Mackinac Island in Mackinac County, Michigan — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

American Fur Company Store

Photographed by M H, August 21, 2010

1. American Fur Company Store Marker

Inscription. On June 6, 1822, Alexis St. Martin (1804-1880), a French Canadian voyageur, was accidentally shot in the American Fur Company Store located on this site. Dr. William Beaumont (1786-1853), the Fort Mackinac post surgeon, nursed St. Martin back to health. St. Martin’s wound healed leaving a permanent opening into his stomach. Through this opening Beaumont compared the digestibility of foods, recorded the temperature of the stomach under different conditions, and extracted and analyzed gastric juice. Beaumont conducted the first of 250 experiments with St. Martin in 1825 in the Officers’ Stone Quarters at Fort Mackinac. Eight years later he published a groundbreaking book on his discovery of the digestive process.

[ Dedication Plaque: ]
This building is dedicated
to the memory of
William Beaumont, M.D. It was restored by volunteer contributions of Michigan Doctors of Medicine and presented to the people of Michigan.

On this site, on June 6, 1822, Alexis St. Martin, a French Canadian voyageur, suffered an accidental gunshot wound which left a permanent opening into his stomach through which Dr. William Beaumont was able to study stomach physiology. Thus was laid the foundation of knowledge of digestion.

The vision and understanding of the Mackinac Island State Park Commission under the chairmanship of W.F. Doyle, and the generous cooperation of the Parke Davis & Company are gratefully acknowledged.
July 17, 1954
Michigan

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State Medical Society

Erected 2003 by Michigan Historical Commission - Michigan Historical Center and Mackinac Island State Park Commission. (Marker Number S19.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Science & Medicine. In addition, it is included in the Michigan Historical Commission series list. A significant historical date for this entry is June 6, 1822.

Location. 45° 51.046′ N, 84° 37.073′ W. Marker is on Mackinac Island, Michigan, in Mackinac County. It is at the intersection of Market Street and Fort Street, on the right when traveling west on Market Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 7232 Market Street, 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: Fort Mackinac (within shouting distance of this marker); Trinity Church (within shouting distance of this marker); The Fort Garden (within shouting distance of this marker); The Indian Dormitory (within shouting distance of this marker); Sgt. Charles Cadreau, U.S. Army (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Mackinac Island War Memorial (about 300 feet away); Private First Class Milton T. St. Onge (about 300 feet away); Civil War Veterans Memorial (about 300 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Mackinac Island.

Also see . . . Experiments and Observations on the Gastric Juice and the Physiology Of Digestion. Dr. Beaumont's book is available online through

Dedication Plaque image. Click for full size.

Photographed by M H, August 21, 2010

2. Dedication Plaque

the Internet Archive. (Submitted on July 8, 2025, by Joel Seewald of Madison Heights, Michigan.)

Additional commentary.
1. Dr. Beaumont's book
The book written by Dr. Beaumont referenced on the marker was titled, "Experiments And Observations On The Gastric Juice And The Physiology Of Digestion"

— Submitted August 26, 2010, by Mh of Las Vegas, Nevada.

American Fur Company Store image. Click for full size.

Photographed by M H, August 21, 2010

3. American Fur Company Store

Photographed by Trevor L Whited, August 10, 2022

4. American Fur Company Store Marker

Photographed by Luke Toussaint, June 29, 2023

5. American Fur Company Store Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on October 3, 2025. It was originally submitted on August 26, 2010. This page has been viewed 1,727 times since then and 27 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on August 26, 2010, by Mh of Las Vegas, Nevada. 4. submitted on August 19, 2022, by Trevor L Whited of Kokomo, Indiana. 5. submitted on October 1, 2025, by Luke Toussaint of Glenview, Illinois. • Syd Whittle was the editor who published this page.