Many legends are told about Arch Rock on the island of Mackinac and its origin. Considering themselves as a portal in the afterlife, many people bind many haunted ghost stories from this miniature island to the legend of this mysterious rock formation.
In the shiny waters of the Huron lake between the upper and lower half -vein, Michigan Mackinac is a composed retreat known for its picturesque beauty, historical charm and amazing supernatural reputation. In fact, the Mackinac Island was called the most haunted city in America in 2021, and many stories over the years. And with only a full -time population of about 583 people, ghosts may even outweigh the living.
Without allowed cars and transport restricted to bicycles and horse carriages, the island offers a unique step in time. Some people come to enjoy the hushed seaside and enjoy the celebrated fudge. The island has become an ideal summer place for Americans, but after tourists leave in autumn, the fog from the strait appears, and the leaves change color, the spirit of the island remains to persecute.
Short history of the island of Mackinac
The history of the island of Mackinac dates back to thousands of years, with native peoples, such as Odna, Ojibwe and Huron, taking into account the holy place long before the arrival of European settlers. The name of the island itself, from the word Ojibwe “Michilimackinac”, means “Big Turtle”, referring to the shape of the island when it is viewed from above.
The French founded commercial fur in the 17th century, and the island later became a strategic military institution during the war for independence and war in 1812. At the end of the 19th century, it became a more summer colony and a tourist place, which it is still.
Arch rock and his legends
Many believe that many visits on the island of Mackinac come from stored energy that the island has. Some believe that energy is stored inside many limestone and quartz, which the state park has. One of these places is the rock formation on the east coast of the island called Arch Rock.
It is one of the more celebrated places to visit on the island, bending 140 feet above the water of Lake Huron and is over fifty feet width.
Not only recently people began to talk about energy from stones. Archaeologists have found evidence to live in the island from 900, 700 years before any European settlers set their foot on the ground.
The Legends of the Arch Rock
Over the years, the rock formation took place in more than one legend. It is said that the nation of Ottawa commits shameful deeds a long time ago, so shameful that the master of life punished them for it. He sent the wind to the ground, such a powerful, rocky hills trembled all day, even blowing up the sun. The nation of Ottawa could only observe how when the sun turned into a blood color before it fell into the island, carving a hole through it, creating a bow. Since then, Ottawa stayed away from the rock, and even the most critical of them did not go over her.
The natives of Anishinaabek have long roots on the island and believed that the rock arch was a portal for afterlife. According to their conviction, it worked both ways. People would be able to go to the world of ghosts, and the ghost can return to the world of the living.
Anishinaabe people believed that the island was the home of a gitche manitou or a great spirit. It was said that this was the first land that appeared after a great flood, and was a meeting place for the tribes that made the victims of Gitche Manitou and the place of burial of tribal chiefs.
Legend of Mist
One of the celebrated legends comes from the book by Dirk Ginghus, the knowledge of the great turtle with Ojibwe water and his daughter, called She-Who-Walks-Te-Mist or “fog”.
Misty was a pretty woman, always smiling when she approached her duties, although she rejected every competitor who gave her gifts. One day her smile disappeared and did not do her duties as he used to sit, sitting and looking unhappily.
The leader wanted her to be married and evil that she did not care about making effort. He asked her what's going on. She replied that she would only marry a person heaven:
“Two moons ago … … I had a handsome brave …” Oh, wonderful, “he said. “I have been watching you in the village for a long time, wishing you to be mine forever. In my home, high above you, I am the son of a leader, an evening star, and therefore a person of heaven … … (I descended) to the ground that I could ask you to join me in my home. “
“You shouldn't marry anyone at all!” Her father said and put her in a kayak and paddled to the island of the ghosts of the turtles, which we know today as the island of Mackinac, a holy place for the natives.
He took her to a rocky formation and said that he must stay there until he was ready to listen to him. She did not fight or move, she only cried, her tears turned into an arch when she mourned her beloved person she did not believe that she would come. One night, the stars shone so clearly that it was a ray of featherlight through the bow, and the sky people lay down for it. He lifted her and took her home to live in the sky all the time.
Truns with Freemasonry
Also, when Europeans arrived, there was a lot of mysticism over this place. The mysterious Freemasonry came to the Great Lakes region in 1700 and built lodges around this area. Mackinac Island was home for St. John's Lodge No. 15 (1782–1813), organizing meetings in the newly built Fort Mackinac in rooms in stone quarters of officers.
What really happened when they arrived is unknown because there are few lodge records.
Was it just a boys' club and male for military people? Or something else? The second masonic lodge was Mackinac Lodge No. 71, acting as a so -called moonlight, with meetings on Monday evenings or proceedings full of moons until the 1960s.
Visiting the Mackinac Island
For those who, believing in paranormal, Arch rock is often said to be one of the sources of strange things that happens on the island. The truth is that, returning to Europeans, the whole island was considered a bit saint for local tribes.
It was they who came to make a victim of the Gitche Manitou or the Great Spirit who, as they believed, created the island and whose house was after the withdrawal of the great flood. Today, the island is considered a house of more ghosts than life.
References:
Is Mackinac Island haunted? Haunts of Mackinac in 2025 – Wandering Michigan Wisconsin
Early accounts of Arch rock – Mackinac State Historic Parks
Arch rock on the island of Mackinac
Bridge to another world: Arch Rock Mackinac Island – Micannatrail
Image Source: Pixabay.com
