Talk:Mackinac Island

older entries

Is the ban on vehicles total? The article mentions snowmobiles, and I have heard golf carts were permitted.Wachholder0 04:29, 15 Mar 2005 (UTC)

The ban on vehicles is not total. Emergency vehicles are allowed. There is are ambulance, fire engine and a police truck. There are also construction machinery and a small airport. The ban generally extends to personal motorized vehicles. The city itself owns several emergency vehicles and the state brings in heavy machinery for some jobs on the back side of the island.

Snowmobiles are permitted, but wheeled vehicles such as four wheelers are not. It really is the only way to get around in the Winter, and the only way off the island for months after the straights freeze except for one or two single engine 4 seater airplanes. Residents cross to St. Ignace across the ice bridge that forms over Lake Huron ~ about 5 miles distance lined with old christmas trees.

Golf carts are allowed, but strictly limited to operation ON the golf course.

There is much controversy on the island right now over exactly where the ban on motorized vehicles end. Motorized carts for disabled people, electricly assisted bicycles, fully electric bicycles and electric scooters have all caused concern. Local people seek to both preserve the atmosphere of the island, as well as prevent accidents with horses and pedestrians. GreatTurtle 04:53, 24 Mar 2005 (UTC)

Is there any good reason why this article shouldn't be merged with Mackinac Island, Michigan? older≠wiser 00:08, 10 May 2004 (UTC)

I don't see why not. I first came to this page from a search engine and this is the first I've heard that there were duplicate entries. Go for it.

I disagree. See Talk:Mackinac Island, Michigan. I have since rewritten the article and I think the Rambot material should remain in the the article about the town itself. -- Decumanus | Talk 01:17, 31 May 2004 (UTC)

Agree with Decumanus. This page refers to the entire island; the other refers to a municipality on the island. Funnyhat 00:50, 2 May 2005 (UTC)

City of Mackinac Island, Not Village

Seems like there is some confusion regarding the City of Mackinac Island's status as an incorporated city. Yes, the downtown core may seem like a "village" (e.g. quaintness, size, etc.), the Village of Mackinac Island was incorporated as a city in 1900, "under a charter that incorporated an area extending a mile offshore and including nearby Round Island." - "100 Years at Mackinac" by David A. Armour, Mackinac Island State Park Commission, 1995, p.10. Thus, the City of Mackinac Island has been an incorporated city for 105 years -- please leave all references to the City intact in this article. Thanks! CBessert 02:27, September 7, 2005 (UTC)

GA review

Article is well-written, and passes the good article criteria. It was an interesting read. There's still a few red links here and there to be expanded, but overall, good job! Dr. Cash 23:19, 25 March 2007 (UTC)

Movement of Marquette's congregation to the island

Yes, this source does contain the description Mackinac’s location and rich fish population also drew French traders and Jesuit missionaries. In the 1670s, the first Europeans visited Mackinac. Father Claude Dablon wished to establish a mission on Mackinac Island and encouraged Father Jacques Marquette to move his congregation to the island. Eager to escape the dangers from the Huron and Sioux conflict, Father Marquette agreed and moved his displaced band of Huron followers to the island in 1671. -- but it is unfortunately not supported by other sources. Not to disparage the site, but it doesn't really purport to be authoritative--it's primary function is to attract visitors to the island. I suspect the root cause may be understandable confusion over the use of "Mackinaw" and "Michilimackinac" in historical texts. "Michilimackinac" in particular was a bit of a floating signifier, sometimes describing the entire Straits of Mackinac area, sometimes referring to the mission near present-day St. Ignace, sometimes referring to the old Fort Michilimackinac near Mackinaw City. In later times, after fortifications were moved to Mackinac Island, it took on a sort of metonymic representation for the entire area -- which was still referred to in general as Michilimackinac.

• Beard's directory and history of Marquette County p 179 (1873) describes the mission as being founded at St. Ignace in 1671. There is no mention of moving to the island.
• Lanman p 21 (1871) describes La Salle and Henepin returning to Fort Michilimackinac in 1679 -- no mention of a mission on the island. On p. 18 he describes Marquette leaving Michilmackinac in 1673, again no mention of an island mission.
• Strang pp. 3-10 (1854), while by no means a completely reliable source for every detail, gives a general outline of the history of three Michilimackinacs. There is no indication that the mission was ever moved to the island.
• Tuttle's General History p. 200 (1873) similarly gives no indication that the mission moved to the island.
• Same for Fuller pp. 21-23 (1926?).

