Fort Mackinac

Fun and educational place. We went here as part of the wagon tour. Spent about 40 minutes and didn't see everything, so could have spent more time exploring. The rifle demonstration was pretty cool!

Fort Mackinac was a neat experience throwing you back to a period of time in history getting to see the houses & living quarters of members of the Military. We even got to see artillery fired. People are dressed up for the time period. Beautiful views. Dog friendly. Restrooms available. Concessions available. Views and fresh cool Lake breeze was enjoyable. We purchased a carriage ride package that included the butterfly house, Fort & Art Museum. Id recommend that but there was no wait & we got off a 2 horse carriage & got back on a 3 horse carriage that took us to tour the grand hotel/secret garden. Recommend! They spend a million dollars on flowers for the Secret Garden every yr!

Beyond the beautiful views and history, the Tea Room offers delicious food and drink options. After we ordered the Chicken Salad w/cherries sandwich and chips, they were happy to split it for the two of us on separate plates. Friendly staff and as mentioned the view from their veranda seating overlooking the harbor made our afternoon visit.

Highly recommend! I didnt plan on doing this and impulsively bought tickets on the island. Glad we did. Very cool history and plenty to look at. Unfortunately the barracks were closed for renovation but everything else was open. We watched the cannon demonstration and they gave some interesting history before firing it. The views from the fort are unbelievable too

Somewhat expensive ticket, but the views from the fort are some of the best on the island! We went in only an hour before close, so there were few other visitors about, but we got to see the last rifle demonstration and cannon salute. Great interactive exhibits and informational videos. Worth a visit!

So very cool. I love history. Very antiquey and love the information. We got to see gun being shot and a story being told.

A must do and see for anyone, even if you're not into history it's still the most ideal place to visit. The island does shut down in the winter so I suggest checking when it's open before planning to visit. It's a 15 minute ferry ride to the island to get to the fort. There are no cars on the island so comfortable shoes I highly suggest. Or there's bicycle rentals, there's horse back ride rentals, a carriage ride tour or horse drawn taxis. There is a fee about $15 or so to enter but if you plan on seeing both forts look into buying the package for both to save a few dollars. The amount of learning about the fort, the soldiers, the medical things, the way they lived and the how the fort became a part of history (war of 1812) was incredible to learn. It's a long walk up a hill to get to the fort the ticket booth is at the bottom before you start walking up the hill. The view from the inside of the fort is unlike anything else I've seen. The town is clean (minus horse poo) and the people are friendly. The older buildings are very well kept, but unfortunately once inside the fort you can see where someone is building townhouses or something on the other part of the island which to me takes away from the history and beauty.. but the rest is 100% a priceless experience. I'm adding some of the pictures but can't post all because of limits so you'd have to see it in person to get the real experience.

Incredible experience! The tickets were $17 which granted you access to the main fort along with other historic buildings in the town. The fort had multiple demonstrations and events throughout the day and all the staff were very knowledgeable about the fort's history.

I was made aware of Fort Mackinac when I heard a loud boom coming from the direction of a hill. I thought something had exploded on the island, but no: it was just Fort Mackinac doing their thang. Apparently, they have rifle and cannon firing demonstrations here, which are scheduled, so if you want to see one while you're visiting the fort, make sure to meet at the allotted time. This is a living history museum, and you'll learn a lot about American and British military history. I mean, you probably will, because you'll read the signs and information that's posted. I mostly looked around and admired the architecture and the view, and took photos of pretty or interesting things that I saw. So from my perspective, Fort Mackinac is a cool and visually interesting place to spend an hour or two. You are basically walking into and out of different houses and structures on what used to be a military outpost. Each building has something new to learn about military life, with exhibits that appeal to all ages. I was surprised by how many interactive and hands-on exhibits there were for kids. Keep in mind that some of the buildings are very airy, so if you visit on a cold day, it might be a little chilly. Plus, you're walking in and out a lot, so if you visit during the fall like I did, you might need a jacket. The gift shop is pretty big, with lots of souvenirs to remember your visit not just of Fort Mackinac, but Mackinac Island, as well.

