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

British Landing

Photographed by Joel Seewald, circa July 2010

1. British Landing Marker

Inscription. Here, during the night of July 16-17, 1812, a small force of British regulars and several hundred voyageurs and Indian allies from St. Joseph Island landed. They occupied a height that overlooks Fort Mackinac and demanded its surrender. Lt. Porter Hanks, commander of the American garrison of 57 soldiers, had not known that war had been declared. Realizing that resistance was hopeless and might provoke an Indian massacre, Hanks capitulated without a fight.

Erected 1958 by Michigan Historical Commission and Mackinac Island State Park Commission. (Marker Number 187.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War of 1812. In addition, it is included in the Michigan Historical Commission series list. A significant historical date for this entry is July 16, 1812.

Location. 45° 52.646′ N, 84° 38.705′ W. Marker is on Mackinac Island, Michigan, in Mackinac County. It is at the intersection of Lake Shore Drive (State Highway 185) and British Landing Road, on the left when traveling north on Lake Shore Drive. The marker is on the west shore close to the north end of the island, between mile markers 4 and 5. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 7641 British Landing Road, 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

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within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: The Ice Bridge (a few steps from this marker); The Mackinac Bridge (a few steps from this marker); Limestone Breccia (within shouting distance of this marker); Contest for the Island (within shouting distance of this marker); People of the Water (approx. ¾ mile away); The Treaty of Washington, 1836 (approx. 0.9 miles away); Sugar Loaf (approx. 1.7 miles away); Post Cemetery (approx. 1.8 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Mackinac Island.

British Landing Marker (<i>wide view</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, July 30, 2017

2. British Landing Marker (wide view)

Photographed by Trevor L Whited, August 10, 2022

3. British Landing Marker

Photographed by Joel Seewald, July 1, 2025

4. British Landing Marker

View of the marker with the Mackinac Bridge in the background.

Credits. This page was last revised on July 8, 2025. It was originally submitted on August 2, 2016, by Joel Seewald of Madison Heights, Michigan. This page has been viewed 1,064 times since then and 47 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on August 2, 2016, by Joel Seewald of Madison Heights, Michigan. 2. submitted on April 5, 2019, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. 3. submitted on August 17, 2022, by Trevor L Whited of Kokomo, Indiana. 4. submitted on July 8, 2025, by Joel Seewald of Madison Heights, Michigan.