Michigan Forts

American Forts: East

MICHIGAN

Last Update: 29/DECEMBER/2024

Compiled by Pete Payette - Š2024 American Forts Network

Louis Chappee's Trading Post
(1824 - 1850's), near Menominee, U.P.
A settlers' fortified trading post located at the foot of the Chappee Rapids on the Menominee River, about five miles northwest of town along River Road (County Road 581). Built by Stanislaus Chaput, better known as "Louis" Chappee to the other settlers, more for protection against the other settlers/miners than against the Indians.

Ontonagon Trading Post ?
(1808 ?, 1817 - 1840 ?), Silver City, U.P.
An American Fur Co. trading post located at the mouth of the Big Iron River.

Fort Wilkins (State Historic Park)
(Fort Wilkins Natural History Association)
(1844 - 1846, 1867 - 1870), Copper Harbor, U.P. FORT WIKI
Located by Lake Fanny Hooe, it was built to protect copper miners from the Chippewa Indians. Discontinued in 1846 due to the Mexican War, but reactivated after the Civil War due to the Fenian Crisis with Canada. Many of the buildings from both periods still survive.

L'Anse Trading Post
(1800 ? - 1812, 1817 - 1847), L'Anse, U.P.
Originally a North West Co. fur trade post, later an American Fur Co. post. Site at L'Anse Township Park, just north of town. The village was originally known as L'Anse Quiwinan.

Big Bay Firing Range
(1952 - 1953), Big Bay, U.P.
A training range for National Guard AA artillery (90mm) was located on Big Bay Point, currently a Coast Guard Reservation with a lighthouse nearby.

Grand Island Trading Post
(Grand Island National Recreation Area)
(1800's, 1820's - 1840), Grand Island, U.P.
A North West Co. fur trading post was originally here, and later an American Fur Co. post.

Fort de Repentigny
(1751 - 1762), Sault Ste. Marie, U.P.
A small French fort located just east of the present town, built in 1751 to protect the fur trade. The British occupied it in the fall of 1761 (or spring 1762 ?), then it was later destroyed by fire in December 1762. It was not rebuilt. There was no military garrison here during Pontiac's uprising in 1763. British traders returned to this area in 1768. (see also ONTARIO page 3)

The French may have had a trade post located here earlier in 1670. A French mission was established in 1668.

Fort Brady
(Lake Superior State University)
(1822 - 1857, 1866 - 1892, 1892 - 1944), Sault Ste. Marie, U.P. FORT WIKI
The original U.S. Army log stockade with two blockhouses (1822 - 1825) was once located at present South Street and Ryan Ave.. It was supposedly built on or near the site of the old French Fort de Repentigny, to counter the British presence on Drummond Island. It was originally known as Post at Sault Ste. Marie (1822), Post at St. Mary's (1823 - 1824), and then Cantonment Brady (1824 - 1825). The post was abandoned in 1857 for Fort Snelling, MN, but regarrisoned in 1866. Portions of the original reservation were sold off in 1852 to build the Weitzel Lock and Canal. The remaining portion of the old reservation was sold off in 1893. Only a recreated portion of the west stockade wall exists as part of an exhibit along the Historic Locks Park Walkway in Brady Park. Some former 1860's Officer's quarters still exist as private homes.

The military post was rebuilt closer to town on Ashmun Hill in 1892 ("New Fort Brady") and remained active through World War II. Lake Superior State University now occupies most of the former post since 1946. Several original buildings still remain. Exhibits of the former fort are on display at the River of History Museum at 531 Ashmun Street (admission fee).

ANTI-AIRCRAFT DEFENSES of the SOO LOCKS
This post was the headquarters for the joint Canadian - American anti-aircraft artillery and barrage balloon defenses of the Soo Locks during WWII (April 1942 - February 1944). The U.S. Army's 100th Coast Artillery Regiment (AA) emplaced here one four-gun 90mm AA gun battery (two additional four-gun batteries were located on Canadian soil), thirty-two 37mm/40mm AA guns, twelve .50-caliber AA machine guns, and 15 60-inch AA searchlights (some on Canadian soil). The 339th Barrage Balloon Battalion deployed a battery of barrage balloons. The 131st Infantry Regiment took up guard duty at various locations. Also, a chain of four American-manned early warning air defense radar stations (SCR-271) were located in northern Ontario (see ONTARIO page 3) beginning in August 1942. After February 1944 a long-range air defense radar was built near Grand Marais.

