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Show AMERICANA Things To S Mackinac Island, Michigan r , , " ': ? ! 1 i v I HRHt ' ' : . ::.... : " : 4 -W x I 1 -W-'-)" - 9!" S--' i 5 v W . .'' - .5. , ii k-fc t !..'- - r,i-l', S h I fc . ' I i , , i I iili 'l 'VC - v c .. jam im'Ww'wM'i'irrlyffl' & !j ' ' ' T "f 8 In historic Michigan, standing guard over the harbor at Mackinac Island is old Fort Mackinac, preserved today exactly as it looked when built in 1780. Massive limestone ramparts, cannon and block Jiouses are some of its interesting features. The fort also contains a museum displaying relics pf early Michigan history. The ancient fort, giant old homes and the magnificent Grand Hotel are some of the top attractions that have made tranquil Mackinac Island a favorite fa-vorite with vacation travelers in Michigan. Mackinac Island played a vital role in the struggle between England and France for supremacy suprem-acy in the new world. Those who controlled the island controlled the rich fur trade of the great northwest. In the village of Mackinac Island, which stretches leisurely leisure-ly along the Straits coast, the old Astor Trading Post and the mission church stand as they were built, to mention Just a few of the higher points of interest. The original homes of the Astors and Biddies are landmarks also of the island. The Indians dubbed the Island "the great turtle," (Michilimack-inac) (Michilimack-inac) and thought it to be "the place of the dancing spirits" where lived Mishaboo, god of the waters, and his attendant gods. Until 1760 the French held the region. It was abandoned to the English after Wolfe's victory at Quebec in 1759; the island and the entire great lakes region became be-came British crown land in 1763. Fifteen years after the close of the American revolution, Mackinac Mack-inac Island was turned over to the United Sfates, but it was lost to the British during the War of 1812, only to be regained in 1815. Medical -history Is written in the annals of Mackinac Island. In the old fort Dr. William Beaumont Beau-mont discovered much of what we know of the digestive system by observing the process at firsthand first-hand through an opening in the stomach of a wounded French-Canadian, French-Canadian, Alexis St. Martin. Today To-day Beaumont memorial stands as a monument to one of America's Amer-ica's first medical researchers. |