Michilimackinac

Chronology:

1,000 BC to 1650 AD - Semi-nomadic peoples at Straits of Mackinac. By 1650 AD Anishanabeg people at Straits of Mackinac.

1634 - Jean Nicolet passes through the Straits of Mackinac looking for the Northwest Passage.

1670 - Father Claude Dablon, S.J. visits Straits of Mackinac and winters on Mackinac Island.

1671 - Father Jacques Marquette, S.J. brings Hurons to Straits of Mackinac, and establishes Mission of St. Ignace on north side of straits near existing Odawa village.

1670's - Fur trade community flourishes around St. Ignace Mission.

1680 - 1690 - Fort DuBaude established near mission.

1697 - Fort DuBaude abandoned, but community remains, eventually moving to south side of straits.

1705 - Jesuits abandon and burn mission of St. Ignace.

1706 - French fortify St. Ignace in response to unrest at Detroit. Jesuits thereafter maintain seasonal mission at St. Ignace.

1708 - Major fire damages Odawa village and fort.

1708 - 1710 - Odawa relocate village to south shore of straits.

1714 - Jesuits reestablish mission of St. Ignace on south shore of straits.

Fort Michilimackinac Period
1715 - French military reestablish presence at straits and construct Fort Michilimackinac near Odawa community and Jesuit mission on the south side of the straits.

1716 - Residents of Fort Michilimackinac participate in victorious attack on Fox tribe in Wisconsin.

1728 - Commandant of Michilimackinac leads combined French, Odawa and Ojibwa force from Michilimackinac into Wisconsin to defeat the Fox. The Fox avoid battle.

1733 - Another force of French and American Indian allies assembles at Michilimackinac and launches an expedition into Green Bay against the Fox. Commandant of Michilimackinac killed in battle. Expansion of fort begins with new layout for buildings.

1739 - Michilimackinac serves as base for French expedition against the Chickasaw south of the Ohio River. Despite some success, Chickasaw never decisively defeated.

1742 - Odawa relocate 25 miles south at L'Arbre Croche. Jesuits transfer St. Ignace mission to new location, but maintain a parish church at Fort Michilimackinac.

1743 - New parish church building constructed at Fort Michilimackinac and named in honor of Ste. Anne.

1744 - Tensions between French and English erupt into "King George's War."

1747 to 1748 - Fort repaired and expanded.

1747 - American Indian unrest and attacks on French at Michilimackinac and Detroit.


1751 - Construction of new guardhouse authorized. Expansion of fort toward lake authorized.


1752 - Charles Langlade leads party of Odawa and French in a successful raid on the aggressive English traders at Pickawillany in Ohio country.

1753 - Large Indian council held at Fort Michilimackinac. Each nation agrees to ally with the French.

1755 - Warriors from Michilimackinac help defeat General Edward Braddock at Fort Duquesne in Pennsylvania.

1759 - Fall of Quebec

1760 - French defeated at Montreal.
New France passes into British hands. Troops from Fort Michilimackinac present at both battles.

October 1760 - French evacuate fort.

September 1761 - British take control of Fort Michilimackinac following French and Indian War.

1763 - Fort Michilimackinac attacked and captured by American Indian tribes as part of Pontiac's Uprising.

1764 - Fort Michilimackinac returned to the British by American Indians. British arrive aboard the Schooner Gladwin, the first sailing vessel to call at the straits since the ill-fated Griffin in 1679.

1765 - Jesuit mission of St. Ignace at L'Arbre Croche closes. Development of Michilimackinac suburbs begins.

1766 - Commandant Robert Rogers dispatches exploration party in search of northwest water passage to Pacific Ocean.

1770 - Soldiers' Barracks and Commanding Officer's House completed.

1772 to 1775 - Major repairs and improvement to walls, platforms, stairs and gates.

1773 - New King's Storehouse completed.

1774 - Commandant DePeyster holds council of Ojibwa and Sioux at Michilimackinac.

October 1779 - Clearing of land begins on Mackinac Island.

November 1779 - First house moved to Mackinac Island.

1780 to 1781 - Fort Michilimackinac moved to Mackinac Island. What is not moved is burned.

Post-Fort Period
1857 - Modern-day Mackinaw City is platted. Site of fort at "Old Mackinac Point" reserved within a community park.

1880 - Railroad arrives at Mackinaw City and small community develops according to 1857 plat.

1904 - Village of Mackinaw City transfers park to State of Michigan.

1909 - Park designated "Michilimackinac State Park" and placed under the care of the Mackinac Island State Park Commission.

1920's - Park develops into a popular summer campground.

1930's - Early reconstruction of fort palisade erected on original site.

1958 - Park Commission begins historical museum program.

1959 - Professional archaeology begins at fort site.

1960 - 1930's fort dismantled and reconstruction of fort based on archaeological evidence begins.

Website:
Colonial Michilimackinac History

Photos: