126-459: X-Rite, Inc. is an American manufacturer of color measurement and management products, located in Grand Rapids, Michigan , United States . The company also creates products that regulate quality in the processing of film and x-rays . The firm was incorporated in 1958 by seven engineers from Lear Siegler . Its first product, x-ray marking tape , was introduced in 1968 and is the basis of
252-421: A "heritage village" made up of several well-preserved 19th-century buildings, including a log cabin, schoolhouse, and barn. The nature center is also home to Blandford School, a highly selective environmental education program for sixth graders from the metropolitan region, which is run by Grand Rapids Public Schools and serves as a feeder school for City High-Middle School . At 264 acres (107 ha), Blandford
378-630: A Hungarian native educated in Catholic institutions in Austria, arrived, presiding over the Catholic mission in the area until his death in 1852. That year, Campau, Rix Robinson, Rev. Slater, and the husband of Chief Noonday's daughter, Meccissininni, traveled to Washington, D.C. to speak about the purchase of Odawa land on the west side of the river with President Andrew Jackson . Jackson was originally unimpressed with Meccissininni, though Meccissininni, who often acquired white customs, asked Jackson for
504-526: A book called "Fudge: Mackinac's Sweet Souvenir" which explains how fudge became such a popular treat in Mackinac. After the fur trade, this island became a summer vacationing spot. The visitors began to associate sweets with the island. It originally started when Native Americans began collecting maple sugar but in the 1800s the Murdick family created the first real candy store. The world faced sugar rations in
630-495: A four month long general strike on April 19, 1911. Much of the public, the mayor, the press and the Catholic diocese supported the strike, believing that the unwillingness of business leaders to negotiate was unjust. Skilled and unskilled factory labor was mainly Dutch (60 percent) and Polish (25 percent), primarily immigrants. According to the 1911 Immigration Commission report, the Dutch had an average of 8 percent higher wages than
756-589: A large territory of 10 million acres (40,000 km ) extending from Wisconsin to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Historic references include one by Father Frederic Baraga , a Slovenian missionary priest in Michigan, who in his 1878 dictionary wrote: Mishinimakinago; pl. -g. —This name is given to some strange Indians (according to the sayings of the Otchipwes [Ojibwe]), who are rowing through
882-474: A minor dispute, workers were inspired to form labor unions ; workers requested furniture companies to increase wages , fewer working hours, the creation of collective bargaining and the institution of a minimum wage to replace piece work . The furniture businesses refused to respond with unions as they believed that any meeting represented recognition of unions. Workers in Grand Rapids then began
1008-769: A network of Métis settlements and trading posts was established throughout what is now the U.S. states of Michigan and Wisconsin and to a lesser extent in Illinois and Indiana. As late as 1829, the Métis were dominant in the economy of present-day Wisconsin and Northern Michigan. Many Métis families are recorded in the U.S. Census for the historic Métis settlement areas along the Detroit and St. Clair rivers, Mackinac Island and Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan , as well as Green Bay in Wisconsin. Many prominent mixed-race families, such as
1134-571: A parade of horse-drawn vehicles, which has been recognized as a local legacy event by the Library of Congress . The July 20, 2019, running of the Port Huron to Mackinac Boat Race was the 95th such annual event, with 202 sailboats registered in the 204-nautical mile-race from Port Huron to the island. The race was reported to have continued over the years in spite of wars and economic depressions. A similar sailboat race from Chicago to
1260-582: A part of mailing addresses in Kent County. The quadrants are NE (northeast), NW (northwest), SE (southeast), and SW (southwest). Fulton Street serves as the north–south dividing line, while Division Avenue serves as the east–west dividing line separating these quadrants. According to the United States Census Bureau , the city has a total area of 45.27 square miles (117.25 km ), of which, 44.40 square miles (115.00 km ) of it
1386-563: A retail destination for the region, hosting four department stores: Herpolsheimer's ( Lazarus ), Jacobson's , Steketee's (founded in 1862), and Wurzburg's. In 1945, Grand Rapids became the first city in the United States to add fluoride to its drinking water. National home furnishing conferences were held in Grand Rapids for about seventy-five years, concluding in the 1960s. By that time, the furniture-making industry had largely shifted to North Carolina . As with many older cities in
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#17327880265811512-410: A similar suit to the one the president was wearing. While later wearing his suit that was made similar to Jackson's, Meccissininni also unknowingly imitated Jackson's hat, placing a piece of weed in it, which impressed Jackson since it symbolized mourning the death of his wife. John Ball , representing a group of New York land speculators, bypassed Detroit for a better deal in Grand Rapids traveling to
1638-422: A typical summer. The average temperature of the area is 49 °F (9 °C). The highest temperature in the area was recorded on July 13, 1936, at 108 °F (42 °C), and the lowest was recorded on February 13–14, 1899, at −24 °F (−31 °C). During an average year, sunshine occurs in 46% of the daylight hours. On 138 nights, the temperature dips to below 32 °F (0 °C). On average, 9.2 days
1764-479: A wide variety of terrain, including fields, marshes, bogs, coastline, boreal forest , and limestone formations. The environment is legally preserved on the island by the State Historic Park designation. About half of the shoreline and adjacent waters off Mackinac Island, including the harbor (Haldimand Bay) and the southern and western shore from Mission Point to Pointe aux Pins, is protected as part of
1890-412: A year have temperatures that meet or exceed the 90 °F (32 °C) mark, and 5.6 days a year have lows that are 0 °F (−18 °C) or colder. The coldest maximum temperature on record was −6 °F (−21 °C) in 1899, whereas the most recent subzero Fahrenheit daily maximum was −2 °F (−19 °C) in 1994. During the reference period of 1991 to 2020, the coldest daily maximum on average
2016-449: Is a city in and county seat of Kent County, Michigan , United States. At the 2020 census , the city had a population of 198,893, making it the second-most populous city in Michigan, after Detroit . Grand Rapids is the central city of the Grand Rapids metropolitan area , which has a population of 1,162,950 and a combined statistical area population of 1,502,552. Located 161 miles (259 km) northwest of Detroit, Grand Rapids
