'Michilimackinac' was a name for the region mostly in the present
U.S. state of
Michigan around the
Straits of Mackinac between
Lake Huron and
Lake Michigan.
The
Ojibwa (or Chippewa) along with
Ottawa inhabitated the area at the time of European contact. The French were the first
Europeans to arrive, establishing trading posts and missions. One of the oldest named "St. Ignatius" was located on the north side of the strait at Point Iroquois, near present-day
St. Ignace, Michigan. This mission was established by the
Jesuit Father
Jacques Marquette in 1671 and the village around the mission became known as "Mackinac" or "Michilmackinac" and later as "Old Michilmackinac" or "Ancient Fort Mackinac".
The French later established a settlement on the south side of the strait that became known as
Fort Michilimackinac, near present-day
Mackinaw City, Michigan.
The main fortifications defending the area were again moved to
Mackinac Island and became known as
Fort Mackinac.
External links
★
A history of the upper peninsula of Michigan, , George Newman, Fuller, University of Michigan Library, 2005,
★
History of Cheboygan and Mackinac Counties, , George, Robinson, University of Michigan Library, 2005,
★
Ancient and modern Michilimackinac, including an account of the controversy between Mackinac and the Mormons, , James Jesse, Strang, University of Michigan Library, 2005,