The story behind the ‘Big Rock’ Aid to Navigation own the hill from the lighthouse, the Big Straits of Mackinac rose and fell by as much as Getting Here McGulpin DRock, as it is known, rests partially in the 8 feet over periods of time. water. For centuries, it has held tremendous The McGulpin Point rock is approximately McGulpin Point Lighthouse and Historic Site is located historical value. 33.8 feet in horizontal circumference and adjacent to The Headlands International Dark Sky Park, Point It was described in a letter sent back to France 37 feet in vertical circumference. It is about 9 both just west of downtown Mackinaw City in in 1749 as being at times high and dry and at feet tall. An estimate of its weight is 54 tons. Northwest Michigan. other times completely covered by water. It is known as ‘Chi-Sin’ (“big rock”) in the native FROM MACKINAW CITY Lighthouse That led the letter-writer to conclude the Odawa language. Travel west on Central Ave., then turn north on Headlands/ Wilderness Park Dr. FROM SOUTHERN EMMET COUNTY Travel north on any of several main roads including M-119, Pleasantview Road, U.S. 31 or I-75. Go online for more history and event information: www.emmetcounty.org/mcgulpin/ Historic site interpretation 500 Headlands Drive • Mackinaw City, MI 49701 Interpretive displays, 231.436.5860 No charge commemorative coins, docents, gift shop to enter or and a self-guided cell phone tour keep to climb tower McGulpin Point’s history alive ... HOURS OPEN MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Docents, gift shop JUNE-SEPTEMBER: 10 a.m.-8 p.m. on site OCTOBER: First 2 weekends; check hours online Step back into the For a FREE county road map and brochures: past ... [email protected] May-October, always free admission call 231.348.1704 On the Straits of Mackinac Emmet County, Michigan Key Dates Circa 1000 - The Odawa tribe settles the NAVIGATING to TODAY area now known as Emmet County after defeating the Mus-co-desh. , generations land in the 1760s. Post-Revolution, the land was Nearly 1,000 years ago Early 1600s - First Europeans arrive. before the arrival of the French in the 1600s, the surveyed by the new United States of America 1671 - Founding of St. Ignace. Anishnaabek nation (a combination of Odawa, and was deeded -- one of the first recorded deeds Ojibway/Chippewa, and Potawatomi tribes) in Michigan, and the first in Emmet County -- to 1761 - Patrick McGulpin arrives in established villages along the Straits of Patrick McGulpin, son and heir of John McAlpin. NW Mich., serving in the British military. Mackinac. The Odawas came to occupy the The opening of the Erie Canal in 1825 spurred 1774 - John McGulpin (Patrick’s father; promontory now known growth in cities like Chicago and Milwaukee, original spelling “McAlpin”) and his Native as McGulpin Point after resulting PRIVATE TO PUBLIC HANDS American wife inhabit area known as a hostile encounter with in growing The light at McGulpin was in service until it McGulpin Point. the established tribe, vessel traf- was rendered obsolete by the construction of the 1775 -Revolutionary War starts. fic through the Mus-co-desh. The Old Mackinac Point light and fog signal station 1811 - Patrick McGulpin, heir to John, the Straits of Mus-co-desh, former in 1892. By 1906, the McGulpin light was decom- receives the first recorded deed to McGulpin Mackinac. allies of the Odawas, missioned and sold into private ownership in 1913. Property, the first Emmet County deed By the early It remained in private hands until Emmet County angered Odawa chief issued by the USA. Sagemaw by failing to 1850s, purchased the property in 2008 to enhance 1825 - Erie Canal opens. show proper respect McGulpin recreational opportunities for all. In 2009, a gala 1850s - Vessel traffic through the Straits of upon his return from Point was seen celebration drew approximately 1,200 for the the western warpath. as a crucial relighting of the beacon, an historically accurate Mackinac increases dramatically and spurs Accused of being too lighthouse site. replica. It marked a revival of this storied the development of lighthouses. warlike, Sagemaw Though the landmark with untold significance to this region. 1854 - Congress approves plans for and his warriors were Straits’ eastern We have the story to tell today thanks to the McGulpin Point Lighthouse. pelted with balls of and western meticulous record-keeping of the longest serving 1861 - Civil War begins, interrupting ash and leaves as they entries were lightkeeper at McGulpin Point, James Davenport. construction of the lighthouse. landed. Infuriated, Sagemaw covered by the Davenport occupied the lighthouse during the 1867 - McGulpin Point becomes property Bois Blanc and Waugoshance lights, there was no returned to his village on Manitoulin Island, gath- navigation seasons of 1879-1906. During the of the federal government. navigational aid in the shoal-ridden Straits. ered a war party, and set out to vanquish the Mus- winter months, when the Straits were impassible 1868 - Construction begins on lighthouse. Congress appropriated funds for a lighthouse in co-desh. After defeat, the Mus-co-desh left the by ships, he would return to his home in 1869 - McGulpin light shines for first time. 1854, construction began in 1868. Mackinaw City so the children could attend area, and the Odawas gradually spread through- 1906 - McGulpin Point is decommissioned. out Emmet County. McGulpin Point was one of five on Lake Michi- school. Still, he made weekly trips to the gan and Lake Superior that were almost mirror lighthouse to write reports to the district 1913 - The lighthouse passes into private images. In a style referred to as Norman Gothic, inspector in Milwaukee on the condition of the ownership. GROWING NEED FOR A LIGHT the structure was built with Cream City brick, lake ice and the property. 2008 - Emmet County purchases McGulpin The pre-Revolutionary War history of the made from clay found near Milwaukee and favored Today, Davenport’s voluminous correspondence Point from the Peppler family. It includes Point began with the arrival of John McAlpin, by the U.S. Lighthouse Board, with buttressed resides in the National Archives in Washington, 330 feet of Lake Michigan shoreline. who, with his Native American wife, lived on the corners and octagonal tower. D.C. .