2142-670: Is a sacred place in the tradition of some of its earliest known inhabitants, the Anishinaabe peoples. They consider it to be home of the Gitche Manitou , or the "Great Spirit." According to legend, Mackinac Island was created by the Great Hare, Michabou , and was the first land to appear after the Great Flood receded. The island was a gathering place for the local tribes, who made offerings to Gitche Manitou. It became
2268-505: Is also known as "Beer City USA". Due to the prominence of the Grand River, many local businesses and civic organizations use the moniker "River City" in their names. The city and surrounding communities are economically diverse, based in the health care , information technology , automotive , aviation , and consumer goods manufacturing industries, among others. Grand Rapids was the childhood home of U.S. President Gerald Ford , who
2394-597: Is buried with his wife Betty on the grounds of the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum in the city. The city's Gerald R. Ford International Airport and Gerald R. Ford Freeway are named after him. After the French established territories in Michigan, Jesuit missionaries and traders traveled down Lake Michigan and its tributaries. In 1806, white trader Joseph La Framboise and his Métis wife, Madeline La Framboise , traveled by canoe from Mackinac Island and established
2520-406: Is land and 0.87 square miles (2.25 km ) is water. Grand Rapids has a humid continental climate ( Köppen Dfa ), with very warm and humid summers, cold and snowy winters, and short and mild springs and autumns. Even though it is in the middle of the continent, the city experiences some maritime effects due to its location east of Lake Michigan, including a high number of cloudy days during
2646-628: Is located in Lake Huron at the eastern end of the Straits of Mackinac , between the state's Upper and Lower Peninsulas . It is about 8 miles (13 km) in circumference and 3.8 square miles (9.8 km ) in total area. The highest point of the island is the historic Fort Holmes (originally called Fort George by the British before 1815), which is 320 feet (98 m) above lake level and 890 feet (271 m) above sea level. Mackinac Island
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#17327880265812772-633: Is one of the largest urban nature centers in the United States. As of the 2010 census , there were 188,036 people, 72,126 households, and 41,015 families residing in the city. The population density was 4,235.1 inhabitants per square mile (1,635.2/km ). There were 80,619 housing units at an average density of 1,815.7 per square mile (701.0/km ). The city's racial makeup was 64.6% White (59.0% Non-Hispanic White ), 20.9% African American , 0.7% Native American , 1.9% Asian , 0.1% Pacific Islander , 7.7% from other races , and 4.2% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race were 15.6% of
2898-504: Is published weekly from May through September and monthly during the rest of the year. The island can be reached by private boat, by ferry , by small aircraft and, in the winter, by snowmobile over an ice bridge . The airport has a 3,500-foot (1,070 m) paved runway, and daily charter air service from the mainland is available. In the summer tourist season, ferry service is available from Shepler's Ferry and Mackinac Island Ferry Company (formerly Star Line) to shuttle visitors to
3024-491: Is situated along the Grand River approximately 25 miles (40 km) east of Lake Michigan , it is the economic and cultural hub of West Michigan . A historic furniture manufacturing center, Grand Rapids is home to five of the world's leading office furniture companies and is nicknamed "Furniture City". As a result of the numerous micro and craft breweries, many with notable reputations nationally and globally, Grand Rapids
3150-487: The Grand Rapids Public Museum . In October 1870, Grand Rapids became a desired location for immigrants, with about 120 Swedes arriving in the United States to travel and create a "colony" in the area in one week. During the second half of the nineteenth century, the city became a major lumbering center, processing timber harvested in the region. Logs were floated down the Grand River to be milled in
3276-534: The JW Marriott Grand Rapids , the first JW Marriott Hotel in the Midwest. It is themed from cityscapes of Grand Rapids' sister cities: Omihachiman, Japan; Bielsko-Biała, Poland; Perugia, Italy; Ga District, Ghana; and Zapopan, Mexico. When the hotel opened, Amway Hotel corporation hired photographer Dan Watts to travel to each of the sister cities and photograph them for the property. Each floor of
3402-588: The Mitchell family of Mackinac, were formed in the late 18th- and early 19th-century fur trading era. The Métis have generally not organized as an ethnic or political group in the United States as they have in Canada, where they had armed confrontations in an effort to secure a homeland. Mackinac Island’s second Masonic Lodge was Mackinac Lodge No. 71 F&AM (1853–1862). Mackinac #71 was granted dispensation by Grand Master Henry T. Backus on 20 June 1853, and
3528-542: The Munsell products; in 2007 it acquired Pantone , Inc. In 2012 the firm was acquired by Danaher Corporation . At the end of September 2023, Danaher spun-off its Environmental and Applied Solutions segment as Veralto Corporation. This Michigan-related article is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . This United States corporation or company article is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Grand Rapids, Michigan Grand Rapids
3654-759: The Panic of 1873 . In 1880, the country's first hydro-electric generator was put to use on the city's west side. Due to its flourishing furniture industry, Grand Rapids began being recognized as "Furniture City". Grand Rapids was also an early center for the automobile industry , as the Austin Automobile Company operated there from 1901 until 1921. Furniture companies included the William A. Berkey Company and its successors, Baker Furniture Company , Williams-Kimp, and Widdicomb Furniture Company . The furniture industry began to grow significantly into
3780-692: The Seneca people from western New York, who were one of the Five Nations of the Iroquois Confederacy. Only two of the local natives escaped by hiding in one of the natural caves at the island. To commemorate the losses of this allied tribe, the Ottawa named what is now Mackinac Island as "Mi-shi-ne-macki-nong." In 1895 John R. Bailey, the doctor at Fort Mackinac, published a history entitled Mackinac formerly Michilimackinac, describing some of
3906-404: The Straits of Mackinac Shipwreck Preserve , a state marine park . As it is separated from the mainland by 3 miles (4.8 km) of water, few large mammals inhabit the island, except those that traverse the ice during the winter months. Rabbits, fox, raccoons, otters, mink, gray and red squirrels, and chipmunks are all common, as are the occasional beaver and coyote. Bats are abundant on
