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Historic Mill Creek Discovery Park (formerly known as Mill Creek Historic Park) |
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Come visit the first industrial complex to be constructed in the Straits of Mackinaw this summer at Historic Mill Creek Discovery Park (formerly known as Mill Creek Historic Park). Historic Mill Creek Discovery Park (formerly known as Mill Creek Historic Park) provided sawn lumber to the settlement of Mackinaw Island during the 1790’s and continues to impress visitors with their 18th Century water-powered sawmill demonstrations, replicating the work once done by early settlers. |
Historic Mill Creek Discovery Park (formerly known as Mill Creek Historic Park) |
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Equally impressive is the sawpit
demonstration which actually allows young visitors to assist costumed
interpreters by grasping opposite ends of the long saw to demonstrate
the vital pioneer skill of sawing logs for building projects. Admission
to the park is Adults: $7.50 Children 6-17, $4.50; Children 5 and under
are free. The sawmill demonstrations take place every half hour during
peak season (June 12th-August 22nd), with the sawpit demonstration
preceding the sawmill every hour. Accompanying the sawpit demonstration
is a natural history presentation, taking place in a small forest
clearing located near the sawpit. The park is open from 9:00 a.m. to
5:00 p.m. during that peak season and until 4:00 p.m. during May and
towards the end of August. The park also supplies an expert naturalist to provide a guided tour of the park. From beaver to brook trout to bobcat, Historic Mill Creek Discovery Park’s naturalist will introduce you to the many species of wildlife that inhabit the 625-acre site. The spacious park area also offers 3.5 miles of rigorous nature trails with scenic overlooks and an active beaver colony. A nature center and wildlife refuge such as Mill Creek that preserves the Michigan outdoors makes an ideal location for hiking trails for you and your family to hike on and go backpacking. Before leaving the park be sure to stop in the Museum Store offering books and fine gifts related to Mackinaw’s natural history, or ask to watch an audio-visual orientation to nature and history, also available at the Park’s main office. Suggested visit time of 2-3 hours. For more information and a complete listing of this summer’s events feel free to visit them on their website, www.mackinacparks.com. |
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