Well our Shepler's Mackinac Island ferry arrived in the morning at Mackinac Island. This was our first time to tour Mackinac Island. This was also our first time to tour this fort. We walked from the Shepler's Mackinac Island ferry port to Fort Mackinac. My family of six including one elementary and two pre-schoolers walked up the hilltop to tour this fort. Our entrance fee was $52.50 for the six of us. Fort Mackinac is an 18th-century French, and later British, fort and trading post at the Straits of Mackinac. It was built on the northern tip of the lower peninsula of the present-day state of Michigan. See my many pics and videos of the fort. After the fort we enjoyed our lunch at the famous waterfront Pink Pony Patio Bar. I will review our family lunch at the Pink Pony Patio Bar next. Also more to come regarding the rest of our visit on Mackinac Island.

So much to see and so little time. We attended the rifle demonstration, the walking tour, and the cannon demonstration each led by persons dressed up as riflemen at the time who were happy to share their knowledge. Even if you're not into history, the view from Fort Mackinac are worthwhile along with views of the downtown area and the lakes of Michigan. I felt like there was definitely more to see, but due to time constraints, we had to depart before seeing it all. Definitely worthwhile in my opinion. Plus, your admission ticket includes all the other nearby exhibits.

We thoroughly enjoyed our visit to Fort Mackinac. Well-maintained with a lot of great artifacts and history. The staff are dressed in period costumes and were all quick to share the history and answer questions. We enjoyed the firing of the canon and the bugle played both at morning reveille and flag raising and the evening flag lowering. We could hear this most mornings and evenings.

It is about $17 per adult to access Fort Mackinac , but the pricing includes entrances to other buildings within the historic district, take time to look at the brochure they give you so you understand what you can get into. We didn't arrive until 430 so she told us our tickets were good for the next day as well so we will most likely be back tomorrow. This is a very cool part of history of the upper peninsula And how this fort was an operation until the late 1800s. There are so many cool artifacts, different buildings that you can access of how they lived and several hologram take movies that are playing to give you a feel for what it was like during this time in history. The views of here are absolutely amazing, but please know there is a climb to make as well as about 27 steps- I think she said - which we were super happy for some extra cardio work today, but maybe more difficult for some others. At 5 PM they shoot the canon and they will tell you the history behind this event. This was quite cool to experience. It was super fun that different Boy Scout troops get to come here for a week and serve as volunteers while they get to explore the island , how fun is that?

The fort is up the hill overlooking the bay. This is the oldest building in Michigan from 1780. In 1812, British regular soldiers, Canadian voyageurs & Native Americans captured Mackinac Island in the Siege of Fort Mackinac.

This is a really cool stop on Mackinac Island. Really interesting history to the fort, and the displays and learning areas are very well done. No spoiler here, but be sure to visit the hospital area - a bit creepy given what we know about modern medicine now. Great little snack and "tea" patio with a gorgeous view of the harbor, we tried the scones and were quite happy about our choice. Excellent service all around the fort. Employees are very nice. Cannon and rifle demonstrations were good too - all the kids running around loved that part...

Given the cold, windy and soon to be rainy weather we opted to tour the fort given other touring options like biking were out. A bit pricy at $17 but it did get you admission to two other nearby museums. We watching the rifle demonstration and then wandered through the exhibits in the different buildings. The medical building was the most interesting and gruesome. We spent less than 45 minutes here so not sure it was worth it though the views from the fort are good.

Road Trip Great Lakes Loop (From Philly) Stop: Mackinac Island, Michigan One of the most unique and memorable stops on our Great Lakes road trip was Mackinac Island. To get there, you take a ferry--no cars are allowed on the island, which immediately gives it a distinctive, charming feel. It's like stepping back in time... at least until you see the Starbucks. Unfortunately, that was the first thing I noticed when I arrived, and it felt a little out of place. It's the only national chain I noticed, but even one feels like too many in a place that thrives on its small-town character and local businesses. It just detracted a bit from the authenticity of the island. That aside, the island offers a lot: you can explore on foot, rent a bike, or enjoy a carriage ride pulled by horses. The pace is slower, and that's part of the appeal. There are plenty of restaurants, shops, and historic sites to visit, and it's easy to spend a whole day--or several--just wandering. A highlight for many is the Grand Hotel, made famous by the film Somewhere in Time. Even if you're not staying there, it's worth checking out for the architecture and views alone. In short, Mackinac Island is a beautiful and fascinating place--rich in history and scenery. I just hope future development stays in harmony with what makes it so special in the first place. Almost forgot to mention, they are dog friendly.

