Visiting Mackinac

“Drawing on a wide range of archival and secondary sources, Frank Boles offers a compelling history of the Straits of Mackinac through the lens of tourism. His well-documented review takes us from the early travel writers of the 1830s, who were the first to note the potential of Mackinac Island as a place of resort, to the promoters, preservationists, and politicians of the postwar era. Boles highlights the various conflicts throughout the decades that were driven by the struggle to balance development and preservation. Through lively anecdotes, the book charts the sometimes contentious interplay between travelers, local, and state officials, business leaders, and residents at Michigan’s most famous tourist destination.”—Steven Brisson, director of the Mackinac Island State Park Commission and author of Picturesque Mackinac: The Photographs of William H. Gardiner, 1896–1915

“In Visiting Mackinac, Frank Boles tracks the creation of an iconic Midwestern vacationland. In this deeply researched work, Boles reminds readers that tourist destinations are ever-changing and act like mirrors, reflecting the priorities of the societies that seek to create them.”—Camden Burd, assistant professor of history at Clemson University

“In Visiting Mackinac Frank Boles has authored an outstanding volume that delves into some of Michigan’s crown jewels at the top of the mitten. His book explores the heart of what we now call cultural and heritage tourism in an area that has welcomed visitors for more than 150 years. It is well worth your time delving into this uniquely Michigan story.”—Larry J. Wagenaar, executive director and CEO of the Historical Society of Michigan