Mackinac Island

Mackinac Island (pronounced {{IPA|}}, note the silent "c") is a small island, 4.4 sq. mi. (11.3 km²) in area, in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is located in Lake Huron, at the eastern end of the Straits of Mackinac, which lie between the state's Upper and Lower Peninsulas. The island's strategic position amidst the commerce of the fur trade of the Great Lakes led to the establishment of Fort Mackinac on the island by the British during the American Revolutionary War. It was the scene of two strategic battles during the War of 1812. In the late 19th century it became a popular tourist attraction and summer colony, and continues to be famous for its lack of automobiles and its Victorian resort hotels, especially the Grand Hotel with its 660-foot front porch. The 1980 movie Somewhere in Time was filmed on Mackinac Island. Of the island's total area, over 82 percent is preserved as Mackinac Island State Park. The City of Mackinac Island occupies the entire island as well as all of Round Island which sits across the passage just to the south. (Round Island is currently uninhabited and is owned by the U.S. Forest Service in its entirety, part of the Hiawatha National Forest.)

Related Topics:
Pronounced - U.S. state - Michigan - Lake Huron - Straits of Mackinac - Upper - Lower Peninsulas - Fur trade - Great Lakes - Fort Mackinac - British - American Revolutionary War - War of 1812 - 19th century - Summer colony - Grand Hotel - 1980 - Somewhere in Time - Mackinac Island State Park - Mackinac Island - U.S. Forest Service - Hiawatha National Forest

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