WOW!!! Highlight of our trip to Mackinac Island. My boyfriend and I both really enjoy history and we had a great time learning about the military history of the fort and the island. The demonstrations were really cool and the exhibits were informative and entertaining. We got to chat a bit with Josiah, the reenactor who did the rifle demonstration and he taught us a lot about the history of the rifle he was using. You can get a great vantage point to see the rest of the island from the fort and we spent a decent amount of time there and definitely got our money's worth! Great place to spend a sunny day.

Fort Mackinac is a great stop on Mackinac Island, but not one that I would need to go to more than once every ten years. It has lots of history, great guides, and they even set off the canon often. Great views of the bridge from the fort.

We have loved going to the Fort for many years. We love having lunch at a the Tea Room. Our most recent visit we were surprised to find that the bathrooms are now gender neutral. My daughter walked in and found a man going to the bathroom with the door open. She was scared and ran out. In addition, it took over an hour and a half to receive our food, the drinks alone took 40 minutes to receive. I can no longer recommend the Fort.

Historically inaccurate, cheaply put together and typos galore, I would hardly call this a museum. It's more like a playground. After 30 years of coming, I wonder where all of the money goes because it's not used to update anything inside. Besides the dead bugs and dust (which I get adds to it), there are a few untruths you'll find throughout the museum and some places that genocidal people are made to be heroes (hence historical inaccuracies). The history of people of color is well dismissed to make for a happy-go-lucky story of war and colonization. Either way, I just wish they'd do something for accessibility. I don't know why the island Tourism board doesn't care about disabilities but I wish they did. I wish every person could enjoy this island but that's not their dream for the island, I guess.

Interesting to walk around the historic fort. Several officers quarters, etc. open to visitors. Great video on the history of Mackinac Island. The restaurant has decent lunch and one of the best views on the island. The entrance fee was reasonable as well.

A little bit of a workout if you're older or out of shape to get up the hill to the fort but worth it. Soldiers dressed in period uniforms. Scheduled cannon and rifle firings. Beautiful views. Several historic buildings with replica period items and descriptions. Probably fits the history buffs the best and family with tweens or teens. I haven't been back in 17 years and enjoyed the re-visit. I would recommend.

Very well kept fort. Interesting exhibits and lots of different buildings and interactive areas. We were able to catch a rifle demonstration and drill.

Really good experience, takes you back in time with an accurate depiction of what it must've been like at such a difficult time...not just a stationary museum, but they display how a cannon was set up and fired...they actually fire a cannon during the demonstration!!! They also show a musket being loaded and fired, and it really hits home the difficulty soldiers faced at the time...and makes you proud of our soldiers in current time as they spend hours away from loved ones training to protect our country! It is an exceptional value, and a must see...

We bought our ticket and enjoyed all the areas you could tour. The view from the fort is the best!!! We watched the cannon firing..exciting! With a ticket purchase you get to visit the art museum, the biddle house, and the fur company. A lot to enjoy for the price. I recommend doing this and you can go at your own pace.

