Mackinac Island State Park covers about 1,800 acres, roughly 80 percent of Mackinac Island in Lake Huron, and uniquely includes both protected land and permanent residents within the city of Mackinac Island. Established in 1875 as Mackinac National Park, it was the nation’s second national park after Yellowstone, then became Michigan’s first state park in 1895 after the fort was decommissioned and the federal government transferred the land to the state. The park preserves major military sites tied to the War of 1812, including Fort Mackinac and Fort Holmes, along with notable natural landmarks such as Arch Rock, Sugar Loaf, Skull Cave, and Devil’s Kitchen.