Mackinaw City in Cheboygan County, Michigan — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Mackinaw City Railroad Dock
⎯⎯⎯
USCG Cutter Mackinaw WAGB 83

Mackinaw City Railroad Dock Marker<br>(<i>side 1, marker #707</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, July 19, 2011

1. Mackinaw City Railroad Dock Marker
(side 1, marker #707)

Inscription. Mackinaw City Railroad Dock Before the Mackinac Bridge opened in 1957, ships were the only means of connecting Michigan's peninsulas. During the 1870s, small sailing vessels served as ferries. Steamboats took over when the Michigan Central Railroad reached Mackinaw in 1881. The creation of the railroad car ferry system and the construction of this dock and one like it in St. Ignace enabled ferries to shuttle rail cars across the Straits of Mackinac year-round. The A-frame adjusted the height of the tracks to match the decks of the ships. Upper Peninsula copper and iron ore were the main cargo. The ice-breaking ferry Chief Wawatam was unique for loading cars through the bow. It ceased operations in 1984 and the tracks were removed in 1991.

USCG Cutter Mackinaw WAGB 83 Built in 1944 at a cost of $10 million, U.S. Coast Guard cutter Mackinaw had six ten-cylinder engines that enabled it to cut through several feet of lake ice. The powerful steel icebreaker was commissioned during World War II to aid year round navigation so freighters could carry raw materials for war production. For sixty-two years Mackinaw left its

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home port of Cheboygan to open or extend the navigation season, clear the shipping lanes, or free vessels that were stuck in the ice. Mackinaw was unsurpassed in size and capability among icebreakers. When the coast guard decommissioned the vessel in 2006, it was moved to Mackinaw City and given to the Icebreaker Mackinaw Maritime Museum.

Erected 2008 by Michigan Historical Commission - Michigan Historical Center. (Marker Number S707, S708.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Military • Railroads & Streetcars • Waterways & Vessels. In addition, it is included in the Michigan Historical Commission series list.

Location. 45° 46.776′ N, 84° 43.542′ W. Marker is in Mackinaw City, Michigan, in Cheboygan County. It is on South Huron Avenue south of Mackinaw Crossings Drive, on the left when traveling south. Marker is beside the walkway on the east side of the street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 229 South Huron Avenue, Mackinaw City MI 49701, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally,

USCG Cutter <i>Mackinaw</i> WAGB 83 Marker<br>(<i>side 2, marker #708</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, July 19, 2011

2. USCG Cutter Mackinaw WAGB 83 Marker
(side 2, marker #708)

this marker is in Northern Michigan Lower Peninsula,

on the Straits of Mackinac,

and in one of the Lake Huron Shore counties. It is also in the American Midwest

and on the Great Lakes.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Great North Woods,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: British Colonial Shipbuilding Yard, 1761 – 1781 (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named Railroad Ferries (within shouting distance of this marker); Commercial Fishing (within shouting distance of this marker); The Meneely Bell (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); Edgar Conkling - Modern founder (about 400 feet away); Ice Harvesting (about 500 feet away); American Legion Post No. 159 Veterans Memorial (about 500 feet away); “Beneath the Surface” (about 500 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Mackinaw City.

Other markers no longer nearby. British Colonial Shipbuilding Yard, 1761 - 1781 (was within

Mackinaw City Railroad Dock / USCG Cutter <i>Mackinaw</i> WAGB 83 Marker (<i>wide view</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, July 19, 2011

3. Mackinaw City Railroad Dock / USCG Cutter Mackinaw WAGB 83 Marker (wide view)

shouting distance of this marker but has been permanently removed); Railroad Ferries (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been permanently removed); Edgar Conkling 1812-1881 (was about 400 feet away but has been replaced with another marker now near it); American Legion Memorial (was about 400 feet away but has been permanently removed).

Also see . . .
1. The Old Mackinaw City Railroad Dock. The railroad car ferry dock at Mackinaw City was used for car ferry ships between Mackinaw and St. Ignace, MI in the Upper Peninsula. (Submitted on April 3, 2019, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

2. USCGC Mackinaw (WAGB-83) (Wikipedia). USCG Cutter Mackinaw (WAGB-83) is a 290-foot vessel specifically designed for ice breaking duties on the Great Lakes. Mackinaw’s design was based on the Wind class of Coast Guard icebreakers, but was built wider and longer so that her draft would be shallower. Because she was built specially for the Great Lakes — she was too wide to fit through the pre-1959 Saint Lawrence Seaway — her hull was built lighter than the Wind-class vessels, but shared

USCG Cutter <i>Mackinaw</i> WAGB 83 Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bill Coughlin, July 10, 2025

4. USCG Cutter Mackinaw WAGB 83 Marker

many characteristics, such as a relatively short length in proportion to the great power developed, a cut-away forefoot, rounded bottom, fore, aft and side heeling tanks, and a bow propeller. (Submitted on April 3, 2019, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

3. Icebreaker Mackinaw Maritime Museum. The United States Coast Guard Icebreaker Mackinaw WAGB-83 is known as the “Queen of the Great Lakes” and “The Largest Icebreaker on the Great Lakes”. Decommissioned in 2006, she now resides at her namesake home of Mackinaw City, Michigan, and is open for public tours, educational tours, overnight encampments and group events. (Submitted on April 3, 2019, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

4. USCGC Mackinaw (WLBB-30) (Wikipedia). USCG Cutter Mackinaw (WLBB-30) is a 240-foot vessel built in 2005 as a heavy icebreaker for operations on the North American Great Lakes for the United States Coast Guard. She replaced her namesake ship, the USCG Cutter Mackinaw (WAGB-83), which was decommissioned in 2006. (Submitted on April 3, 2019, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

Additional keywords. Mackinaw City Railroad Dock / USCG Cutter Mackinaw WAGB 83

USCG Cutter <i>Mackinaw</i> WAGB 83 (<i>located east of marker, beside the old railroad dock</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, July 19, 2011

5. USCG Cutter Mackinaw WAGB 83 (located east of marker, beside the old railroad dock)

Decommissioned USCG Cutter Mackinaw WAGB 83 is now a floating maritime museum.

USCG Cutter <i>Mackinaw</i> WLBB 30 image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, July 19, 2011

6. USCG Cutter Mackinaw WLBB 30

Credits. This page was last revised on July 22, 2025. It was originally submitted on April 1, 2019, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 663 times since then and 28 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on April 3, 2019, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. 4. submitted on July 19, 2025, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey. 5, 6. submitted on April 3, 2019, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.

Mackinaw City Railroad Dock⎯⎯⎯USCG Cutter Mackinaw WAGB 83

Mackinaw City Railroad Dock
⎯⎯⎯
USCG Cutter Mackinaw WAGB 83