If you love history then this is the place for you. But if you have a family with little kids or not into history then this fort may be more meh for your liking. Fort Michilimackinac on the mainland is a bit more interactive and has more things to check out along with demonstrations. However, I think coming to Fort Mackinac every 5-10 years would serve its purpose. If you buy tickets online then you save a $1.00 otherwise the normal ticket price is not bad for the admissions fee. Tickets are bought at the base of the fort in town by the water. The ticket location also has some local history that is interesting to read about. Now - brace yourself for the climb up the hill! It is a long and rough hike but the views are worth it! However, I was a bit underwhelmed when entering the fort. Buildings are built along the fort and create a rectangle with the middle of the fort having an open field. Soldiers were singing songs and shooting off their guns for a demonstration. Each building had some historical information but a lot felt bare. While other buildings had a lot of cool stuff inside like the infirmary with old medical tools or the officers' quarters. Not a lot of interactive exhibits for kids but there is a whole building dedicated just for kids. We went to the cannonball demonstration which was interesting and the soldiers did a nice job explaining how the cannon works. We also took a walking tour which was not much of a walk. Instead, it was a solider explaining how the soldiers lived while we walked about 50 yards on the open field. We stayed here for about 2 hours and we took our time through each building and went to each building. We also stopped by the gift shop which was large and had a lot of cute things. Not your average gift shop. A snack cart had some beverages and goodies if you wanted something to eat/drink but did not want to eat at the Tea House. The Tea House looked super cute and looked like it had very nice views of the straits and the island. The public For Mackinac bathrooms had plenty of stalls and were clean. The fort is a great place to visit but I would not visit every year. It is a nice break from the craziness of town and lots of history to learn. I did learn a ton, especially about the war that occurred and how the fort was used. Great place and ever better views!

Worth the walk up the hill - it'll take about 15 mins but the views are beyond worth it. Also, pretty much every half hour or so there are live presentations of the life of the soldiers during the early 1800s which is really neat. Again, enjoy the scene and walk into all the reenactment rooms of the era.

I love historic sites so, of course, it's getting a good review. There are a large number of diverse buildings to explore with videos, signage, and live cast members to explain their function and importance. There was even a school house to teach the large number of illiterate enlisted men reading and basic math. The tearoom is open for lunch with stunning views from high up the hill. Actually, the entire fort has gorgeous views. Your ticket will also get you into a half dozen other historic sites and museums.

We had a great afternoon at the fort on a very clear day. I have two sons who enjoyed the open space and learned about the history of the fort. We spent about 1.5 hours there and there were two demonstrations during our visit. Souvenir shop was not over priced as the rest of the businesses in the area. Compared to walking around on the main strip, our half day trip was worth it because we visited the fort. Adult admission prices were $15.95 and kids under 12 was $10.95. Great photo opportunities as well!

A lot of amazing history! Too much to see in one sitting, but amazing and informative just the same. I will not hesitate to visit again and again. Head to the restaurant (where the yellow umbrellas are) and enjoy lunch and the views. Arrive before noon to get the best seating. It rained briefly while we were having lunch, but the umbrellas are so well positioned that I hardly felt a drop.

Great family spot. Fun and exciting to see how soldiers lived when the fort was occupied. Wonderful views. Don't forget to stop at the tea room for a bite. Clean bathrooms.

Very cool historic site on Mackinac Island that should be seen by all! I came here with family on our trip to Mackinac and so glad that we did. You learn so much about the fort and it's history under British and American rule. There's so much to see and do within the fort walls. There is also live demonstrations as well so you can feel the history come alive around you. This is a must if you come to Mackinac Island!

For the best description, the following 1st paragraph is from Wikipedia..... Fort Mackinac (pronounced: MACK-in-awe) is a former British and American military outpost garrisoned from the late 18th century to the late 19th century in the city of Mackinac Island, Michigan, on Mackinac Island. The British built the fort during the American Revolutionary War to control the strategic Straits of Mackinac between Lake Michigan and Lake Huron, and by extension the fur trade on the Great Lakes. The British did not relinquish the fort until fifteen years after American independence. This is a beautifully restored fort on Mackinac Island. It's quite a climb to get to the Fort itself, it's beautiful grounds and well restored buildings such as a fort of its days would have such as barracks, some family homes, a small school a grocery outpost and most importantly a source of furs by a thriving fur economy back in the day. There is a US flag with 38 stars inside one of the more military buildings. It's pretty much a self guided leisurely tour with a map taking about 1 1/2 to 2 hours long including the long walk up to the Fort. The staff are dressed up in outfits of the era and military outfits. The highlight of visiting is they actually have a regular canon shooting. Where the canon is located it has an actual excellent vantage point to blow up the enemy ships that passed through Lake Superior and Lake Huron back in the day. They do actually pack the canon and shoot it with about a 15 minute prior history discussion. From the vantage point of where the canon sits is a breathtaking view of Mackinac Island below and beautiful Lake Superior and Lake Huron. If you have hearing issues, in the prior presentation they suggest for you to stand way back or have ear protection. The Fort is closed during the winter because of the strong winds, bitter cold and usually frozen Lake Superior and Huron. These 2 huge ocean like lakes have taken down many large powerful ships in the past century and prior. They lay at the bottom of the lakes usually torn apart from the winds and rough storms. It's pretty much impossible to come and go to the island during the winter months. Due to the strong winds and high windchill temps the lakes usually freeze over very thickly and special large ice breaking ships are required to attempt to break up the frozen lakes. Mackinac Island for the most part is abandoned during the winter months with only a few year round residents. No cars are allowed on the island or Fort. During the warm weather and tourist season you can only commute on the island by horse, bicycles or foot. I believe you can reach the island for emergencies by helicopter. The island is accessible in warm weather by high speed shuttle boats. This is a quite interesting Fort and island. The island requires a review of its own. Great family destination for a mini vacation or a busy day.

