Ayrton Oneill
The Straits of Mackinac, which connects Lake Michigan and Lake Huron, has been a busy shipping lane for centuries. The Mackinaw boat, a gaff-rigged vessel, was a popular mode of transport in the region until the early 20th century. Today, ferry companies like Shepler's Ferry and the Star Line Ferry operate out of Mackinaw City and St. Ignace, providing transport to Mackinac Island. Tour companies like Ugly Anne Boat Tours also offer personalised tours of the Straits of Mackinac, providing a glimpse into the history and beauty of the area.
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What You'll Learn
- Ferries: Two ferry companies operate out of Mackinaw City and St. Ignace, connecting tourists and commuters to Mackinac Island
- Ugly Anne Boat Tours: A tour company that offers a personalised tour of the Straits of Mackinac, Mackinac Bridge, and all things in between
- The Edith Jane: A gaff-rigged Mackinaw boat, built in 1909, is preserved inside a sealed shelter on the waterfront in St. Ignace, Michigan
- The McGulpin Point Light: A lighthouse located on McGulpin Point, three miles west of Fort Michilimackinac
- The Old Mackinac Point Light: A lighthouse in Mackinaw City that is open to the public
Ferries: Two ferry companies operate out of Mackinaw City and St. Ignace, connecting tourists and commuters to Mackinac Island
Ferries are a popular way to travel to and from Mackinac Island. Two ferry companies operate out of Mackinaw City and St. Ignace, connecting tourists and commuters to Mackinac Island: Shepler's Ferry and the Star Line Ferry.
The Straits of Mackinac have been set aside by the state of Michigan as the Straits of Mackinac Shipwreck Preserve, a riparian public space dedicated to those who lost their lives in the dangerous shipping lanes.
The Mackinaw boat was used for light point-to-point transport and communication on Lake Huron, Lake Michigan, and Lake Superior. In this role, it served into the early 20th century. The Mackinaw boat hull's relative flexibility and efficient movement through the water became less important in the 20th century with the invention of the outboard motor and other powerboat innovations. Few new Mackinaw boats were built after the 1910s.
Ugly Anne Boat Tours, based in Mackinaw City, offers a personalised tour of the Straits of Mackinac, Mackinac Bridge, and all things in between while giving a brief glimpse of life in northern Michigan and the Mackinaw area.
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Ugly Anne Boat Tours: A tour company that offers a personalised tour of the Straits of Mackinac, Mackinac Bridge, and all things in between
Ugly Anne Boat Tours offers a personalised tour of the Straits of Mackinac, Mackinac Bridge, and all things in between. The tour company was started in 2011 by Captain Chris West and his wife, Heather, who found Ugly Anne in a lobster boat shipyard in Maine. In 2024, they purchased a new boat, Ugly Anne II, to better fit the needs of their growing business. The tour offers a glimpse into life in northern Michigan and the Mackinaw area.
The Straits of Mackinac have a long history as a dangerous shipping lane. Most of the Straits have been set aside by the state of Michigan as the Straits of Mackinac Shipwreck Preserve, a riparian public space dedicated to those who were lost at sea. Two ferry companies operate out of Mackinaw City and St. Ignace, connecting tourists and commuters to Mackinac Island: Shepler's Ferry and the Star Line Ferry.
The Mackinaw boat was a favourite on the upper Great Lakes in the late 17th and early 18th centuries. With the help of a sail and a favourable wind, a Mackinaw boat could cover long distances with ease. By the time of the American Fur Company's dominance in the early 19th century, the Mackinaw boat was the almost-commodity vessel in the region.
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The Edith Jane: A gaff-rigged Mackinaw boat, built in 1909, is preserved inside a sealed shelter on the waterfront in St. Ignace, Michigan
The Edith Jane, a gaff-rigged Mackinaw boat, is currently preserved inside a sealed shelter on the waterfront in St. Ignace, Michigan. Built in 1909, the Edith Jane is thought to be the last remaining Mackinaw boat that was constructed as a working vessel.
The Mackinaw boat was a popular vessel in the upper Great Lakes, particularly Lake Superior, Lake Huron, and Lake Michigan. It was used for light point-to-point transport and communication, serving into the early 20th century. The design of the Mackinaw boat, with its flexible hull and efficient movement through the water, was well-suited to the region. However, with the advent of the outboard motor and other powerboat innovations in the 20th century, the construction of new Mackinaw boats declined, and few were built after the 1910s.
Today, the Straits of Mackinac is a popular tourist destination, with ferry companies operating out of Mackinaw City and St. Ignace, providing connections to Mackinac Island. The area is also known for its shipwreck preserve, dedicated to the memory of those lost at sea in the dangerous shipping lanes.
The Edith Jane stands as a testament to the history and evolution of watercraft in the region, offering a glimpse into the past when Mackinaw boats played a crucial role in transportation and communication on the Great Lakes.
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The McGulpin Point Light: A lighthouse located on McGulpin Point, three miles west of Fort Michilimackinac
The Straits of Mackinac are a popular tourist destination, with many boat tours and ferries operating in the area.
The McGulpin Point Light is a lighthouse located on McGulpin Point, three miles west of Fort Michilimackinac. It was built in 1869 and protected shipping on the Straits of Mackinac against storms, fog and rocks until 1906, when it was deactivated and privatised due to the Lighthouse Board's judgment that the nearby Old Mackinac Point Light was performing an adequate job of marking the Straits of Mackinac. The lighthouse was purchased by Emmet County in 2008 and reopened to the public in 2009, with a gala celebration attended by approximately 1,200 people. The site includes 336 feet of shoreline on the Straits, with a commanding view of the Mackinac Bridge. The McGulpin Point Light is named for John McGulpin, who came to North America around 1760 as an officer in the British army and later served at Fort Michilimackinac.
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The Old Mackinac Point Light: A lighthouse in Mackinaw City that is open to the public
The Old Mackinac Point Light is a lighthouse in Mackinaw City that is open to the public. It was constructed in 1892 along the Straits of Mackinac at the junction of Lake Michigan and Lake Huron. The lighthouse was deactivated in 1957 and currently serves as a museum. The lighthouse complex, including the lightkeeper's quarters and tower, was reopened to the public in 2004. The light's original Fresnel lens is on display. The lighthouse is part of Fort Michilimackinac State Park in the village of Mackinaw City just east of the Mackinac Bridge.
There are two ferry companies that operate out of Mackinaw City: Shepler's Ferry and the Star Line Ferry. The Ugly Anne Boat Tours also operate in the Straits of Mackinac.
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Frequently asked questions
The Mackinaw Strait is a body of water that connects Lake Huron, Lake Michigan and Lake Superior. It is located in the state of Michigan, USA.
The Mackinaw Strait has a long history as a dangerous shipping lane. In the late 17th or early 18th century, the Mackinaw boat was developed as a breakthrough vessel that could cover long distances with ease. By the early 19th century, it had become the dominant vessel in the region. However, with the invention of the outboard motor and other powerboat innovations in the 20th century, the Mackinaw boat fell out of use and few new ones were built after the 1910s. Today, the Straits of Mackinac Shipwreck Preserve in Michigan commemorates those who were lost at sea in these dangerous shipping lanes.
Yes, there are several boat tour companies operating in the area, including Ugly Anne Boat Tours and Shepler's Ferry.
