Historic Mill Creek State Park
Encyclopedia
Historic Mill Creek State Park is a state park
, nature preserve, and historic site in the U.S. state of Michigan
. It is run by Mackinac State Historic Parks, the operating arm of the Mackinac Island State Park
. 625 acres (2.5 km²) in size, the park is located 5 miles (8 km) southeast of Mackinaw City, Michigan
on U.S. Highway 23.
at Mill Creek operated from about 1790 until 1839. It was originally built to supply lumber to the Straits of Mackinac
, especially the frontier settlement of Mackinac Island
. In 1793 it contracted with Fort Mackinac
to make repairs on the soldiers' barracks. The Mill Creek sawmill enjoyed a dominant market share of the supply of cut timbers in the Straits of Mackinac during the fur trade
era, and a Millwright
's House was built about 1820 near the sawmill to provide a place for the mill operator to live. As global demand for beaver
fur declined in the 1830s, the sawmill and Millwright's House were abandoned, following the death of mill owner Michael Dousman
.
After the sawmill's abandonment in 1839, the original sawmill complex buildings rotted and disappeared. However, timber
s cut by the original mill survived in buildings on Mackinac Island (Mission Church
and Mission House
built in the 1820's and still there today). Saw marks on these timbers could be used to reconstruct the mill machinery so as to closely resemble the original. The marks gave restoration experts information on the rake of the saw's teeth and the saw's operating speed. The wood is fed into the blade at 1/3 of an inch per stroke, and the infeed motion is powered by the pitman arm that powers the saw's vertical movement.
The Discovery Park is open seasonally from early May to early October. The nature trails are open year-round.
An admission fee is charged for the park at $8.00 per adult and $4.75 for children aged 5 - 18, those under four are free. A "Triple Choice" which will let you into Mill Creek and two other of the parks in the Mackinac State Historic Park system is $23.00 for an adult, or $14.00 for a child for the 2009 season.
The North Central State Trail
serves Historic Mill Creek State Park.
State park
State parks are parks or other protected areas managed at the federated state level within those nations which use "state" as a political subdivision. State parks are typically established by a state to preserve a location on account of its natural beauty, historic interest, or recreational...
, nature preserve, and historic site in the U.S. state of Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
. It is run by Mackinac State Historic Parks, the operating arm of the Mackinac Island State Park
Mackinac Island State Park
Mackinac Island State Park is a state park located on Mackinac Island in the U.S. state of Michigan. The island park encompasses 2.81 mi² , which is approximately 74% of the island's total area of 3.78 mi² . The park is also within the boundaries of the city of Mackinac Island and has permanent...
. 625 acres (2.5 km²) in size, the park is located 5 miles (8 km) southeast of Mackinaw City, Michigan
Mackinaw City, Michigan
Mackinaw City is a village in Emmet and Cheboygan counties in the U.S. state of Michigan. At the 2000 census the population was 859. The name "Mackinaw City" is a bit of a misnomer as it is actually a village...
on U.S. Highway 23.
History
The original sawmillSawmill
A sawmill is a facility where logs are cut into boards.-Sawmill process:A sawmill's basic operation is much like those of hundreds of years ago; a log enters on one end and dimensional lumber exits on the other end....
at Mill Creek operated from about 1790 until 1839. It was originally built to supply lumber to the Straits of Mackinac
Straits of Mackinac
The Straits of Mackinac is the strip of water that connects two of the Great Lakes, Lake Michigan and Lake Huron, and separates the Lower Peninsula of Michigan from the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. It is a shipping lane providing passage for raw materials and finished goods, connecting, for...
, especially the frontier settlement of Mackinac Island
Mackinac Island
Mackinac Island is an island and resort area covering in land area, part of the U.S. state of Michigan. It is located in Lake Huron, at the eastern end of the Straits of Mackinac, between the state's Upper and Lower Peninsulas. The island was home to a Native American settlement before European...
. In 1793 it contracted with Fort Mackinac
Fort Mackinac
Fort Mackinac is a former American military outpost garrisoned from the late 18th century to the late 19th century near Michilimackinac, Michigan, on Mackinac Island...
to make repairs on the soldiers' barracks. The Mill Creek sawmill enjoyed a dominant market share of the supply of cut timbers in the Straits of Mackinac during the fur trade
Fur trade
The fur trade is a worldwide industry dealing in the acquisition and sale of animal fur. Since the establishment of world market for in the early modern period furs of boreal, polar and cold temperate mammalian animals have been the most valued...
era, and a Millwright
Millwright
A millwright is a craftsman or tradesman engaged with the construction and maintenance of machinery.Early millwrights were specialist carpenters who erected machines used in agriculture, food processing and processing lumber and paper...
