Mackinac Island in Mackinac County, Michigan — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
The Defenses of Fort Mackinac: The British Fort, 1779-1796
Photographed by Bill Coughlin, July 11, 2025
1. The Defenses of Fort Mackinac: The British Fort, 1779-1796 Marker
Defensive elements have always been important to the military strength of Fort Mackinac. When the British built the fort between 1779 and 1781, Lieutenant Governor Patrick Sinclair designed the post with walls built from earth, stone, and wooden pickets. Cannon platforms on the south wall protected the harbor and village. To protect the north side of the fort, British troops dug defensive ditch and constructed two half-bastions, fortified cannon positions that allowed soldiers to trap attackers in a crossfire as they approached the forts walls. Finally, Sinclair added a v-shaped outer wall, known as a ravelin, to complete the northern defenses. Remains of these original British defenses are still visible today just outside the fort walls.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Forts and Castles • War, US Revolutionary. A significant historical year for this entry is 1779.
Location. 45° 51.145′ N, 84° 37.005′ W. Marker is on Mackinac Island, Michigan, in Mackinac County. It can be reached from Huron Road, on the left when traveling west. Marker is located on Mackinac Island, inside Fort Mackinac near the East Blockhouse. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Mackinac Island MI 49757, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is on Michigan’s Upper Peninsula and on the Straits of Mackinac. 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 Defenses of Fort Mackinac: The American Fort, 1796 - 1895
this page online
More about this marker. A silhouette on the left side of the marker has a caption of Lieutenant Governor Patrick Sinclair served as the civil and military administrator of Mackinac between 1779 and 1782. He moved the community of Michilimackinac from the mainland to Mackinac Island and directed the construction of Fort Mackinac.
Other illustrations on the marker have captions of Sinclair continually altered the design of Fort Mackinac during construction. This plan shows the fort as of June 1781. and This plan, drawn by Lieutenants Ebenezer Massey and James Sterrett in October 1796, details the original
Photographed by Bill Coughlin, July 11, 2025
2. Markers in Fort Mackinac
Two markers are at this location. The Defenses of Fort Mackinac: The British Fort, 1779-1796 marker is seen here on the left.
Also see . . . Fort Mackinac. Mackinac State Historic Parks website. (Submitted on July 27, 2025, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey.)
Photographed by Bill Coughlin, July 11, 2025
3. Firing the Cannon at the South Wall
Photographed by Bill Coughlin, July 11, 2025
4. Cannon in the East Blockhouse
These defenses are located near the marker.
Credits. This page was last revised on December 4, 2025. It was originally submitted on July 27, 2025, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey. This page has been viewed 92 times since then and 9 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on July 27, 2025, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey.
