Mackinaw City in Emmet County, Michigan — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Life around a Plank House
Photographed by Craig Doda, May 25, 2025
1. Life around a Plank House Marker
As the Odawa became less nomadic, their lifestyle changed dramatically. Women assumed new duties that previously had little relevance, including creating baskets for tourists. Even though these women were wearing modern clothing, they were still using traditional tools, like the corn pounder, bootaagan, being used by the woman in the middle.
[Captions:]
Native men often worked in lumber camps to earn cash.
An older woman weaves a basket for the tourist trade while the younger one weaves a cedar-bark mat that would be used for a floor covering.
In this 1905 photo, Indian families were selling an array of baskets on Mackinac Island, a way to supplement the family income.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Anthropology & Archaeology • Indigenous Peoples and Communities • Industry & Commerce • Women. A significant historical year for this entry is 1905.
Location. 45° 46.575′ N, 84° 46.277′ W. Marker is in Mackinaw City, Michigan, in Emmet County. It is at the intersection of Headlands Road and Wilderness Park Drive, on the right when traveling east on Headlands Road. Touch for map.
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Regionally, this marker is in Northern Michigan Lower Peninsula, on the Straits of Mackinac, and in one of the Lake Michigan 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 Viceroyalty of New France and also the Northwest Territory.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: The Circle (a few steps from this marker); Native American Plank House (within shouting distance of this marker); Native American Waganogan (within shouting distance of this marker); Two Machines (within shouting distance of this marker); Walk the Path to the Hidden Native Settlement (within shouting distance of this marker); Pest House (within shouting distance of this marker); Mackinaw's General Store (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Sawmill (about 300 feet away).
Photographed by Craig Doda, May 25, 2025
2. Life around a Plank House Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on June 2, 2025. It was originally submitted on May 30, 2025, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. This page has been viewed 71 times since then and 7 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on May 30, 2025, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.
