ST. IGNACE, MICHIGAN
by Lee Miller, September 14, 2026
WHERE IS ST. IGNACE, MICHIGAN?
St. Ignace sits at the southeastern tip of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, where Lake Huron meets the Straits of Mackinac. The city is directly north of the Mackinac Bridge, which carries Interstate 75 across the Straits and connects Michigan’s two peninsulas.
US-2 begins just north of the bridge and runs west from St. Ignace along the Lake Michigan shoreline. Across the water is Mackinac Island, and on the lower peninsula is Mackinaw City. St. Ignace is the county seat of Mackinac County. The city had 2,306 residents in the 2020 U.S. Census.
St. Ignace Aerial View 2026ST. IGNACE, MICHIGAN HISTORY
The Straits of Mackinac were an important gathering and trading locale. Anishinaabe peoples established communities here centuries ago, including the Ojibwa and the Odawa, while the Wendat (Huron) people settled the area later.
St. Ignace's city master plan says Anishinaabe clans had established villages around the Straits as early as 900 A.D. French fur traders reached the Straits during the 1600s.
In 1671, Jesuit missionary and explorer Father Jacques Marquette established the Mission of St. Ignace, named for St. Ignatius of Loyola, founder of the Jesuit order.
Native villages, French traders and missionaries soon made the settlement an important center of activity in the upper Great Lakes.
The French established Fort de Buade at St. Ignace in the 1680s to protect their interests in the region and the lucrative fur trade.
Antoine de la Mothe Cadillac commanded the post during the 1690s before leaving and eventually founding Detroit in 1701. The fort deteriorated and was gone by the early 1700s.
After the fur trade declined, fishing and logging became important industries. The Mackinaw Lumber Company opened a sawmill in the 1870s. At its height, the company employed about 200 workers and owned thousands of acres of timberland.
Although the original company eventually disappeared, sawmills continued operating at the same waterfront location under different owners and names until 1955.
When railroads reached St. Ignace, railroad-car ferries and automobile ferries carried traffic across the Straits until the Mackinac Bridge opened in 1957.
Museum of Ojibwa Culture in St. IgnaceST. IGNACE, MICHIGAN TODAY
Today, tourism is a major part of St. Ignace’s economy. Its waterfront downtown has restaurants, gift shops, boutiques and stores selling local art, jewelry and Great Lakes-themed merchandise.
Kewadin Casino is a significant tourist attraction and local employer. Ferries regularly depart from St. Ignace for Mackinac Island, making the city a popular base for visitors to explore the Straits.
History remains especially visible at the Museum of Ojibwa Culture (built in 1837), located at the site of Father Marquette’s mission, and at other historic sites around town.
Visitors can also stroll along the Huron Boardwalk or waterfront parks and enjoy views of Mackinac Island and the Mackinac Bridge.
Huron Boardwalk and Wawatam LighthouseA Yooper secret is the Mystery Spot, voted Michigan’s Number 1 unusual attraction by readers of Michigan Living Magazine. Visitors experience optical contradictions, tricks of gravity, and physical sensations here that are hard to believe… but can be photographed.
Outdoor activities include boating, fishing, kayaking, hiking and bicycling. The nearby North Country National Scenic Trail and Hiawatha National Forest give additional hiking opportunities.
With winter comes cross-country skiing and snowmobiling. A climb up nearby Castle Rock gives you a great view of St. Ignace and the surrounding area.
Mystery Spot in St. IgnaceST. IGNACE, MICHIGAN THINGS TO DO,
PLACES TO STAY, PLACES TO EAT,
AND PLACES TO LIVE
TRIPADVISOR INFO FOR ST. IGNACE, MICHIGAN
ST. IGNACE, MICHIGAN REAL ESTATE
ST. IGNACE, MICHIGAN INTERACTIVE MAP
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By Mike Miller, Copyright 2020-2026 YooperSecrets.com
