shore trod British foe/Mackinac, my Mackinac/That day saw gallant Holmes laid low/Mackinac, my Mackinac/Now freedom's flag above thee waves/And guards the rest of fallen graves/Their requiem sung by Huron's waves/Mackinac, my Mackinac"
After the Fort was given to the state of Michigan, it soon became a state park and a tourist destination. By the early 20th century, Mackinac Island boasted a beautiful, relaxing, and historically educational resort vacation for city-slickers to escape to. In a 1927 tourist pamphlet about the island, it is said that "it is impossible to put into language a word picture which will bring to mind the many beauties and attractions which combine to make Mackinac Island 'the cool beauty spot of the world'" (cirte pmalet). The tourism industry at this time claims that "interest is added" to Mackinac island by it "storied past visualized in the block houses and white-walled old Fort Mackinac" (pamphwl).
The tourism industry that began after the island was labeled a state park shifted the focus of the island immensely. Instead of the island being an active army fort, with a mission of protecting the borderland, the island turned into a summer resort for wealthy tourists to spend time away from their busy lives in the city. Today, with the main economy being tourism, the history of Fort Mackinac is sold to tourists in tours, books, reenactments, and hands-on canon shootings. Below you can see a promotional tourism video for Fort Mackinac that exemplifies the glorified, yet simplified, war history of the Fort, and of the island itself; and at this link you can explore the Michigan Historic State Park webpage for Fort Mackinac:
Fort Mackinac has been seen for many years as a place of beauty and important history. In 1895 the Fort was given to the state of Michigan by the federal United States government (New York Times). At this time, Fort Mackinac was seen as a place of significance, as it was integral in the settlement of the French in the Canadian/Michigan border, with missionaries and the fur trade, and was a crucial part of the War of 1812 in the Michilimackinac territory (New York Times). The New York times asserted in 1895 that "there is no more interesting army post than Fort Mackinac," and that one officer of Fort Mackinac, Capt. Kelton, said that the Fort's "posession has been disputed by powerful nations, and its internal peace has continually been made the sport of Indian treachery and white man's duplicity" (New York Times). The same Capt. Kelton also wrote a song after the War of 1812, in which he honors the Fort that stood strong throughout the war, and that stands majestically atop the island:
"Thy Northern shore trod British foe/Mackinac, my Mackinac/That day saw gallant Holmes laid low/Mackinac, my Mackinac/Now freedom's flag above thee waves/And guards the rest of fallen graves/Their requiem sung by Huron's waves/Mackinac, my Mackinac"
After the Fort was given to the state of Michigan, it soon became a state park and a tourist destination. By the early 20th century, Mackinac Island boasted a beautiful, relaxing, and historically educational resort vacation for city-slickers to escape to. In a 1927 tourist pamphlet about the island, it is said that "it is impossible to put into language a word picture which will bring to mind the many beauties and attractions which combine to make Mackinac Island 'the cool beauty spot of the world'" (cirte pmalet). The tourism industry at this time claims that "interest is added" to Mackinac island by it "storied past visualized in the block houses and white-walled old Fort Mackinac" (pamphwl).
The tourism industry that began after the island was labeled a state park shifted the focus of the island immensely. Instead of the island being an active army fort, with a mission of protecting the borderland, the island turned into a summer resort for wealthy tourists to spend time away from their busy lives in the city. Today, with the main economy being tourism, the history of Fort Mackinac is sold to tourists in tours, books, reenactments, and hands-on canon shootings. Below you can see a promotional tourism video for Fort Mackinac that exemplifies the glorified, yet simplified, war history of the Fort, and of the island itself; and at this link you can explore the Michigan Historic State Park webpage for Fort Mackinac: