Mackinac and the U.P.

On the road by 8am with a long drive ahead of us.  We headed to northern Michigan and Mackinac Island.  Fort Mackinac served as a military outpost for the British, and later, American soldiers from 1780 to 1895.  The fort was a crucial Great Lakes border that helped protect the lucrative fur trade.  John Jacobs Astor started his fur training business on the island in the early 1700's.  the island is located on Lake Huron.

Today it is a huge tourist destination! the island is served by  ferry service from Mackinaw City and St. ignace.  Once on the island, transportation is limited to bicycles and horse drawn carriages. The air is clean and smog free.  The historic 1887 Grand Hotel is the jewel of the island.  It was built in only 93 days because they wanted to have it open for the spring season.   We enjoyed lunch on the porch of the hotel in beautiful weather.

On Friday we ventured to the U.P. or Upper Peninsula.  Don had read about the incredible painted rock formations lining the coast of Lake Superior.  We took a cruise along the coast  (Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore) and pictures just don't tell the story.  The lake was formed  during the glacier period and the painted rock walls, arches and outcroppings were formed by sandstone that is over 100 million years old!  The colors are the result of deposits of iron, copper and calcium.  

Finished the day driving to Ironwood, MI.  The iron ore Industry was started here in the 1880's.  The ore was shipped to Pittsburgh via Lake Superior, Lake Huron and Lake Erie resulting in the booming steel industry in Pittsburgh!  An imposing local landmark is 52 foot colored fiberglass statue of Hiawatha who as you know founded the Iroquois nation in the 1500's. 

We exit Michigan tomorrow and head to North Dakota via Minnesota and Wisconsin.