Monday, July 16, 2018 (Tour of Mackinac Island, MI - Part 1)

With so many fabulous pictures to show you from our day trip over to Mackinac Island, Michigan, we decided to split our blog post into 2 parts. So...another warning: tons of pictures showcasing this beautiful island!

Years ago Steve watched an RV show on Mackinac Island so he always wanted to visit this unique island. Then last year friends, Dave and Diane, blogged about their visit there reinforcing Steve's desire to visit if we were ever in the area.

We were up early (as usual) and after going downstairs for the continental breakfast, we walked across the street to the Star Line Mackinac Island Ferry to catch the 8:30 sailing.

This is the ferry we will be taking...

This one came back from the island just before we sailed...

And we're off! It was a fairly overcast start to the day but the forecast was for some sun to come out later. Even with the clouds, it was a warm day.

Only the Star Line Ferries have the rooster tail...

USCG Mackinaw Museum...

Mackinac Bridge is visible today...

Mackinac Island (pronounced Mackinaw) comes into view...

The Grand Hotel...

Fort Mackinac on the hilltop...

About to dock on Mackinac Island...

There are no motorized vehicles on the island, so the main form of transportation is by horse drawn carriages or by riding bicycles. So, the first thing we did was walk across the street and purchase tickets at Mackinac Island Carriage Tours....Mackinac Island Carriage Tours is the world's oldest Horse and Buggy Service with approximately 100 carriages pulled by over 400 horses.

The streets are quiet now...

We boarded our 2 horse carriage and began our tour...walkway from Fort Mackinac...

Governors House, the flag is flown when he's on the island...

After a tour through town, our first stop is at Surrey Hills Museum where we have a chance to wander through the shops/museum before getting onto a larger 3 horse-drawn carriage.

Enjoy a leisurely visit through Surrey Hills Carriage Museum displaying historic carriages including a horse-drawn hearse, still used today, and an antique fire department pumper. Browse the on site gift shops or have lunch or a snack before boarding our open 3-horse hitch carriage for the second part of your tour.

The carriages started lining up...

Time to board the larger carriage...3 horses are used for these ones as they are much larger...

And the narrated tour continued taking us through Mackinac Island State Park...Michigan's first State Park...
Mackinac Island State Park was established in 1895. For twenty years before that it had been Mackinac National Park, the United States’ second national park. Today, over eighty percent of Mackinac Island is State Park property, and most of this park land remains in its natural condition to be enjoyed.

The Post Cemetery...
The Fort Mackinac Post Cemetery on Mackinac Island, Michigan is the final resting place for Fort Mackinac soldiers and their families. The exact founding of the Post Cemetery is unknown, but local tradition is that both American and British soldiers from the War of 1812 are buried here. In addition to the soldiers and their families, six civilians are interred in the post cemetery.

St. Ann's Catholic Cemetery...
St. Ann's Cemetery is on state land along Garrison Road north of Fort Mackinac. Graves were first moved there from the downtown area in 1850; forced by overcrowding and development. The original Catholic Cemetery was near the old Catholic church on the corner of Market and Hoban Streets which was out of space. The federal government allowed the city to move the cemetery to it's present location in the military reservation (now the State Park).

Apparently the stone arch entrance has never been used and the road goes around it. The guy that built it forgot to take into account the total height required with the driver sitting on the carriage.

We stopped so everyone could get off the carriage and see Arch Rock...
The next stop is Arch Rock for an approximately five minute viewing. A beautiful natural limestone formation, Arch Rock is one of the most photographed spots on Mackinac Island. It provides breathtaking views of Lake Huron and is a great place to enjoy the scenery.

Looking right from the viewing platform...

Looking left...

Roadway below the arch...

The next stop on the tour was Fort Mackinac. (Click on the link for a brief history of the fort.) You are able to "hop off", tour the Fort and then "hop back on" another carriage and continue. We decided to get off and tour the Fort.
More than just a military outpost, Fort Mackinac served as a home for soldiers and their families and eventually the headquarters for Mackinac National Park, where tourists to the island visited the great fortress on the bluff, much like they do today.

After paying our entrance fee, we entered the Fort...

...and started by walking along the upper perimeter...

Looking towards the entrance from the fort...

The town below us...

Blockhouse...

All fourteen buildings in the fort are restored and open to the public. They are furnished with period settings highlighting the building’s particular function or a themed exhibit.

Demonstrations and tours by costumed interpreters are scheduled throughout the day.
Inspection...later each soldier spoke of life on the base as it would have been back then...

The ladies spoke of what life would have been like for them as wives and mothers back then...

The Tea Room, operated by Grand Hotel, is open all day serving snacks, beverages and desserts...

Another view (zoomed in) of the town below...

We watched a Cannon Firing Demonstration...

Post Headquarters...

The Quartermaster Storehouse...

The Post Schoolhouse...

North Blockhouse...

As we entered the blockhouse an audio program started...the fort was being surrounded by the British...

Officer Hill Quarters...

View of homes outside the fort from the upper walkway...

What a view! The Grand Hotel can be seen on the right...

Looking out from the Guard House...

Post Hospital...

A video projected on the wall depicting a doctor describing injuries and illnesses experienced at the fort...

Rifle Firing Demonstration...British...

American...

Post Canteen Billiards Room...

The Bar and Lunch Room....

And that concludes the tour of Mackinac Fort...a lot of history and very well done! We walked out to wait for the next carriage...ahhhh...it felt so good to sit down!

Stay tuned for Part 2 of our day on Mackinac Island!