Colonial Michilimackinac

Michigan


Next to the Big Mac bridge (its visitor center is actually beneath the bridge) is Colonial Michilimackinac, a National Historic Landmark that features a reconstructed stockade first built in 1715 by the French. Costumed interpreters cook and craft here.

A combination ticket for this site, Historic Mill Creek and the Old Mackinac Point Lighthouse is available at a discount.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Michigan attractions

1. Historic Mill Creek

4.13 MILES

The site has an 18th-century sawmill where costumed interpreters chop wood, plus historic displays, a zipline and nature trails.

2. Fort Mackinac

7.09 MILES

Fort Mackinac sits atop limestone cliffs near downtown. Built by the British in 1780, it's one of the best-preserved military forts in the country…

3. Mackinac Art Museum

7.13 MILES

This museum houses Native American arts, historic maps and island photography. Admission is free with a Fort Mackinac ticket.

4. Fort Holmes

7.41 MILES

British forces built the small wood and earth fort in 1814 to protect against a US attack during the War of 1812. This is a replica, as the original…

5. Arch Rock

7.75 MILES

This huge limestone arch curves 150ft above Lake Huron and provides dramatic photo opportunities. You can get here two ways: from stairs that lead up from…

6. Petoskey State Park

27.5 MILES

The park is north along Hwy 119 and has a beautiful beach. Look for indigenous Petoskey stones, which are honeycomb-patterned fragments of ancient coral…