Nearby was Camp Lucas, formerly the Army hospital post for Fort Brady in WWII, which was later used as battalion headquarters (8th AAA Battalion) for the Cold War era anti-aircraft defense protecting the Soo Locks from 1951 to 1960. The 2nd Battalion, 68th Artillery replaced the 8th AAA in September 1958, remaining until June 1960. The Royal Canadian Artillery's 128th AA Battalion was also jointly deployed across the border until June 1960. The post was finally abandoned in 1962.

The Fort Brady/Camp Lucas Target Range (1895 - 1945) was located near Raco adjacent to Raco Army Airfield (1941 - 1945, 1951 - 1960). Eighteen 75mm Skysweeper AA guns were emplaced here 1951 - June 1960. The Target Range tract was sold in 1962. BOMARC missiles were emplaced by the U.S. Air Force (37th Air Defense Missile Squadron) at Raco Field from March 1960 to October 1972, operated as a subpost of Kincheloe Air Force Base. NIKE missiles were never emplaced here. See also Abandoned Airfields of Northern Michigan by Paul Freeman

Fort Drummond
(1815 - 1828), Drummond Island, U.P.
Located across the De Tour Passage from De Tour Village on the mainland, on the western shore of Whitney Bay, just north of Surgeon Island. The British garrison from Fort Mackinac moved here in July 1815, believing this still to be British territory, or at least hoping it would remain so. Previously unnamed (by Europeans), the island was formally named "Drummond Island" at this time. Some military stores from Mackinac were sent to the former post at St. Joseph's Island (Ontario), where the North West Company trade post still remained intact. The post was officially known as Fort Collyer (or Collier). A separate civilian settlement was also erected nearby as Collyer's Harbor (Whitney Bay). Several barracks and crude dwellings were built for immediate shelter, along with storehouses, a hospital, a bakehouse, and other structures. Two of the North West Co. dwellings on St. Joseph's Island were dismantled and relocated here in 1816. One or two large timber blockhouses and an enclosed 50-foot square stone fort/redoubt were planned but never built. A fire in June 1820 reportedly destroyed all the prepared timber for the blockhouses, which apparently was never replaced. An earthwork shore battery was built on the western tip of the island overlooking Portage Bay. A proper powder magazine was never built on Drummond Island, the garrison had utilized the old magazine on St. Joseph's Island which remained guarded by a token detachment throughout the duration. By June 1823 there were 18 buildings built for the garrison, not counting the several civilian houses by the harbor. After the island was officially declared to be American territory by international arbitration in 1822, the British finally withdrew in November 1828 to Penetanguishene, Ontario. The post was not thereafter held by the Americans, and was left abandoned. Some civilians remained behind until the following spring/summer. The name "Fort Drummond" was probably bestowed at that time by the Americans, as all British reports from the post were headlined "Fort Collyer" or "Drummond Island". Most of the structures were still standing according to an 1831 visitor's account, and were most likely burned down sometime between the 1836 government treaty of Indian land cessions on the island and the arrival of the first permanent American settlers and the opening of a limestone quarry in the early 1850's. Several stone chimney columns are located on private property, but some can be viewed from the water by private boat. One chimney has been incorporated into a modern private cabin. One other chimney has been relocated to the Drummond Island Historical Museum in Drummond Village. See also History of Whitney Bay Area from Drummond Island Tourism Asociation

British traders may have had intermittant outposts on the island in the years between 1762 to 1812.

Fort de Buade
(Fort de Buade Museum)
(1689 - 1698), St. Ignace, U.P.
Also referred to as Fort Michilimackinac (1) in some sources. A French Jesuit mission (St. Ignace) was established here in 1671, first garrisoned by troops in 1679, and stockaded by 1683. A proper fort was built just south of the mission in 1689 after the garrison from Fort St. Joseph (1) transferred here. The garrison was sent to Detroit after the fur market crashed. The mission itself was abandoned in 1701 after the fort was abandoned, and the site was burned by the Indians in 1706. Some earthwork remnants still remain behind Marquette Mission Park on North State Street, although these may be related to the stockaded Huron Indian village that was here at the time. The probable mission site was found and excavated in 1877, and has been marked as such since the 1920's. A monument to Father Jacques Marquette was erected here in 1882. An archaeological investigation in 1971 failed to prove or disprove the mission location, although period artifacts were found. The exact site of the military fort has not been located. Admission fee to the museum, located at 334 North State Street.

