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 #RockSolidHistory from #MackinacIsland and #FortMackinac in #Michigan!
This fort, which was active for more than 100 years, had not only soldiers staying onsite, but their families too. The Reading Room was a versatile place, including a library and schoolhouse for the soldiers and their children. Yes, the schoolhouse was for night school for adults, as well as day school for children. Interestingly, the small library had the book “Anne” by Constance Fenimore Woolson. The story is set on Mackinac Island, and Woolson knew the island well because she spent her childhood summers here in the 1840s. Woolson’s book, which was extremely popular in the 1880s, gives a true snapshot of how life used to be on the island. It reflects her true experiences. You can read it for free online today. #thisismackinac #AnneBook #ConstanceFenimoreWoolson #MackinacHistory #LiteraryHistory #FortMackinacReadingRoom #UPMichiganHistory
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 #RockSolidHistory and #SmallBusinessSaturday from northern New Jersey!
You can find my book “A Rock Solid History of Hawthorne, New Jersey” at local establishments such as #ColourandWhim in Hawthorne, #TheCuriousReader in Glen Rock, and #BookEnds in Ridgewood. This book takes grade-school children on a journey through history, told through local rocks, in this town. Children can go and see these rocks in the parks, cemeteries, old buildings and more, like a scavenger hunt! It sneakily teaches social studies and earth science in a fun away. My book builds curiosity in children. Soon enough, children will then see history wherever they go. #ShopLocally2025 #Independentbookstores #Indiebooks #Growyourlocalbusinesses  #RockSolidHistory and #HappyThanksgiving2025 from #LakeGeorgeVillage in New York!
Today we are celebrating the contributions of Native Americans. One such contribution is commemorated with a wooden sculpture in #LakeGeorge New York. Created by Oregon sculptor Paul Stark, this wood carving celebrates both Major Robert Rogers' and local Mohicans' roles in French and Indian War in the 1750s. They called themselves the “Rogers Rangers.” Together they conducted guerilla type scouting and warfare often in a canoe, like in this art piece. The battles were between the French and Native Americans, who were helped by local British settlers. These battles pre-dated the official founding of the United States. Major Rogers wrote the "Rules of Ranging" during this time at Fort William Henry on Lake George, which is still used by military experts today. The sculpture in Lake George, made from a pine tree sourced from the Catskills, was dedicated in 2017 and measures 24 feet with life-size likenesses. The art was purchased through local businesses, independent donations, and a sum from the village and town of Lake George to help promote cultural heritage tourism and history. #LakeGeorgeHistory #RogersRuleofRanging #FortWilliamHenry #FrenchandIndianWar #NewYorkHistory #MohicanHistory #SculptorPaulStark #NYheritagetourism #NYhistory #AdirondackHistory  #RockSolidHistory from #MackinacIsland and its wonderous #ArchRock.
This circle that peers into Lake Superior is created from breccia. Breccia is a limestone bedrock that is very easily eroded, but also cemented back with calcium carbonate over time, creating a jagged and rough appearance but a much stronger rock. The formation of Arch Rock was carved out after the last Ice Age by melting glaciers and their strong waves. Nearby, there was also a breccia formation called Fairy Arch, it had been obscured by vegetation until Dr. John R. Bailey found it in 1866. It looked like a portal into the lake. It became a tourist destination for 80 years, but then was destroyed in a stabilization effort in the 1940s. Arch Rock and Fairy Rock are just a few of famous (or formerly famous) rock formations on Mackinac Island State Park. Today there is also Robinson’s Folly, Friendship’s Altar, and Gibraltar Craig. #Breccia #mackinacisle #UPMichigane #UpperPenninsula #Michiganislandlife #MichiganLakeLife #MichiaganUP #MichiganUpperPenninsula #UPNorth #ArchRock #FairyRock #AftertheIceAge #MichiganGeology #MackinacGeology #LimestoneWonder #RockSolidHistory from #MackinacIsland in Michigan and #LakeGeroge in New York! Strangely I came across two places with imitation Statue of Liberties in the past few months.
