Mackinac County - American Courthouses

Mackinac County is named for the French term “Michillimackinac” which refers to the straits area as well as the French settlement at the tip of the lower peninsula and the Indian names “michinimackinog” means “place of Giant Fairies” or “Giant Turtles place”.

Surrounding County Courthouses:

N – Luce County and Chippewa County

E – Chippewa County

S – Cheboygan County and Emmet County

W – Schoolcraft County

Created: October 26 1818

County Seat:

Mackinac Island 1838 – 1882

St. Ignace 1882 – present

County Courthouse – St. Ignace

Location: 100 South Marley Street / Truckey Street

Built: 1935 – 1936

Style: Art Deco

Architect: C Harold Thompson

Contractor: Richard A Wilbur.

Description: The building faces east and is a three story red-brown colored brick, stone and concrete structure. The rectangular shaped building is located on landscaped grounds in the center of St. Ignace. The building has stone framing around the entrance and surrounding windows. Smaller stone vertical bands frame the other windows. The roof line is flat. In the interior, the County Circuit Court courtroom is located on the third story. The courtroom has Art Deco features with a low vaulted ceiling and wooden furnishings. The building houses the County Circuit Court of the 11th Judicial District, County District Court and County Probate Court. The building was constructed as a Works Progress Administration project. On the south side of the courthouse is the one story brick County Administration Building constructed in 1997 to 1998.

Old County Courthouse – Mackinac Island

Location: Market Street / Astor Street

Built: 1839 – 1840

Style: Greek Revival

Architect: Unknown

Contractor: Unknown

Description: The building faces southeast and is a two story white colored wood frame structure. The building is located on Mackinaw Island on landscaped grounds in the center of Mackinac Island Town. The southeast front of the rectangular shaped building has a central entrance on the first story. On the sloped roof is a large white colored octagonal cupola. The building is now the Police Station and Courthouse.

See: The 11th Judicial District includes Alger County, Luce County and Schoolcraft County.

History: The county was created in 1818 and Mackinac Island was selected as the county seat in 1838. The first courthouse was built in 1839. The county seat moved to St. Ignace in 1882 and the second courthouse was a three story brick structure designed and built by Julius Hess in 1882 at a cost of $25,000. The third and present courthouse was constructed in 1935 to 1936 at a cost of $75,000.

See: Michigan’s County Courthouses by John Fedynsky