A French post may have been located here earlier in 1627.

Fort Mackinac
(1780 - 1895), Mackinac Island, U.P. FORT WIKI
Pronounced "MACKINAW", and sometimes referred to as Fort Michilimackinac (3) in early sources. Located on a bluff above the village. The British garrison moved here from Fort Michilimackinac (2) in stages beginning in the summer of 1779 until 1781, but the bulk of the move occurred in the summer of 1780. Sometimes referred to as the "Gibraltar of the Great Lakes" in British accounts. The fort came under American control in 1796 and was then extensively altered and repaired as it mostly appears today. The post became part of the Federal "Factory system" of Indian trading posts from September 1808 to 1812. British forces from Fort St. Joseph in Ontario captured the fort in July 1812. The Americans failed to retake the fort in August 1814, and the British troops moved to Drummond Island in July 1815 only after receiving news that the peace treaty was ratified. In 1875 Mackinac Island became the second official U.S. National Park, under the care of the War Department, with the troops at the fort acting as park caretakers and rangers. The park, including the fort, was transferred to the state in 1895. There are 14 restored (1960's) original buildings from various time periods, along with original stone ramparts, and three stone blockhouses. Admission fee.
PHOTOS by John Hamill

The joint American-British South West Company had a trade post nearby in 1815-16. The American Fur Company had their headquarters here in 1817-1854, a stone house still exists and is part of the current state park holdings (Beaumont Memorial House, restored 1954, at Fort and Market Streets).

Fort Holmes
(1814 - 1817), Mackinac Island, U.P.
Built by the British beginning in May 1814, and attacked by the Americans in August 1814, it was formally named Fort George later, sometime before March 1815. It was renamed in September 1815 after the Americans recovered the island in July 1815 and they completed the defense to British plans. It was planned as an 11-gun horseshoe-shaped stockaded and ditched earthwork with a two-story two-gun log blockhouse, and with two semi-underground bombproofs and two detached outer batteries. Armed with only seven guns by the Americans in September 1815, it was maintained until at least December 1817 (only four guns reported by then). It was destroyed sometime later (1820 ?) by the American soldiers for target practice (mostly on the upper story of the blockhouse). Its timbers were reportedly used to construct a garrison barn in 1822 at the post gardens below Fort Mackinac. The blockhouse was first reconstructed in 1907 when the barn was relocated to its original site and rebuilt but as a one-story blockhouse, burned in 1933, and then more or less faithfully reconstructed again from the original plans in 1936. The second replica was demolished in 1969 after it became derelict and unsafe, leaving intact only the gatehouse and the surrounding earthworks. A third and more accurate replica blockhouse and stockade was built in 2016. Located one-half mile behind Fort Mackinac on the highest point of the island (320 feet elevation).

Fort Michilimackinac (2) (State Park)
(1715 - 1780), Mackinaw City FORT WIKI
Originally French from 1715 to 1761 and called Fort St. Philippe de Michilimackinac, it was a palisaded fort with four blockhouses/bastions and six guns. It had been rebuilt and expanded in the 1740's. The British first occupied the post in September 1761. The fort was attacked by Pontiac's Indian forces in June 1763 and rebuilt again in 1764. It was abandoned in the summer of 1780 for a more defensible position on Mackinac Island, fearing a possible attack by American Patriot forces from the Illinois Country (Kaskaskia) and/or the Spanish from St. Louis, but which eventually never materialized. Many of the buildings were dismantled and relocated/rebuilt at Fort Mackinac, although a few structures may have remained under a token guard until the spring/summer of 1781 when all that was left was burned, including the powder magazine. The stockade was first reconstructed in 1936, although not to any authentic plan. The site then underwent several extensive excavations beginning in 1959, and the current stockaded fort is a faithful replica (late 1960's) of the British fort, with 18 reconstructed buildings. Admission fee. Map and Photos from Michigan Interactive
PHOTOS by John Hamill

Joseph LaFramboise's Trading Post (5)
(1796 - 1818), near Harbor Springs
An independent British fur trade post located at Little Traverse Bay. One of about 20 posts operated by LaFramboise, and his widow after 1806.

