Mackinac Island Live Cam

History

Mackinac Island, nestled in Lake Huron between Michigan’s Upper and Lower Peninsulas, boasts a fascinating history that spans several centuries. Originally inhabited by Native American tribes, primarily the Anishinaabe (Ojibwe), the island held spiritual and cultural significance long before European explorers arrived. Indigenous people referred to it as "Michilimackinac," meaning "Great Turtle," inspired by the island’s turtle-like shape. Over the years, Mackinac Island became a strategic location for trade and defense, attracting French, British, and American interests in its prime position in the Great Lakes.