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4032-717: The fur trade around the Great Lakes . Based on a former trading post, Fort Mackinac was constructed on the island by the British during the American Revolutionary War . It was the site of two battles during the War of 1812 before the northern border was settled and the US gained this island in its territory. In the late 19th century, Mackinac Island became a popular tourist attraction and summer colony . Many of
4158-480: The 1830s. Ancestors of these people included not only English colonists but people of mixed ethnic Dutch, Mohawk , French Canadian, and French Huguenot descent from the colonial period in New York. However, after 1837, the area saw poor times, with many of the French returning to their places of origin, with poverty hitting the area for the next few years. The first Grand Rapids newspaper, The Grand River Times ,
4284-471: The 1980s and 1990s. According to city government data, Grand Rapids has 37 distinct neighborhoods: Grand Rapids developed on the banks of the Grand River , where there was once a set of rapids, at an altitude of 610 feet (186 m) above sea level . Ships could navigate on the river up to this fall line, stopping because of the rapids. The river valley is flat and narrow, surrounded by steep hills and bluffs. The terrain becomes more rolling hills away from
4410-517: The Americans and British fought a second battle on the north side of the island. The American second-in-command, Major Andrew Holmes , was killed and the Americans failed to recapture the island. The federal fur trade station at Mackinac, which had been established by the United States government in 1808, was then taken over by the British. By the Treaty of Ghent of 1815, the British returned
4536-468: The Commissioners refused to grant" of which Joseph La Framboise received 1,000 dollars immediately and 200 dollars a year, for life. Madeline La Framboise retired the trading post to Rix Robinson in 1821 and returned to Mackinac. That year, Grand Rapids was described as being the home of an Odawa village of about 50 to 60 huts on the north side of the river near the 5th Ward, with Kewkishkam being
4662-470: The February record high of 73 °F (23 °C), which was recorded on February 27, 2024. In April 1956, the western and northern portions of the city and its suburbs were hit by a violent tornado which locally produced F5 damage and killed 18 people. With the Grand River flowing through the center of Grand Rapids, the city has been prone to floods. From March 25 to 29, 1904, more than one-half of
4788-416: The French army, which had built Fort Michilimackinac about 1715 near present-day Mackinaw City . The limestone formations are still part of the island's appeal. One of the most popular geologic formations is Arch Rock , a natural limestone arch, 146 feet (45 m) above the ground. Other popular geologic formations include Devil's Kitchen , Skull Cave , and Sugar Loaf . Mackinac Island contains
4914-660: The Grand River Valley, in hopes of evangelizing them. In 1821, the Council of Three Fires signed the first Treaty of Chicago , ceding to the United States all lands in Michigan Territory south of the Grand River, except for several small reservations, and required a native to prepare land in the area to establish a mission. The treaty also included "One hundred thousand dollars to satisfy sundry individuals, in behalf of whom reservations were asked, which
5040-441: The Grand River valley. Lincoln purchased land in what is now known as Grandville , while Campau became perhaps the most important settler when he bought 72 acres (291,000 m ) from the federal government for $ 90 and named his tract Grand Rapids. Over time, it developed as today's main downtown business district. In the spring of 1833, Campau sold to Joel Guild, who traveled from New York, a plot of land for $ 25.00, with Guild building
5166-455: The Grand River, though some of his followers believed that this was a wrestling match between the two that Slater won. Slater then erected the first settler structures in Grand Rapids, a log cabin for himself and a log schoolhouse. In 1825, McCoy returned and established a missionary station. He represented the settlers who began arriving from Ohio, New York and New England, the Yankee states of
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5292-557: The Great Lakes, and the receding lakewaters eroded the limestone bedrock, forming the island's steep cliffs and rock formations. At least three previous lake levels are known, two of them higher than the present shore: Algonquin -level lakeshores dating to about 13,000 years ago and the Nipissing-level shorelines formed 4,000 to 6,000 years ago. During an intermediate period of low water between these two high-water stages,
5418-591: The Lodge members were formerly associated with the local Sons of Temperance chapter, Mackinac Division No. 23 (1847–1851), whose weekly meetings were held Wednesday nights in a rented room in the Courthouse (previously in the Indian Dormitory ). Mackinac Lodge No. 71 would become inactive in 1860 as a result of rising pre- American Civil War tensions, military enlistment, multiple member relocations, and
5544-617: The Northern Tier. Shortly after, Detroit-born Louis Campau , known as the official founder of Grand Rapids, was convinced by fur trader William Brewster, who was in a rivalry with the American Fur Company, to travel to Grand Rapids and establish trade there. In 1826, Campau built his cabin, trading post, and blacksmith shop on the south bank of the Grand River near the rapids, stating the Native Americans in
5670-652: The Poles even when they did the same work. The pay difference was based on seniority and not ethnicity, but given that the Dutch had arrived earlier, seniority was linked to ethnicity. Ultimately, the Christian Reformed Church – where the majority of Dutch striking workers congregated – and the Fountain Street Church – led opposition to the strike, which resulted in its end on August 19, 1911. The strike spurred substantial changes to
5796-494: The Provincial Grand Lodge of New York, 1764) associated with the British 2nd Battalion, 60th Regiment of Foot, and second with Harmony Lodge (Provincial Grand Lodge of New York, ca. 1764–1766) associated with the British 1st Battalion, 60th Regiment of Foot . Mackinac Island was home to St. John's Lodge No. 15 (1782–1813), the third Masonic Military Lodge originally warranted on 15 November 1782 by John Collins,
5922-768: The Provincial Grand Master of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Quebec, for work in the Upper Canada territory that would later become Michigan. As a Military Lodge associated with the British 84th Regiment of Foot (Royal Highland Emigrants) St. John’s #15 meetings were held at the newly constructed Fort Mackinac in one of the rooms in the Officers Stone Quarters and also in the upper part of the West Blockhouse . Few records exist of this lodge, its membership, and activities, but
