Colonial Michilimackinac - French-Canadian fur traders, British soldiers, and the Anishnaabek people

Colonial Michilimackinac is one of Michigan's State Historic Parks that is located in Mackinaw City overlooking the Straits of Michigan.  This is a preserved area with a fort and outlying areas that were occupied by French-Canadian fur traders, British soldiers, and the Anishnaabek people in the 1700s until it was abandoned in 1781 and moved to Mackinaw Island.  You can read a little about it in some of the pictures in this blog post, or find out more here.

Here are some pictures from Colonial Michilimackinac that highlight what you might see if you visit.  We found it interesting and educational; I didn't know much about fur trading from that time period (or any time period, really), nor did I realize there were British troops so far inland from the eastern coast.

There are costumed historical interpreters throughout the park.  This one explained about the different types of boats used by the fur traders in the 1700s.

This cannon is representative of where cannons were set up to help protect the area.

Approaching the fort from the northeastern corner.

An example of a storehouse which kept not only food and supplies for the people in the fort, but also items for trade with the Anishnaabek traders and the French-Canadian merchants.

A guardsman who greeted us and explained about the guard house.

You can read about the guard house here.

This is typical of what a guard house looked like - a place to eat and sleep while waiting for your shift to start.

This is an example of what a British trader's house looked like.

Colonial Michilimackinac has been an ongoing archaeological site since 1959.  These are some of the buttons found on the property over the years.  I have a button box - I wonder if anyone will ever card about it!

This next series of photos show how the fort changed over time, from the early 1700s until it was abandoned and destroyed in 1781.

These buildings are representative of the buildings that would have been in the fort in the late 1770s.  They have used the information from the archaeological sites to reconstruct them as close to how they were as possible.

Inside the church

Inside a soldier's house

Inside an officer's house

Findings from the powder magazine during an archaeological dig.

The Anishnaabek people were in this part of Michigan long before the French-Canadian fur traders and British soldiers came through.  They consist of three tribes of people and they would gather near the fort during the summer.  This display shows what their camps likely looked like.  

This was one of the best historical sites that we have seen on our Middle States trip.  The presentation of the material was done in such a way that it weaves the story of how people lived, worked, and survived during this period of history.  It was good that we saw this one first, before going to see Fort Mackinac on Mackinac Island, and even before going to see the Old Mackinac Lighthouse.

If you are ever in Mackinaw City, it is worth going to see Colonial Michilimackinac even if you don't have time to see any of the other parts of the Michigan State Historic Parks.  Because we wanted to see the Lighthouse and go to the Fort in addition to seeing Colonial Michilimackinac, we bought the Heritage pass that is good for two adults in the same household (and any children also in the household) for a year.  While we only needed it for two days, we came out about even financially.  It never hurts to ask for help in figuring out the best cost-efficient way to experience things.

'` Cindy D.