Michilimackinac is a name for the region mostly in the present U.S. state of Michigan around the Straits of Mackinac between Lake Huron and Lake Michigan.

The Ojibwa (or Chippewa) along with Ottawa inhabitated the area at the time of European contact. The French were the first Europeans to arrive, establishing trading posts and missions. One of the oldest named "St. Ignatius" was located on the north side of the strait at Point Iroquois, near present-day St. Ignace, Michigan. This mission was established by the Jesuit Father Jacques Marquette in 1671 and the village around the mission became known as "Mackinac" or "Michilmackinac" and later as "Old Michilmackinac" or "Ancient Fort Mackinac".

The French later established a settlement on the south side of the strait that became known as Fort Michilimackinac, near present-day Mackinaw City, Michigan.

The main fortifications defending the area were again moved to Mackinac Island and became known as Fort Mackinac.

Today, Michilimackinac is a tourist site. Old activities of the French and English are re-enacted and the archeological dig can be seen.

External links

• Psenka, Charles J [2008] (2008). Michilimackinac. Leelanau, Mich.: SBTC. Retrieved on 2008-07-17. 
• Fuller, George Newman [1926?] (2005). A history of the upper peninsula of Michigan. Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan Library. Retrieved on 2006-06-11. 
• Robinson, George [1873] (2005). History of Cheboygan and Mackinac Counties. Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan Library. Retrieved on 2006-06-11. 
• Strang, James Jesse [1854] (2005). Ancient and modern Michilimackinac, including an account of the controversy between Mackinac and the Mormons. Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan Library. Retrieved on 2006-06-11. 

This article relating to the history of the United States is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.