The first, on Mackinac Island, was dedicated by the Boy Scouts of America in 1959. It reads. “With the faith and courage of their forefathers who made possible the freedom of these United States, the Boy Scouts of America dedicate this replica of the statue of liberty as a pledge of everlasting fidelity and loyalty.” The second, on the shore of Lake George, seems to be owned privately. There is not much information to be found online. But it can be seen during steamboat cruises on the lake. #StatueofLibertyreplicas #StatueofLibertyHistory #LadyLibertyispopular #BoyScoutsofAmericapatriotism #mackinacisle #UPMichigan #UpperPenninsula #Michiganislandlife #MichiganLakeLife #MichiaganUP #MichiganUpperPenninsula #UPNorth  #RockSolidHistory from #MackinacIsland in Michigan!
This chapel, known as the Missionary Bark Chapel, is an imitation relic of the time when French Jesuit missionary Jacques Marquette arrived and founded the first European settlements in Michigan. The chapel is now located on the green in #MackinacIslandStatePark, and is built in the wigwam style once used by the Anishinaabe tribe. Apparently, missionaries lived in such chapels and tried to Christianize Native Americans. Marquette built one on the island in 1670. #ExplorerHistory #JacquesMarquette #SaultSaintMarieHistory #ChicagoHistory #MackinacIslandHistory #IllinioisHistory #WisconsinHistory #JesuitMissionaryHistory #Wigwamchapel #MissionaryBarkChapel  #RockSolidHistory from #MackinacIsland and the green that is part of #MackinacIslandStatePark.
Here on this big open area that overlooks the Haldimand Bay sits a monument that is a little rough looking. Anchored to breccia or limestone conglomerate rock found here, this plaque was dedicated as the most historic spot in Michigan by the Daughters of the American Revolution (D.A.R.) in 1931. This is because #FortMackinac is just up the hill (and seen in the background) and protected the United States for many years and through many wars – the American Revolution and War of 1812, to name just a few. #mackinacisle #UPMichigan #UpperPenninsula #Michiganislandlife #MichiganLakeLife #MichiaganUP #MichiganUpperPenninsula #UPNorth #FortMackinachistory #DARmarker #DaughtersoftheAmericanRevolutionMichigan #RockSolidHistory from #Fort Mackinac! It is a whitewashed, stone-walled fortress that looms above downtown Mackinac and dates back to the American Revolution, as well as the War of 1812.
There are 14 restored buildings on site that each tell a different part of the fort’s history. What is really fun is the firing of the cannon at 11 am. Another interesting bit is that it was not always under American control. It flip-flopped back and forth between the U.S. and Canada (British). The island was originally a place of fur trading and home to the Anishinaabe, who are also known as the Odawa, Ojibway, and Potawatomi, and many descendants still live in the area. In fact, the name Michilmackinac means “great turtle” in their language. Now the island a big tourist destination. #mackinacisle #UPMichigan #UpperPenninsula #Michiganislandlife #MichiganLakeLife #MichiaganUP #MichiganUpperPenninsula #UPNorth #Anishinaabehistory #Michilmackinac #FortMackinachistory #RockSolidHistory from Comerica Park in Detroit! Now, baseball season is over, sadly, but history lives on in this beautiful ballpark.
This stadium, built in 2000 for the Detroit Tigers, has a tour of baseball and lifestyle history on the main concourse. It is a great way to spend your time before games begin. There is also a row of 6 bronze statues encapsulating Tigers baseball legends: Ty Cobb, Al Kaline, Charlie Gehringer, Hank Greenberg, Hal Newhouser, and Willie Horton. #DetroitSights #ComericaPark #DetroitTigers #DetroitTigersHistory #BaseballHistory #MLBHistory |
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