's House was built about 1820 near the sawmill to provide a place for the mill operator to live. As global demand for beaver
Beaver
The beaver is a primarily nocturnal, large, semi-aquatic rodent. Castor includes two extant species, North American Beaver and Eurasian Beaver . Beavers are known for building dams, canals, and lodges . They are the second-largest rodent in the world...
fur declined in the 1830s, the sawmill and Millwright's House were abandoned, following the death of mill owner Michael Dousman
Michael Dousman
Michael Dousman was a fur trader and merchant with business interests in and around Mackinac Island during the War of 1812 period. He was the father of Wisconsin pioneer Hercules L...
.
After the sawmill's abandonment in 1839, the original sawmill complex buildings rotted and disappeared. However, timber
Timber
Timber may refer to:* Timber, a term common in the United Kingdom and Australia for wood materials * Timber, Oregon, an unincorporated community in the U.S...
s cut by the original mill survived in buildings on Mackinac Island (Mission Church
Mission Church
The Mission Church is a historic Congregational church in Mackinac Island, Michigan, United States. Built in 1829, it is the oldest existing church in the state of Michigan...
and Mission House
Mission House (Mackinac Island)
The Mission House on Mackinac Island is a historic structure owned by the state of Michigan. Built in 1825, it is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is operated as part of the Mackinac Island State Park.-History:...
built in the 1820's and still there today). Saw marks on these timbers could be used to reconstruct the mill machinery so as to closely resemble the original. The marks gave restoration experts information on the rake of the saw's teeth and the saw's operating speed. The wood is fed into the blade at 1/3 of an inch per stroke, and the infeed motion is powered by the pitman arm that powers the saw's vertical movement.
Mill Creek today
Mackinac State Historic Parks has built the following resources and amenities at Historic Mill Creek Discovery Park:- The British Workshop (c. 1820) was rebuilt on the site of the original. It was completed around 1994. Inside are antique wood-working tools. In the summer you can see costumed interpreters using the tools to make shingles, and a variety of other tasks common to the 1820s.
- The creek damDamA dam is a barrier that impounds water or underground streams. Dams generally serve the primary purpose of retaining water, while other structures such as floodgates or levees are used to manage or prevent water flow into specific land regions. Hydropower and pumped-storage hydroelectricity are...
and sawmillSawmillA sawmill is a facility where logs are cut into boards.-Sawmill process:A sawmill's basic operation is much like those of hundreds of years ago; a log enters on one end and dimensional lumber exits on the other end....
(c. 1790) were rebuilt in 1984; the sawmill was restored in part for the 2007 season.
- A costumed interpreter performs sawpit and sawmill demonstrations to help visitors understand the cutting techniques of pre-sawmill days as well as how the sawmill itself worked.
- A naturalist has a talk to help park guests understand the fundamental role that some animal and plant species play in the nearby forested areas that takes place in the forest clearing above the rest of the part. There is a program done by him after the hourly sawpit and sawmill program.
- The Millwright's House (c. 1820) was rebuilt in 2005.
- As of 2008 there were 3.5 miles (5.5 km) of nature trails, with a small portion handicap-accessible.
- An Eagle's Flight Zip Line, Canopy Bridge, and Michigan's first vertical nature trail, a Climbing Wall, comprise the three elements of the brand-new Adventure Tour, which is available for an additional fee of $7.00 per visitor (not included in park ticket).
- Attached to the Climbing Wall is a Look-Out Tower that is included in the park admission fee.
The Discovery Park is open seasonally from early May to early October. The nature trails are open year-round.
An admission fee is charged for the park at $8.00 per adult and $4.75 for children aged 5 - 18, those under four are free. A "Triple Choice" which will let you into Mill Creek and two other of the parks in the Mackinac State Historic Park system is $23.00 for an adult, or $14.00 for a child for the 2009 season.
The North Central State Trail
North Central State Trail
The North Central State Trail is a recreational rail trail serving a section of the northern quarter of the Lower Peninsula of the U.S. state of Michigan. Following a route generally parallel to Interstate 75, the trail goes northward from the Michigan town of Gaylord to the top of the Lower...
serves Historic Mill Creek State Park.
External links
- Historic Mill Creek Mackinac Island State Park CommissionMackinac Island State Park CommissionThe Mackinac Island State Park Commission is an appointed board of the State of Michigan that administers state parklands in the Straits of Mackinac area. It performs public activities under the name Mackinac State Historic Parks...
- Historic Mill Creek State Park Michigan Department of Natural ResourcesMichigan Department of Natural ResourcesThe Michigan Department of Natural Resources is the agency of the state of Michigan charged with maintaining natural resources such as state parks, state forests, and recreation areas. It is governed by a director appointed by the Governor and accepted by the Natural Resources Commission...