Joseph LaFramboise's Trading Post (4)
(1796 - 1818), Traverse City
An independent British fur trade post located at the mouth of the Boardman River. One of about 20 posts operated by LaFramboise, and his widow after 1806.

Camp Grayling (State Military Reservation)
(1914 - present), near Grayling
A state guard training area surrounding Lake Margretha, covering over 147,000 acres. Used as a mobilization center in WWI, and as an infantry training area and airfield in WWII.

Saginaw Bay Posts
(1785 - 1790's ?, 1816 - 1828), Saginaw
An independent British trade post was originally located here.

The American Fur Co. later had a trading post here in 1816, operated by Louis Campeau, which was in the near vicinity of the later Fort Saginaw, and was still here when that fort was established in 1822. Campeau created the first plat of the future town in 1823, but he relocated to Grand Rapids in 1826. Gardner Williams bought out Campeau's interests in 1828, who then closed the post and moved it into the Fort Saginaw stockade.

Fort Saginaw
(1822 - 1824, 1828 - 1839 ?), Saginaw
A 200 by 350-foot stockade with two corner blockhouses, barracks, Officers' quarters, hospital, magazine, and storehouse, built in June 1822, and garrisoned by Companies A and I, 3rd U.S. Infantry (120 men plus 30 dependents). It was abandoned in October 1823 due to a severe malaria outbreak that summer, and thereafter occupied only by a caretaker detachment until May 1824. Abandoned, it was then later sold off in June 1825 as the planned town was then under development (the first post office was established in 1834). Sometimes referred to as Post of Sagina (with various spellings). The American Fur Co. opened a new trade post in the former fort in 1828, operated by Gardner Williams. The nearby Chippewa Indian Subagency remained in operation until 1839. The Fordnoy Hotel was eventually built on a portion of the original fort site, located at Hamilton and Court Streets, and a bronze tablet marking the site of the fort was placed on the side of the hotel in 1916. The hotel burned down in 1991 and the tablet was moved to the Castle Museum of Saginaw County History at 500 Federal Ave.. The fort's magazine supposedly still remained standing until 1870. The former parade ground is still a city greenspace today (Borchard Park and the Courthouse Square, both along North Michigan Ave. at Court Street, originally designated as the town commons in 1831).

Jacob Smith's Trading Post
(1819 - unknown), Flint
A settlers' trading post and cabin, located at the "Grand Traverse" of the Flint River, on the north bank. The site remained with the Smith family until 1873. Marker located on West First Ave. at Lyon Ave. in the "Carriage Town" district.

Peter Knaggs' Trading Post
(1819 - 1820's), near Bancroft
A settlers' trading post. John Knaggs, a relative, later operated a store and tavern on the same site, which closed in 1836. The first bridge here was built in 1838. Marker located on Cole Road at the Knaggs Bridge over the Shiawassee River, about three miles southeast of town.

Fort St. Joseph (1)
(1686 - 1688), Port Huron
A French stockaded fort built to protect the Great Kafur trade against the British. It was abandoned and burned. The garrison then transferred to Fort de Buade. State marker located at Gratiot Park on Gratiot Ave. at Church Street. (NOTE: the "National Atlas of Canada" (1974) shows this post located at Point Edward in Sarnia, Ontario.)

Fort Gratiot
(1814 - 1822, 1828 - 1879), Port Huron FORT WIKI
The American stockade fort was in use off and on up through the Civil War. It was later abandoned. The original Fort Gratiot Lighthouse was built just north of the fort in 1825 (destroyed in 1828), replaced by the current lighthouse in 1829 at 2802 Omar Street. Pine Grove Park occupies part of the original fort site. Some extant houses north of the park might be former Officers' quarters. The monument was relocated to the Thomas Edison Parkway at Thomas Edison Drive. The Port Huron Museum relocated the surviving 1829 Post Hospital to Lighthouse Park in 2002, from its former site on St. Clair Street behind the present-day Blue Water Convention Center, and began restoration in 2012.

Fort Sinclair
(1765 - 1785), St. Clair
An intermittantly occupied fortified British supply post between Detroit and Michilimackinac, located on the south bank of the Pine River. Named after or by the British officer Lt. Patrick Sinclair (who later became the colonial Lt. Governor of the Michilimackinac region), who had ordered it built. The post was finally abandoned after the American Revolution. Sometimes erroneously spelled St. Clair. (NOTE: there is no connection between Patrick Sinclair and the naming of Lake St. Clair or the St. Clair River, or the present community of St. Clair. The lake and river were first named Sainte Clare by the French in 1679. The British changed the spelling to St. Clair in 1755. The township and county were founded and named after the lake and river by American settlers in 1817.)

