![Vintage Photos of Mackinac Island, Michigan: 1866-1945](http://townsquare.media/site/691/files/2020/09/worthpoint.com-MACKINAC-ISLAND-DOWNTOWN-1910s.jpg?w=980&q=75)
Vintage Photos of Mackinac Island, Michigan: 1866-1945
In the 1630s, the first European set foot on Mackinac Island.
In 1715, the French built Fort Michilimackinac on the tip of what is now Mackinaw City.
In 1780, after the British took control of the fort away from the French, they re-located it to Mackinac Island as Fort Mackinac.
By the late 1800s, tourists began visiting Mackinac Island and it became one of THE places to be. The military significance on the island was pushed to second place, with tourism taking over, which it remains as its #1 focus.
Victorian, 1800s-type homes and cottages sprang up along with unique hotels and boarding houses that appealed to visitors who wanted to stay a few nights on the island.
The making of fudge began in 1887 with Murdick’s Fudge, still there making fudge, with a good handful of other fudgemakers following Murdick’s lead.
The banning of automobiles and other vehicle traffic began in the 1890s and continues.
That was a very brief encapsulation of Mackinac Island’s past. Now take a look below to see what the island looked like over 100 years ago, as far back as 1866!
(Photos are available at worthpoint.com)
A LOOK AT MACKINAC ISLAND, 1866-1945
MORE NORTHERN MICHIGAN STUFF!
Vintage Photos of Mackinaw City
Deserted Fourteen Mile Point Lighthouse
Les Cheneaux Islands
![94.9 WMMQ logo](https://townsquare.media/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/WMMQFM.png?w=100)
More From 94.9 WMMQ
![Lucky Lansing Resident Wins Over 800K With The Michigan Lottery](http://townsquare.media/site/694/files/2020/09/RS2397_126989085.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![NEVER FORGET: 9/11 and the Days After in Images](http://townsquare.media/site/341/files/2020/09/Untitled-design-40.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![45 Years Ago: How Kiss Finally Hit It Big on the ‘Alive!’ Tour](http://townsquare.media/site/295/files/2020/09/GettyImages-149243349.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![When We Could See the Fall Colors](http://townsquare.media/site/694/files/2019/10/GettyImages-185476193-1-e1570665179909.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Adam Sandler Returns To Netflix With ‘Hubie Halloween’ Trailer](http://townsquare.media/site/442/files/2020/09/hubie-halloween.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![GVSU Surpasses All Other Michigan Universities In COVID Cases](http://townsquare.media/site/693/files/2020/09/gvsu.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Matt Stafford Attended the Same High School as Bobby Layne](http://townsquare.media/site/668/files/2020/09/Stafford-and-Layne.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Bowling Lanes Reopen for Organized Sports and More](http://townsquare.media/site/691/files/2020/09/RS10810_163145115.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Listen to Previously Unreleased Tom Petty Song ‘Confusion Wheel’](http://townsquare.media/site/295/files/2020/09/PettyConfusion.jpg?w=980&q=75)