6048-484: The Sioux, retreated to the shore north of Mackinac Island. Here Marquette continued his missionary labors with them at the site of the present St. Ignace. The 1688 memoir of Jacques-René de Brisay de Denonville, Marquis de Denonville , claimed that the French had inhabited the area since 1648. A small French garrison was sent there some time between 1679 and 1683. The name of Michilimackinac (later abbreviated to Mackinac)
6174-516: The State Park Commission invited eight Eagle Scouts , including Gerald Ford , later President of the United States, to the island. In 1974, the program was expanded by Governor William Milliken to include Girl Scouts. The program is popular, selective, and a long-standing tradition. Scouts raise and lower twenty-seven flags on the island, serve as guides, and complete volunteer service projects during their stay. These Scouts live in
6300-497: The Straits of Mackinac shrank to a narrow gorge that discharged its water over Mackinac Falls, located just east of the island (beyond Arch Rock), into Lake Huron. As the Great Lakes assumed their present levels, the waterfall was inundated and Mackinac Island took on its current size. The steep cliffs were one of the primary reasons for the British army's choice of the island for a fortification. Their decision differed from that of
6426-505: The U.S. government and son of an Odawa chief, said the island was known locally after a tribe that had lived there. The French transliterated the word and spelled it as Michilimackinac . The British shortened it to the present name: "Mackinac." Michillimackinac is also spelled as Mishinimakinago, Mǐshǐma‛kǐnung, Mi-shi-ne-macki naw-go, Missilimakinak, Teiodondoraghie, and in Ojibwe syllabics : ᒥᔑᒥᑭᓈᒃ. The Menominee traditionally lived in
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#17327880265816552-609: The United States, and one of few survivors in North America. Mackinac Island also contains examples of Federalist, Colonial , and Greek Revival styles. Given its rise as a tourist destination in the late nineteenth century, many of the island's structures were built in the later style of the Victorian era, which includes Gothic Revival , Stick style , Italianate , Second Empire , Richardson Romanesque and Queen Anne styles. The most recent architectural styles date from
6678-558: The United States, retail in the city suffered as the population moved to suburbs in the postwar era, enabled in part by federal subsidies for highway construction. The Grand Rapids suburbs began to develop rapidly in the 1950s and 1960s. For example, Wyoming saw rapid growth following the opening of retail outlets such as Rogers Plaza and Wyoming Village Mall on 28th Street , with some developments built so quickly that they were finished without functioning utilities. Consolidation of department stores occurred in Grand Rapids and nationally in
6804-443: The area of the island and includes Fort Mackinac , as well as portions of the island's historic downtown and harbor . No camping is allowed on the island, but numerous hotels and bed and breakfasts are available. The downtown streets are lined with many retail stores and restaurants. Most of the buildings on Mackinac Island are built of wood, a few are of stone, and most have clapboard siding. The architectural styles on
6930-452: The area were "friendly and peaceable". Campau returned to Detroit , then returned a year later with his wife and $ 5,000 of trade goods to trade with the Odawa and Ojibwa, with the only currency being fur. Campau's younger brother Touissant would often assist him with trade and other tasks at hand. Lucius Lyon , a Yankee Protestant who would later become a rival to Campau, was contracted by
7056-558: The area, returned to Grand Rapids to purchase the rest of the prime land and called his plot the Village of Kent. When Lyon and his partner N. O. Sergeant returned after their purchase, they arrived along with a posse of men carrying shovels and picks, intending to build a mill race . The group arrived to the music of a bugle which startled the settlement, with Chief Noonday offering Campau assistance to drive back Lyon's posse believing they were invaders. Also that year, Rev. Andrew Vizoisky,
7182-513: The best island in the continental U.S. to visit. Mackinac Island is home to many cultural events, including an annual show of American art from the Masco collection of 19th-century works at the Grand Hotel. Five art galleries operate on the island. Since 1949, the island's residents have been celebrating the island's native lilacs with an annual spring 10-day festival . It culminates in
7308-515: The burial place of tribal chiefs. The first European likely to have seen Mackinac Island is Jean Nicolet , a French-Canadian coureur des bois , during his 1634 explorations. The Jesuit priest Claude Dablon founded a mission for the Native Americans on Mackinac Island in 1670, and stayed over the winter of 1670–71. The missionary and explorer Jacques Marquette succeeded him, moving the mission to St. Ignace soon after his arrival in
7434-539: The city and shipped via the Great Lakes. The city became a center of fine wood products as well. By the end of the century, it was established as the premier furniture-manufacturing city of the United States. It was the Centennial Exposition of 1876 in Philadelphia that brought attention to Grand Rapids' furniture on the national stage, providing a new growing industry to help the city recover from
7560-486: The city of Grand Rapids' area totaled 10.5 square miles (27 km ). Through the 1850s, the land containing forty-six Indian mounds located on the west side between Bridge Street and the Grand River to the south were sold by the United States government, with the mounds being destroyed to fill low-lying land in the area while the Native American artifacts contained within were taken or sold to museums, including
7686-536: The city's southeast side, is 104 acres (42 ha). It is home to over 44 acres (18 ha) of public-access nature trails, a 60-acre (24 ha), restricted-access wildlife preserve, as well as the Bunker Interpretive Center, which hosts university classes and educational programs for the wider community. The Blandford Nature Center, located on the city's northwest side, opened in 1968 and contains extensive nature trails, an animal hospital, and
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#17327880265817812-518: The city, river and surrounding area. The Pantlind Hotel's original architects, Warren & Wetmore, were inspired by the work of the Scottish neoclassical architect Robert Adam . In its prime, the hotel was rated as one of the top ten hotels in the US. The hotel features several restaurants well known in Grand Rapids. The hotel is owned by Amway Hotel Collection, a subsidiary of Amway's holding company Alticor . Other prominent large buildings include
7938-479: The company name. In 1975, it introduced its first densitometer for photographic printing use. The firm went public in 1986, and in 1987 moved into a new headquarters and production facility in Grandville, Michigan. By 1990, the firm shifted emphasis to the field of color measurement . In 1966 it purchased H. Miller Graphic Arts of England; in 2006 it purchased Amazys , owners of Gretag–Macbeth and thereby