Camp Butler
(1861 - 1865), Mt. Clemens
A Civil War training camp.

Fort Detroit (1)
(1701 - 1805), Detroit FORT WIKI
Originally called Fort Pontchartrain du d'Etroit by the French. It was originally a palisaded fort about 200-feet square. The fort and town were enlarged several times in the 1750's. The British gained control in 1760 and renamed it. After Pontiac's attack in 1764, the Citadel was built on the southwest side of the town stockade, just north of present-day St. Anne Street. It included barracks, a guardhouse, and a blockhouse. The town fort/stockade was rebuilt in 1776 with 11 blockhouses and several batteries. The Citadel then included Officers' quarters, a commissary, and other buildings. The main defense of the town was replaced by Fort Lernoult in 1778 (see below). Became American in 1796. The town fort/stockade and the Citadel burned down in 1805, but the original blockhouse survived. Site of the original fort and blockhouse located south of Jefferson Ave. between Griswold and Shelby Streets. Marker located in parking area beneath the Ponchartrain Hotel, accessible from Larned Street.
See also Pontiac's Seige of Fort Detroit (1763 - 1764) from Detroit News.com

Fort Detroit (2)
(1778 - 1826), Detroit
Originally British Fort Lernoult, which was located uphill from Fort Pontchartrain / Detroit (1), which it replaced as the main defense of the town. Withstood an American seige in 1779. The Americans formally took over the post in 1796 and restored the "Detroit" name. This fort survived the devastating 1805 fire. The post became part of the Federal "Factory system" of Indian trading posts from July 1802 - 1806. The fort was surrendered to the British in August 1812 without firing a shot, but the Americans recaptured it in September 1813, and renamed it Fort Shelby. Given to the city in 1826, the fort was destroyed in 1827 as the city began to grow. Marker located at Fort and Shelby Streets.

Fort Wayne
(Historic Fort Wayne Coalition)
(1843 - 1949/1967), Detroit FORT WIKI
This dry moated square-bastioned stone fortress, named in 1849, was not completed until 1851, and not garrisoned until the Civil War, at which time it was used mostly as an Infantry enlistment and training center. Officers' quarters were constructed inside the parade in 1847, and enlisted barracks were built in 1850. The Officers' quarters burned down in 1849 and were never rebuilt. The fort was remodeled in the 1860's. Guns were never emplaced, except for a field battery during the Civil War. Several new quarters and barracks, along with the post hospital, guardhouse, bakery, and other buildings, were built around a new parade ground to the south of the old fortress during the 1870's and 1880's. Proposed for closure following WWI, the reservation was regarrisoned in 1928. The Army used the post as a Quartermaster Motor Supply Depot in World War II, and an Ordnance Motor Supply Depot afterwards. The old fortress was turned over to the city in 1949, but the Army remained in the cantonment area for several more years. A four-gun 90mm AA battery was briefly located on post in 1955. Located at the foot of Livernois Ave., in the old Spring Wells area along the Detroit River, just north of Zug Island and the mouth of River Rouge. The fort was closed to the public from 1992-2006 due to lack of funds. Several Woodland Period Indian mounds (circa 750 A.D.) are still located on the cantonment parade ground near the river. Also located here on post are the Great Lakes Indian Museum, and the Tuskegee Airmen Museum. See also Detroit's Fort Wayne Under Siege from Detroit News.com || PHOTOS from Detroit Yes.com

Detroit Barracks
(1838 - 1851), Detroit FORT WIKI
Prior to the construction of Fort Wayne, during border troubles with Canada the Army regarrisoned the area using rented quarters on the lower east-side of town. Also known as Post at Detroit. Site located at the old Nellie Leland School at 1395 Antietam Ave., now condos.