I'll be honest. My expectations weren't high for this stop and I was a bit hesitant to pay the fee and add it to our schedule. Man was I wrong! What a great time. Interactive and educational. And wow, the views!!!

Great history and some reenactment that was interesting. Took about 2 hours to go through.

Come on... climb the steps, burn off some of that fudge, and get a history lesson. If you don't know about the Island and what it means to the US give it a whirl the Fort has a solid place in American History. Seriously this place is dripping in historical significance. Mackinac Island is a feast for the senses - you have already treated your nose to the road apples and your tummy to some fudge why not treat your brain to the stories and your eyes to the views, some of the best on an Island that has many.

The biggest attraction of the Mackinac Island along with the Arch Rock. You can save a bit if you purchase tickets online. The fort itself is beautiful and well maintained. You can see them firing a cannon right after opening (at 11:15 am) and before closing. Lots of information about history of the fort (trade, war, etc) and great views of town as a bonus!

Fort Mackinac has to be one of the coolest forts I've visited. We went high peak season in June but not a lot of people around the fort at the time we went. (Covid 19 - Unfortunately not a lot of people like to wear their masks inside of the buildings...) The buildings were informative and insightful. Despite covid, I like how they still had actors to re-enact some of history, like shooting a cannon and showing us a "fight" on the field. It makes you realize how real this place once was. You typically need 2-3 hours or so to enjoy everything here, if you want to go to every building and reach everything.

Like most, our time was limited on the island. We wanted to browse through the stores, see the Grand Hotel and see the historic sites. From street level the fort looked cool and even as we climbed the hill to get a better look, felt we wouldn't drop $30 to see the inside. When we got to the top we changed our mind. Good call! I've been to many forts and this one ranks as one of the best. Most of the property is as it was 125 yrs ago, with each building preserving it's historical signicance and use. Artifacts are well documented, many buildings include video and/or audio enhancements and visitors are able to walk away learning a great deal about the fort. Favorites here included the cannon shot, the troop reenactment, amazing views and the artifacts in each building. Don't leave the island without stopping in, it's a national treasure.

It's the best Fort i visited so far, lots of green, lots of story, and lots of demonstration and events. Even has a restaurant overlook the lake, so beautiful!

We were very surprised that they were dog friendly but we were so excited! The dogs loved to explore and got very excited during the riffle demonstration. The views were some of the best I've ever seen!

I had visited before, as a child. But, it was also fun to explore this historical spot as an adult. Much to see and absorb for all ages, worth the uphill climb. Excellent views.

A bit pricey in my opinion (even relatively speaking) but there is a lot to do and the live demonstrations are really cool.

This is the must see sight of Mackinac Island! The Fort has a lovely museum about this history of the Island and the Fort. They do demonstrations and tours throughout the day which are a must see. The cost is $15 for the day and takes about 2 hours to see everything.