8064-503: The departure of the British military presence from the region after the Treaty of Ghent in December 1814. During the War of 1812 , the British captured the fort in the siege of Fort Mackinac , the first battle of the conflict. The Americans were caught by surprise, not knowing that war had been declared. The victorious British attempted to protect their prize by building Fort George on the high ground behind Fort Mackinac. In 1814,
8190-449: The downtown area. Bicycles, roller skates/roller blades, carriages, and saddle horses are available for rent. An 8-mile (13 km) road follows the island's perimeter, and numerous roads, trails and paths cover the interior. M-185 , the United States' only state highway without motorized vehicles, makes a circular loop around the island, closely hugging the shoreline. Mackinac Island State Park covers approximately 80 percent of
8316-467: The earliest French traders on Mackinac. They reportedly arrived in 1654 with a large party of Huron and Ottawa heading to Three Rivers; another visitor was an adventurer making a canoe voyage in 1665. Archaeologists have excavated prehistoric fishing camps on Mackinac Island and in the surrounding areas. Fishhooks, pottery, and other artifacts establish a Native American presence at least 700 years before European exploration, around AD 900. The island
8442-438: The entire populated portion of the city lying on the west side of the river was completely underwater, over twenty-five hundred houses, affecting fourteen thousand persons, being completely surrounded. On March 28, the river registered at 19.6 feet (6.0 m), more than two feet (0.61 m) above its highest previous mark. More than one-hundred years later, the 2013 Grand Rapids flood occurred from April 12 to 25, 2013, with
8568-586: The federal government to survey the Grand River Valley in the fall of 1830 and in the first quarter of 1831. The federal survey of the Northwest Territory reached the Grand River, with Lyon using a surveyor's compass and chain to set the boundaries for Kent County, named after prominent New York jurist James Kent . In 1833, a land office was established in White Pigeon, Michigan , with Campau and fellow settler Luther Lincoln seeking land in
8694-478: The first frame structure in Grand Rapids, which is now where McKay Tower stands. Guild later became the postmaster, with mail at the time being delivered monthly from the Gull Lake, Michigan to Grand Rapids. Grand Rapids in 1833 was only a few acres of land cleared on each side of the Grand River, with oak trees planted in light, sandy soil standing between what is now Lyon Street and Fulton Street. By 1834,
8820-545: The first half of the 20th century due to the Great Depression and wars that were taking place. The fudge shops in the island had very little business, but the Murdick family did not give up hope! They would use fans to send the scent of their fudge out into the community to draw in customers. In later years, major interstates were created and made Mackinac Island well known to many. Mackinac Island’s visitors became known as "fudgies" because their main reason to travel to
8946-405: The first town meeting that had nine voters. It was also this year Campau began constructing his own frame building—the largest at the time—near present-day Rosa Parks Circle. In 1835, many settlers arrived in the area with the population growing to about 50 people, including its first doctor, Dr. Wilson, who was supplied with equipment from Campau. Lucius Lyon , using his knowledge from surveying
9072-780: The first trading post in West Michigan in present-day Grand Rapids on the banks of the Grand River , near what is now Ada Township , the junction of the Grand and Thornapple Rivers . They were French-speaking and Roman Catholic . They likely both spoke Odawa , Magdelaine's maternal ancestral language. In the fall of 1806, Joseph was fatally stabbed by a member of the Potawatomi tribe named Nequat. Joseph had been with his family and an entourage of voyageurs traveling between Grand River and Grand Rapids. The Potawatomi man had insisted that Joseph trade liquor with him. When Joseph refused,
9198-486: The forests and orchids , fringed gentian , butter-and-eggs, and jack-in-the-pulpit along the shoreline. The island's forests are home to many varieties of trees, such as maple , birch , elm , cedar , pine , and spruce . The island's newspaper is the Mackinac Island Town Crier . It has been owned and operated by Wesley H. Maurer Sr. and his family since 1957 as training for journalism. It
9324-614: The governmental and labor structure of the city. With businesses upset with Mayor Ellis for supporting the strike lobbied for the city to change from a twelve-ward government – which more accurately represented the city's ethnic groups – to a smaller three ward system that placed more power into the demands of Dutch citizens, the city's largest demographic. Some workers who participated in the strike were blacklisted by companies and thousands of dissatisfied furniture workers emigrated to higher paying regions. Shifting from its furniture-centric industry, downtown Grand Rapids temporarily became
9450-657: The group returning to the Carey Mission for the Potawatomi on the St. Joseph River . The government worker stayed into 1824 to establish a blacksmith shop, though the shop was burned down by the Odawa. Later in May 1824, Baptist missionary Reverend Leonard Slater traveled with two settlers to Grand Rapids to perform missionary work, though the group began to return to the Carey Mission after only three days due to threats. While
9576-412: The group was returning, they encountered Chief Noonday who asked for the group to stay and establish a mission, believing that the Odawa adapting to European customs was the only chance for them to stay in the area. The winter of 1824 was difficult, with Slater's group having to resupply and return before the spring. Chief Noonday, deciding to be an example for the Odawa, chose to be baptized by Slater in
9702-491: The horse, so celebrating Epona has special significance on this island. The "Feast of Epona" involves the blessing of horses and other animals by a local churchman. Every summer, Mackinac Island accommodates several Michigan Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts and their leaders over alternate weeks. These scouts serve the state park as the Mackinac Island Governor's Honor Guard . The program began in 1929, when
9828-713: The hotel features photography from one of the cities, which is unique to that floor. Cityscapes of these five cities are alternated in order, up the 23 floors. The city's tallest building is the River House Condominiums , a 34-story (123.8 m) condominium tower completed in 2008 that stands as the tallest all-residential building in the state of Michigan. Grand Rapids is also home to two large urban nature centers. The Calvin Ecosystem Preserve and Native Gardens, operated by Calvin University on