Now, certainly it is possible that modern research has uncovered some new evidence of the mission having moved to the island in the circa 1671 time frame, but I'd like to see a more authoritative source than a tourism web site. In any case, the detail is not that significant to the article, so I don't think there is any great loss in leaving it out. older ≠ wiser 01:31, 4 April 2007 (UTC)

Okay, I would agree that those are better references than the chamber of commerce. If you think that they may also be able to add more content to the article (or replace less reliable refs), please do so, though you may want to leave a note on the FAC page if you do. Thank you for your help. (You don't happen to have any better pictures for the article by any chance?)Mr.Z-mantalk¢Review! 02:27, 4 April 2007 (UTC)

I have found two references for the Jesuit mission having been founded by Claude Dablon on Mackinac Island in 1670 and having been operated there briefly in 1670-71. Marquette moved the mission to St. Ignace soon after his arrival in summer or fall of 1671. I have amended the article accordingly.Bigturtle 00:48, 7 April 2007 (UTC)

On or in?

On the lake or in the lake? In the lake implies, to me, it is submerged (I realize it isn't but someone with no knowledge of North American geography may not). IvoShandor 07:25, 9 April 2007 (UTC)

I believe "in" is technically correct. This isn't restricted to North America either. See Sicily. the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. Mr.Z-mantalk¢ 20:48, 9 April 2007 (UTC)

That sounds right. If it was a floating island, it would be on the lake, though. :) --Ebyabe 20:53, 9 April 2007 (UTC)

Motors

What do they consider 'motorized' vehicles? Would electric motors count? What about coal&steam powered motors? (68.40.48.78 17:28, 28 September 2007 (UTC))

If it isn't a bicycle / horse drawn it isn't allowed. BeckyAnne(talk) 02:27, 29 September 2007 (UTC)

...Nooo, that's not true. Snowmobiles are allowed to be used in the winter, and the island has several emergency vehicles. 99.139.224.114 (talk) 16:34, 23 May 2008 (UTC)

Are you sure its just bicycles? As in a two wheeled human powered machine. What about Unicycles or trikes? Sorry to nitpick brob (talk) 23:03, 24 October 2008 (UTC)

I was thinking I better clarify that some more, you are allowed to have anything you want on your own property as long as it never leaves your property. IE: the Grand Hotel owns golf carts for its golf course, but they never leave the property, also some of the hotels own bob cats for in house chores, but again they never leave the properties. BeckyAnne(talk) 20:10, 29 September 2007 (UTC)

Why may motor vehicles be banned in Mackinac Island? Is it because of pollution, or because of traffic? If not, why are they banned? 69.238.17.45 Talk, 03:40 16 December 2007 (UTC)

Because when automobiles were still very rare, someone brought one on to the island and it scared the horses so bad that the island decided to ban "horseless carriages" from the island. The ban has remained every since. At least that's what I've always heard. —MJCdetroit (talk) 04:57, 16 December 2007 (UTC)

Two infoboxes, delete one of them

This page has two infoboxes. Both infoboxes contain the same map image. Someone who's invested in this article should keep one and toss the other. Or combine them somehow. ask123 (talk) 13:57, 22 April 2009 (UTC)

Etymology

Concerning Etymology could we include Andrew Blackbirds' explanation of the origin of Michilimackinac found in chapter three of his book History of the Ottawa and Chippewa Indians of Michigan? [1]SGT 08:59, 20 December 2009 (UTC) —Preceding unsigned comment added by Sergeant79 (talk • contribs)

Climate

Some climate information is needed. Also, move the information abt dist to mainland 4.6 km to the lead. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 134.7.248.131 (talk) 04:43, 20 May 2010 (UTC)

"Nationally known" fudge

Supposedly, there is a strong, nationwide association with Mackinac Island and fudge. To support this idea, we have two sources: an oral-history-style piece from a paper local to the island and the local tourist bureau. No offense to either of the entities involved, but the sources are a bit too close to the claim to fully support it. - SummerPhD (talk) 14:05, 20 May 2010 (UTC)

Nipissing shoreline ?

(Geology section) Sounds unpleasant; is it vandalism ? GrahamHardy (talk) 14:31, 20 May 2010 (UTC)

Just checked and there is a disambiguation page so named; I will link to it but someone will need to disambiguate further...GrahamHardy (talk) 14:36, 20 May 2010 (UTC)

Sounds real to me. It's probably from a Native American language. Brutannica (talk) 20:13, 20 May 2010 (UTC)

Can someone disambiguate the link ? GrahamHardy (talk) 08:27, 21 May 2010 (UTC)

Disambiguate it to what? What does Nipissing shoreline mean? Asher196 (talk) 19:21, 21 May 2010 (UTC)

After research, I found that the Algonquin and Nipissing shorelines are just names given to previous shorelines of higher lake levels. I'm not sure disambiguation is possible, since the relevent Wikipedia pages don't exist. Asher196 (talk) 19:38, 21 May 2010 (UTC)