This dock and the auto ferries which landed here were once the Upper Peninsula's "highway" to lower Michigan.
In the early 1900's, the few cars which reached the Straits crossed on railroad ferries, at a cost of $40 each! Better roads brought a surge of traffic and in 1923 the Michigan State Ferry service was established to transport autos between here and Mackinaw City at the reasonable cost of $2.50.
During the first year 10,351 vehicles made the crossing, weather permitting, in 1 hour. In 1936 winter service began. By 1950, over 600,000 vehicles rolled onto this dock each year. Summer weekends, holidays and the deer-hunting season brought line-ups of several miles and a wait of 6 to 12 hours.
In 1952 the State Ferries began landing at a new dock to the south. The Mackinac Bridge replaced the Ferry Service in 1957, after its 8 ships had safely carried more than 12 million vehicles.
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