9954-474: The intersection of what is now Watson Street and National Avenue, with Chief Black Skin – known by his native name recorded as Muck-i-ta-oska or Mukatasha (from Makadewazhe or Mkadewzhe , "Have Black Skin") and was son of Chief Noonday – leading the village. In 1820, General Lewis Cass , who was on his way to negotiate the first Treaty of Chicago with a group of 42 men, commissioned Charles Christopher Trowbridge to establish missions for Native Americans in
10080-553: The island and surrounding mainland to the U.S. The United States reoccupied Fort Mackinac, and renamed Fort George as Fort Holmes after Major Holmes. The fort remained under control of the United States government until 1895. It provided volunteers to defend the Union during the American Civil War , and was used as a prison for three Confederate States of America sympathizers. John Jacob Astor 's American Fur Company
10206-406: The island from St. Ignace and Mackinaw City. Motorized vehicles have been prohibited on the island since 1898, with the exception of city emergency vehicles (ambulance, police cars and fire trucks), city service vehicles and snowmobiles during winter. Travel on the island is either by foot , bicycle , horse or horse-drawn carriage . Roller skates and roller blades are also allowed, except in
10332-461: The island in Odawa is Michilimackinac and "Mitchimakinak" in Ojibwemowin , meaning "Great Turtle". It is located in Lake Huron , at the eastern end of the Straits of Mackinac , between the state's Upper and Lower Peninsulas . The island was long home to an Odawa settlement and previous indigenous cultures before European colonization began in the 17th century. It was a strategic center of
10458-444: The island is preserved as Mackinac Island State Park . Like many historic places in the Great Lakes region, Mackinac Island's name derives from a Native American language, in this case Ojibwe language . The Anishinaabe peoples in the Straits of Mackinac region likened the shape of the island to that of a turtle, so they named it "Mitchimakinak" ( Ojibwe : mishimikinaak ) "Big Turtle". Andrew Blackbird , an official interpreter for
10584-640: The island span 300 years, from the earliest Native American structures to the European-American styles of the 19th century. The earliest structures were built by the Anishinaabe and Ojibwe (also called Chippewa in the United States) tribes before European exploration. At least two buildings still exist from the original French settlement of the late 18th century. Mackinac Island has the only example of northern French rustic architecture in
10710-557: The island was for their famous fudge. Although fudge was not invented on the island, it is a very popular treat that people would travel from all over to devour. Epona , the Gallo-Roman Horse Goddess, is celebrated each June on Mackinac Island with stable tours, a blessing of the animals and the Epona and Barkus Parade. Mackinac Island does not permit personal automobiles; the primary source of transportation remains
10836-407: The island's bluffs for extended stays. When the federal government left the island in 1895, it transferred all of the federal land, including Fort Mackinac, to the state of Michigan and this area was designated as Michigan's first state park. The Mackinac Island State Park Commission, appointed to oversee the island, has restricted private development in the park. Leaseholders are required to maintain
10962-554: The island's distinctive Victorian architecture. Motor vehicles were restricted at the end of the nineteenth century because of concerns for the health and safety of the island's residents and horses after local carriage drivers complained that automobiles startled their horses. This ban continues to the present, with exceptions only for city emergency vehicles (ambulance, police cars and fire trucks), city service vehicles, state park vehicles, and snowmobiles in winter. Thus, some controversy ensued in 2019 when Vice President Mike Pence
11088-499: The island, as it has numerous caves that serve as dwellings for them and a large insect population for the bats to prey on. The island is frequented by migratory birds on their trips between their summer and winter habitats, as it lies on a major migration route. Eagles and hawks are abundant in April and May, while smaller birds such as yellow warblers , American redstart , and indigo bunting are more common in early summer. Near
11214-719: The island, most recently held on July 22 to 25, 2023, was the 114th event in the Chicago Yacht Club Race to Mackinac , with 266 sailboats competing. The island is a destination for many regionally and nationally proclaimed conferences, including the Mackinac Policy Conference. Another special event that Mackinac island is known for is the Mackinac Island Fudge Festival which takes place in August. Phil Porter wrote
11340-441: The late 19th and early 20th century, and a Polish neighborhood developed on the west side of the city. By the early twentieth century, the quality of furniture produced in Grand Rapids was renowned throughout furniture industry, mainly due to the skill of its workers. Government reports in 1907 revealed that while Grand Rapids lead the industry in product output, its furniture workers were paid lower wages than in other areas. After
11466-670: The late 19th century to the 1930s and include the Colonial and Tudor revival . All of Mackinac Island was listed as a National Historic Landmark in October 1960. In addition, because of the island's long history and preservation efforts starting in the 1890s, eight separate locations on the island, and a ninth site on adjacent Round Island, are listed in the United States National Register of Historic Places . In 2022 Travel + Leisure named Mackinac Island
11592-467: The late fall and winter, delayed heating in the spring, delayed cooling in fall, somewhat moderated temperatures during winter and lake effect snow . The city averages 75.6 in (192 cm) of snow a year, making it one of the snowiest major cities in the United States. The area often receives quick and sudden lake effect snowstorms , producing significant amounts of snowfall. The months of March, April, October and November are transitional months and
11718-417: The man left, only to return at dusk when Joseph, who faithfully performed the ritual of Angelus every day at that time, was in prayer. Nequat stabbed the trader, fatally wounding him, leaving Joseph's wife, Magdelaine, a widow at age twenty-four. The next spring, a delegation from the Potawatomi tribe brought the offender, Nequat, before Magdelaine for her sentence upon him for the death of her husband. It
11844-504: The northwest side of present-day Grand Rapids near Bridge Street with about 500 Odawa, though the population would grow to over 1,000 on occasion. During the War of 1812 , Noonday was allied with Tecumseh during the Battle of the Thames . Tecumseh was killed in this battle, and Noonday inherited his tomahawk and hat. A second village existed lower down the river with its center located at
