19th Century Writers
Writers have found the solitude of the Island inspiring for generations. Alexis De Tocqueville, writer of the political classic Democracy in America visited Mackinac Island during the summer of 1831 by steamboat and recorded his visit in his journal. Traveling with Fort Surgeon Dr. William Beaumont, the two men used Mackinac Island as the base for their Great Lakes exploration. They sketched Arch Rock, Sugar Loaf, interviewed the Indians in their encampment on the beach near today's Iroquois Hotel, attended mass at Ste Anne Church and visited with Madame Magdelaine LaFramboise at her home, today's Harbor View Inn. Dr. Beaumont eventually made Mackinac Island his home and his reputation as a pioneer of physiology came from his care for Island resident Alexis St. Martin. Dr. Beaumont's research, published as The Physiology of Digestion: with Experiments on the Gastric Juice, brought understanding of the digestive process to the medical community and brought him international acclaim.

Margaret Fuller, founder of the transcendentalist movement, visited and wrote about Mackinac Island in her book Summer on the Lakes. She encouraged Henry Wadsworth Longfellow to write about the smell of American soil, leading to his epic poem The Song of Hiawatha, based on the writings of Chief Kahgegobowah also known by his Christian name, George Copway and Indian agent Henry Schoolcraft.

"The arched rock surprised me, much as I had heard of it, from the perfection of the arch. It is perfect whether you look up through it from the lake, or down through it to the transparent waters. We both ascended and descended, no very easy matter, the steep and crumbling path, and rested at the summit, beneath the trees, and at the foot upon the cool mossy stones beside the lapsing waves." Margaret Fuller, Summer on the Lakes, 1843

Henry David Thoreau wrote about the Island in his Minnesota Journey, Edward Everett Hale penned The Man without a Country at Mission House and Mark Twain gave lectures at Grand Hotel. Chief Macketebenessy also known as Andrew J. Blackbird visited often and wrote about his visits to Mackinac Island in his book History of the Ottawa and Chippewa Indians of Michigan. Novelist Constance Fenimore Woolson stayed at the Old Indian Dormitory and penned her novel Anne so-named for her character Anne, which offers a story about a young girl's adventures on Mackinac Island. Anne's Tablet, behind her former summer home high atop the Fort bluff, commemorates Woolson's literary contributions to Mackinac Island, while Anne Cottage commemorates Woolson and the former plot where the Old Indian Dormitory once stood.

In true nineteenth century Victorian fashion, readings of Shakespeare's most famous works occur throughout the season and with the rich scholarly community spending their summers on Mackinac Island, these readings are a treat and not to be missed. John McCabe, Shakespeare historian and well known celebrity biographerfor his works Cagney,George M. Cohan and Laurel and Hardy directs Mackinac's thespians each summer for a performance of one of Shakespeare's works at Grand Hotel. Check events calendar for the play, date, time and ticket availability each July.

21st Century Writers
Contemporary writers continue to find inspiration on Mackinac Island. The Island Bookstore hosts author signings and new release parties throughout the summer season.

The Mackinac Arts Council brings the first annual Mackinac Island Poetry Festival takes the stage this season July 28-29, 2006. The Festival is the brianchild of Island poet Jim Lenfestey, poet at Grand Hotel andauthor of several poetry collections. Joining him are poets Susan Firer, Freya Manfred and Thomas R. Smith will share their works throughout the festival.

Mackinac Island Public Library
The Mackinac Island Public Library is part of the Michigan Library System. Overlooking the Straits of Mackinac, it is a great place to daydream or cozy up with a good book. Library cards may be purchased if you would like to take your finds back to your accommodation. For history buffs, the Rosa Webb room houses the most historically important collection of information related to Michilimackinac, Great Lakes shipping, biographies, travel pamphlets and rare books.

The End.