Covering 4 square miles, Mackinac Island is relatively small. Small enough that one of the joys of visiting the island is being able to ride a bike all the way around.
But what is now Mackinac Island actually used to be much, much smaller. In fact, the land at one time was almost entirely covered by water. Then, as the ancient Lake Algonquin receded and formed the current Great Lakes, Mackinac Island emerged.
To this day, rising 75 feet up out of the forest in Mackinac Island State Park is a tower of rock called Sugar Loaf. It is the tallest limestone stack on the island, shaped into a spire as the waters of Lake Algonquin drained away and eroded the surrounding rock.
At least, that’s what the geological record says.
But there is another story that explains the existence of Sugar Loaf, one told centuries ago by the Native Americans who revered Mackinac Island as a sacred place.
The Legend of Sugar Loaf
Author Dirk Gringhuis recounted the tale in his “Lore of the Great Turtle” book published by the Mackinac Island State Park Commission in 1970. Here’s a summary:
As the story goes, ten young men from far away embarked on a journey to find Manabozho, a part-human/part-divine messenger of the great spirit who retired in his old age to Mackinac Island. They hoped he would grant each of them a special wish. Finally, after many months, the men arrived at the sacred island that looked like a sleeping turtle, and they found the old man living out his final days.
One by one, each of the ten men asked Manabozho to bestow upon him an extraordinary gift. The first asked to be made into a great war chief, for example, and the second into a hunter of unrivaled skill. The others wished to become a powerful medicine man or a strong dancer, a gifted orator or a captivating storyteller, the best looking, the most athletic, or the most talented craftsman.
For the first nine men, Manabozho granted their wishes. Then, the last young man approached and asked for eternal life.
Manabozho became angry at the request for “the one gift no mortal can have,” and he pointed his pipe at the man. The tenth young man suddenly grew larger, and his features turned into the towering Sugar Loaf, where he remains to this day.
Can you make out the profile of his face in the rock?
Mackinac Island’s Famous Rock Formations
Sugar Loaf is just one of many iconic natural landmarks on Mackinac Island, which is rich in natural and cultural history. Each one is part of what makes Mackinac Island so unique and special.
Did you know that more than 80% of Mackinac Island is state parkland, free for you to explore? In doing so, you’ll join generations of people who for centuries have ventured to the island known as the “Great Turtle” and stood in wondrous awe of the beauty and history of sights such as Sugar Loaf.
What stories will you tell about the mysteries of Mackinac Island?
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