11970-568: The old fort at Mackinac, Mich." In an early written history of Mackinac Island (1887) by Andrew Blackbird, the Odawa historian, he describes that a small independent tribe called "Mi-shi-ne-macki naw-go" once occupied Mackinac Island. They became confederated with the Ottawa from Ottawa Island (now Manitoulin Island ), situated north of Lake Huron. One winter the Mi-shi-ne-macki naw-go on Mackinac Island were almost entirely annihilated by
12096-551: The original Lodge members, Dr. John R. Bailey and John Biddle, four Master Masons, and one Royal Arch Mason , however this action was unsuccessful. Following the Civil War, the island became a popular tourist destination for residents of major cities on the Great Lakes. Much of the federal land on Mackinac Island was designated as the second national park, spearheaded by the efforts of Dr. John R. Bailey, Mackinac National Park , in 1875, three years after Yellowstone National Park
12222-429: The population. Of the 72,126 households, 31.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 35.5% were married couples living together, 16.4% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.0% had a male householder with no wife present, and 43.1% were non-families. 32.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size
12348-470: The purported membership included prominent military and community members, such as Capt. Daniel Robertson , Major Robert Rogers , and Lt. George Clowes, Dr. David Mitchell, George Meldrum, Josiah Bleakley, Benjamin Lyon, and George McBeath . The British Military Lodge St. John’s #15 was erased from the British rolls in 1813, following the War of 1812 , and the later return of the fort to American control and
12474-495: The region in the fall of 1671. With the mission as a focus, the Straits of Mackinac quickly became an important French fur trading location. The British took control of the Straits after the French and Indian War and Major Patrick Sinclair chose the bluffs of the island for Fort Mackinac in 1780. The Jesuit Relations (1671) contains a long description of Mackinac Island: its fisheries, its phenomena of wind and tide, and
12600-592: The river cresting at 21.85 feet (6.66 m) on the 21st, causing thousands of residents to evacuate their homes and over $ 10 million in damage. The city skyline shows the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel , formerly the Pantlind, which reopened in 1981 after extensive renovations by Marvin DeWinter & Associates. This work included the addition of a 29–story glass tower offering panoramic views of
12726-431: The river. The countryside surrounding the metropolitan area consists of mixed forest and farmland, with large areas of orchards to the northwest. It is approximately 25 mi (40 km) east of Lake Michigan . The state capital of Lansing lies about 70 mi (110 km) to the east-by-southeast, and Kalamazoo is about 50 mi (80 km) to the south. Grand Rapids is divided into four quadrants , which form
12852-434: The settlement had become more organized. Rev. Turner had established a school on the east side of the river, with children on the west side of the river being brought to school every morning by a Native American on a canoe who would shuttle them across the river. Multiple events happened at Guild's frame structure, including the first marriage in the city, one that involved his daughter Harriet Guild and Barney Burton, as well as
12978-509: The settlement in 1836. Ball declared the Grand River valley "the promised land, or at least the most promising one for my operations". That year, the first steamboat was constructed on the Grand River named the Gov. Mason , though the ship wrecked two years later in Muskegon. Yankee migrants (primarily English-speaking settlers) and others began migrating from New York and New England through
13104-630: The shoreline, gulls , herons , geese , and loons are common. Owls, including snowy owls and great grey owls , come to the island from the Arctic to hunt in the warmer climate. Other birds, such as chickadees , cardinals , blue jays , and woodpeckers , live on the island year-round. Toads have also been found. Mackinac Island contains over 600 species of vascular plants . Flowering plants and wildflowers are abundant, including trillium , lady slippers, forget-me-nots, violets, trout lily , spring beauty , hepatica , buttercups , and hawkweeds in
13230-608: The structures on the island have undergone extensive historical preservation and restoration. Because of its historic significance, the entire island is listed as a National Historic Landmark . It is well known for numerous cultural events; a wide variety of architectural styles, including the Victorian Grand Hotel ; and its ban on almost all motor vehicles, with exceptions only for city emergency vehicles (ambulance, police cars and fire trucks), city service vehicles and snowmobiles in winter. More than 80 percent of
13356-470: The trade business, expanding fur trading posts to the west and north, creating a good reputation among the American Fur Company . La Framboise, whose mother was Odawa and father French, later merged her successful operations with the American Fur Company. By 1810, Chief Noonday , or Nowaquakezick, an Odawa chief, established the village of Bock-a-tinck (from Baawiting , "at the rapids") on
13482-516: The tremendous strategic importance of Michilimackinac/Mackinac Island as "the central point for all travel on the upper Great Lakes, and for a vast extent of wilderness and half-settled country beyond" to First Nations and Europeans (prior to the arrival of railroads ). The tribes which had inhabited Mackinac Island had been driven away by the Iroquois, leaving the island practically deserted until 1670. The Huron people from Lake Superior, in fear of
13608-620: The tribes who, now and in the past, have made it their abode. A favorite resort for all the Algonkin tribes, many are returning to it since the peace with the Iroquois. On this account, the Jesuits have begun a new mission, opposite Mackinac, called St. Ignace. Thither have fled the Hurons , driven from Chequamegon Bay by fear of the Sioux, "the Iroquois of the West." The Relations also indicate
13734-413: The twentieth century; in 1870 there were eight factories employing 280 workers and by 1911, Old National Bank wrote that about 8,500 were employed by forty-seven factories. At least a third of the workers in Grand Rapids were employed by furniture companies. The Grand Rapids Furniture Record was the trade paper for the city's industry. Its industries provided jobs for many new immigrants from Europe in
13860-544: The unfortunate combination of illness and/or death of a few key founding members. After two years of not submitting Lodge Returns, and no representatives sent to the Annual Communications, Mackinac #71‘s charter was forfeited by the Grand Lodge of Michigan in 1862. There was an attempt by seven Master Masons to revive Mackinac #71 a few years after the Civil War in February 1871, an effort led by two of
