Old Mackinaw; Or, The Fortress of the Lakes and its Surroundings

About this book

Old Mackinaw is a nineteenth‑century historical and geographical compendium that treats the Mackinac Island region as a focal point for the Great Lakes’ early settlement, native legend, and commercial development. The work opens with a detailed preface that lists the many primary sources consulted, Jesuit relations, Schoolcraft’s ethnographies, and contemporary trade reports, before launching into a series of numbered chapters. The first chapter already blends myth and fact, recounting Indian legends of Hiawatha, the Ottawas and Ojibwas, and the spiritual trials of youths such as San‑ge‑man, while the later chapters expand to cover French and English forts, fur‑trade routes, mineral resources, and the prospects of a future city at Mackinaw. The author’s exhaustive bibliography and the inclusion of statistical tables underscore the book’s ambition to be a definitive reference on the area’s history, culture, and natural resources.

The narrative voice is that of an erudite Victorian scholar, marked by formal diction, extensive footnote‑style citations, and occasional archaic spellings that reflect the 1860 publication date. Its style alternates between descriptive travelogue, ethnographic observation, and economic analysis, offering a dense but rewarding read for readers interested in early American frontier history, Native American folklore, or the development of the Upper Midwest’s trade networks. Those who appreciate thorough, source‑driven works rather than fast‑paced storytelling will find this volume a valuable window into the lore and logistics of the Lakes’ “Fortress.