Michigan’s Mackinac Island was the country’s 2nd ever national park, created in 1875, just three years after Yellowstone National Park. It remained a national park for two decades until it was turned over to Michigan as its first State Park in 1895. Now, it’s known as Mackinac Island State Park.
Mackinac Island is in Lake Huron, between the Upper and Lower Peninsulas of Michigan. The British military started building Fort Mackinac back in 1780. 14 original buildings remain, along with several other historic structures. The island now sees more than 800,000 visitors each year.