Had a good time here. Steep walk up the hill to get to the entrance from the main street. I'd keep that in mind if you have a member who can't make it. Then you should go in through the back entrance. The fort itself was pretty impressive. The buildings, being their age, were very tidy and well maintained. They were preserved beautifully, and you could still interact with loads of stuff. There is a snack cart, but when I went by it was unattended. I saw someone take a water bottle and end up putting the money in the tip jar as nobody was there to serve him. I had a good time here, and with it being very hot outside, the buildings seemed pretty cool and shady. Great views from the fort. Nice little half hour/hour long activity depending on how long you want to spend here. Nice little gift shop too. Great pictures, great history placards, good little experience.

Nice piece of history on Mackinac Island! While we didn't study each and every display, we definitely appreciated the effort and work put into education and preservation. The views from the fort was good enough for the entry fee!

Definitely recommend visiting, especially if you have children. They have many buildings and exhibits to explore. There are also regular demonstrations and a lovely restaurant.

I truly love history and especially American history. Being able to tour the fort is great for anyone who loves early American history. If you go in the front entrance get ready for a steep incline walk to the top. It is wheelchair accessible, but if you are someone who requires that option, I hope you have someone help push you to the top! There are people here dressed in historical costumes who will put on shows, teach kids how to play games of the time period, and speak of the times. Each building in the fort speaks about a different aspect of history: education, medical, living quarters. There is one larger building near the top of the hill that has the actual museum for the fort. This houses some artifacts of the time, and educational information about the fort.

Getting to the fort isn't very accessible so it you have strollers/wagons to haul or are in a wheelchair/have any medical issues, the fort isn't very accessible. It's a workout to get in and a few of the buildings will be impossible to get into. The views from the top are worth the walk up though. The attractions and buildings are interesting, but not exactly worth the price. If you have the time, I would recommend the fort in Mackinac City more than the one on the island. The fort does have a gift shop and food and beverage carts if you need a snack. We were in and out within an hour.

Girlfriend and I are big history buffs, and really enjoyed coming up to this. I didn't get to go my first time on the island, so this was great. Pet friendly as well. Very interesting to see it all, and they even do a canon fire and rifle fire every so often. We didn't get to check out the little restaurant up there, but it looked good. The fort has a beautiful view of the island overlooking the harbor with the marina and ferries. I would recommend anyone to go up and visit. Be prepared though, it's A LOT of uphill to get to the fort.

Better than I expected. Lots to see and learn. They did an excellent job of preserving the way the soldiers lived. We really liked it.

A must see if you visit the island. The The actors were really well versed and seemed to be very knowledgeable. There is a lot of history here. The canon firing was cool.

i liked coming here a lot because i love learning about history and drawing buildings in my sketch book.

This large historic wooden fort overlooking the town and the water of the lake is quite impressive from far away, and even more so up close. Explore the slopes of the hill leading up from downtown and you'll appreciate how hard it must be to try to take this fort. It has a complex history considering the somewhat remote location, switching hands between the French, British, and Americans multiple times. On weekends, there are demonstrations with firing the cannons and muskets as well as staff in historic dress. It's a great place to discover the history of the lakes and this impressive fort.

I'm not a big history buff, and many of the guides said to allow for 1-2 hours, but our family of 6 spent almost 4 hours here. I could see how someone could get through the place in an hour, but we really enjoyed watching the firing of the cannon, the tour, and the firing of the rifles (we did this twice and each time was quite a bit different). Each tour/demonstration takes about 10 - 20 minutes and there is something about every half hour, so it is easy to check out a few buildings and then watch the next one. It was very educational and I think everyone except our 4 month old learned a lot and really enjoyed it. The boy scouts were around to help us take the stroller up and down steps which made the Fort much easier to navigate. Our entry into the Fort allowed us entry into several other places in the city to learn more about the history of the island and life there in the 1800s. It's worth the entry fee, as long as you take in the tours/demonstrations.

Fun to visit-- takes less than two hours. Worth the trip, especially if you haven't visited similar facilities before. Guys doing riflery and cannon demos were earnest, but you could tell they'd done it a lot on times over the holiday weekend. For me a highlight was the audiovisual presentation in the hospital building. Videos presented on the walls inside compare and contrast civil war era medicine with modern day diagnosing and treatment. We did this in the late afternoon and then headed to town for dinner.