13986-456: The village chief and Chief Noonday being the chief of the Odawa. The first permanent European-American settler in the Grand Rapids area was Isaac McCoy , a Baptist minister. In 1823, McCoy, Paget, a Frenchman who brought along a Native American pupil, and a government worker traveled to Grand Rapids from Carey Mission near present-day Niles, Michigan to arrange a mission they called the "Thomas Mission", though negotiations fell through with
14112-527: The weather can vary. March has experienced a record high of 87 °F (31 °C) and record low of −13 °F (−25 °C). The average last frost date in spring is May 1, and the average first frost in fall is October 11, giving the area a growing season of 162 days. The city is in plant hardiness zone 6a, while outlying areas are 5b. Some far western suburbs closer to the insulating effect of Lake Michigan are in zone 6b. Summers are warm or hot, and heat waves and severe weather outbreaks are common during
14238-469: The woods, and who are sometimes heard shooting, but never seen. And from this word, the name of the village of Mackinac , or Michillimackinac , is derived. Maehkaenah is the Menominee word for turtle. In his 1952 book The Indian Tribes of North America , John Reed Swanton recorded under the "Wisconsin" section: "Menominee," a band named "Misi'nimäk Kimiko Wini'niwuk, 'Michilimackinac People,' near
14364-584: Was "one of the most important and delightful to be found in the country," and described the changing Native American culture in the area. By 1838, the settlement incorporated as a village, and encompassed approximately .75 square miles (1.9 km ). An outcropping of gypsum , where Plaster Creek enters the Grand River, was known to the Native American inhabitants of the area. Pioneer geologist Douglass Houghton commented on this find in 1838. Settlers began to mine this outcrop in 1841, initially in open cast mines , but later underground mines as well. Gypsum
14490-400: Was 11 °F (−12 °C). Summer nights influenced by the lake can be hot and muggy on occasion. The warmest night on record was 82 °F (28 °C) in 1902 and lows above 72 °F (22 °C) have been measured in every month between April and October. On average, the warmest low of the year stood at 74 °F (23 °C) for the 1991–2020 normals. The most recent record set was
14616-425: Was 2.49 and the average family size was 3.20. Mackinac Island Mackinac Island ( / ˈ m æ k ə n ɔː / MAK -ə-naw , locally / ˈ m æ k ə n ə / MAK -ə-nə ; French : Île Mackinac ; Ojibwe : Mishimikinaak ᒥᔑᒥᑭᓈᒃ ; Ottawa : Michilimackinac ) is an island and resort area, covering 4.35 square miles (11.3 km ) in land area, in the U.S. state of Michigan . The name of
14742-424: Was applied generally to the entire vicinity, as well as specifically to the post at St. Ignace. Later still it was applied to the fort and mission established on the south side of the Straits of Mackinac. Although the British built Fort Mackinac to protect their settlement from attack by French-Canadians and native tribes, the fort was never attacked during the American Revolutionary War . The entire Straits area
14868-480: Was centered on Mackinac Island after the War of 1812 and exported beaver pelts for 30 years. By the middle of the nineteenth century, commercial fishing for common whitefish and lake trout began to replace the fur trade as the island's primary industry. As sport fishing became more popular in the 1880s, hotels and restaurants accommodated tourists coming by train or lake boat from Detroit . Between 1795 and 1815,
14994-509: Was formed as the glaciers of the last ice age began to melt around 13,000 BC. The bedrock strata that underlie the island are much older, dating to Late Silurian and Early Devonian time, about 400 to 420 million years ago. Subsurface deposits of halite (rock salt) dissolved, allowing the collapse of overlying limestones; these once-broken but now solidified rocks comprise the Mackinac Breccia . The melting glaciers formed
15120-410: Was ground locally for use as a soil amendment known as "land plaster." The first formal census in 1845 recorded a population of 1,510 and an area of 4 square miles (10 km ). The city of Grand Rapids was incorporated April 2, 1850. It was officially established on May 2, 1850, when the village of Grand Rapids voted to accept the proposed city charter. The population at the time was 2,686. By 1857,
15246-535: Was later granted a Charter by the Grand Lodge of Michigan ’s Grand Master George W. Peck on 11 January 1855. Mackinac #71 operated as a ‘moon lodge’ with meetings held on Monday evenings, on or next proceeding the full moon, in a rented Lodge Room. It boasted a membership of prominent community members, such as Dr. Joseph H. Bailey, Dr. John R. Bailey, Jonathan P. King , Bela J. Chapman, Reuben Chapman, Mathew Geary , John Biddle, and Ambrose R. Davenport. Some of
15372-470: Was named as the first national park. This was thanks to U.S. Senator Thomas W. Ferry , who was born on the Island and lobbied for the park. To accommodate an influx of tourists in the 1880s, the boat and railroad companies built hotels, including the Grand Hotel . Island residents established souvenir shops to profit from the tourist trade. Many wealthy business magnates built summer " cottages " along
15498-583: Was officially acquired by the United States through the Treaty of Paris (1783) . However, Britain kept forces in the Great Lakes area until after 1794, when the Jay Treaty between the nations established U.S. sovereignty over the Northwest Territory . Freemasonry came to the Great Lakes region in the 1700s, with the earliest documented Lodge west of the Allegheny Mountains being Lodge #1 at Detroit (or Union #1, now Zion #1) (warranted by
15624-433: Was permitted to bring a motorcade to the island. According to the 2020 United States Census , the island has a year-round population of 583. The population grows considerably during the summer from tourists and seasonal workers. Hotels, restaurants, bars and retail shops hire hundreds of seasonal workers to accommodate the tens of thousands of visitors that visit the island between May 1st and October 31. Mackinac Island
15750-465: Was printed on April 18, 1837, describing the village's attributes, stating: Though young in its improvements, the site of this village has long been known and esteemed for its natural advantages. It was here that the Indian traders long since made their great depot. The Grand River Times continued, saying the village had grown quickly from a few French families to about 1,200 residents, the Grand River
15876-444: Was their tradition for the victim's family to avenge deaths within that tribe. Magdelaine refused to sentence him and, in an act of forgiveness, told the Potawatomi tribe members to let him go and that God would be his judge. Though Magdelaine had forgiven Nequat, the tribe had not. Nequat's body was found stabbed with his own knife the next season. After Joseph's murder while en route to Grand Rapids, Magdelaine La Framboise carried on
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