Detroit Arsenal
(Dearborn Historical Museum)
(1833 - 1875), Dearborn
A Federal artillery arsenal, completed in 1837, located along the Lower Rouge River. A 360-foot square walled compound with eleven buildings, with a 75-man garrison. The arsenals main entrance was on Monroe Street north of Michigan Avenue. The walls ran along the north sides of Michigan Avenue and Garrison Street and the mid-lines of the blocks between Monroe Street and Mason, and Monroe Street and Oakwood. Closed and then sold off in 1877. The structures were converted to other uses, but most were eventually demolished by the mid-20th century. The Dearborn Historical Museum owns and operates the 1833 Commandant's Quarters, restored in 1959, located at 21950 Michigan Ave.; and the 1838 powder magazine, later converted to the McFadden-Ross House in 1893, located at 915 Brady Street. Two other remaining structures now in private ownership are the 1835 Sutler's Shop, located at Monroe St. and Garrison St.; and the 1836 Gun Carriage Shop, located on Monroe Street, now the Dearborn Music store.

Camp Backus
(1861), Detroit
A Civil War training camp.

Camp Lyon
(1861), Detroit
A Civil War training camp.

Camp Banks
(1862), Detroit
A Civil War training camp.

Grosse Isle Stockade
(1815 - 1817), Grosse Isle
An American stockaded enclosure containing six log barracks and Officers' quarters for detachments of the U.S. 5th Infantry Regiment, located on Grosse Isle on East River Road, built during a border dispute with the British concerning this area. It was destroyed in 1819.

Cold War AAA Defenses of Detroit
(1952 - 1958), Detroit area
Several permanent sites were established for the Army's Anti-Aircraft Artillery (AAA) Gun Site Program, the precursor to the NIKE missile defense program. Four 90mm AA guns were positioned at each site, with troop barracks and other support buildings. Known sites include:
Algonac (1952 - 1958): at Short Cut Road (D-17).
Hazel Park (1952 - 1956): at Ryan and 10 Mile Roads (D-91).
Ferndale (1954 - 1956): at Harding Park (D-90).
Detroit (1952 - 1955): at Mark Twain and Belton (D-72).
Detroit (1953 - 1955): at 6301 West Jefferson Ave. (D-50).
Fort Wayne (1955): on post (6325 West Jefferson Ave.).
Park Grove (1952 - 1957): at Crusade and Novara Road.
Algonquin (Dearborn) (1955): at Southfield and Ford Roads.
Dearborn (1953 - 1955): battery headquarters only, at Greenfield Road and Dearborn Street (D-62).
Grosse Isle (1952 - 1958): at Groh Road, NAS Grosse Isle (D-51).
Newport (1955): at Newport and Telegraph Roads (D-58 (Temporary)).

Other gun sites confirmed by 1955 aerial photos:
Warren: at Hoover Road and Hupp.
Grosse Pointe Farms: at present-day Brownell Middle School.
Grosse Pointe Park: at end of Three Mile Drive.
Detroit: at Van Antwerp Park, at Wyoming Ave. and St. Martins.
Ecorse: at West Jefferson Ave. and Westfield Road.
(other info courtesy of Mike Denja)

NIKE missile defense sites (1955 - 1974) are beyond the scope of this website.

Navarre - Anderson Trade Post
(1789 - 1812), Monroe
A civilian trading post originally built by Heutrau Navarre, then sold in 1802 to John Anderson, a trader and local militia colonel. The walls are still riddled with bullet holes and buckshot fragments from the Battle of the River Raisin (aka Battle of Frenchtown) in January 1813. The structure was moved from its original location at 39 East Elm Street in 1894, and moved again in 1972 to its present site, 3775 North Custer Road, by the Monroe County Historical Society. Markers at both locations.

Wayne Stockade
(1796 - 1812), Monroe
A stockaded settlers' (or local militia) blockhouse, it was the first American-flagged post in the state. It was burned by the British in August 1812, after the surrender of Detroit. Site located near East Elm and North Monroe Aves.. American settlement began here in 1793.

Two associated blockhouses were located further up the Raisin River, and near the mouth of Otter Creek. Both also were burned down by the British in August 1812.

Camp Eaton
(Island Lake State Recreation Area)
(1898, 1900), near Brighton
A Spanish-American War state muster camp. Also used by the MI National Guard as a summer encampment site in 1900. Marker at site.

Camp Williams
(1861), Adrian
A Civil War training camp.

Camp Blair
(1864 - 1866), Jackson
A Civil War recruitment camp and hospital on 11 acres. Used for mustering out troops in 1865-66. State marker (2007) located at 1212 Wildwood Ave..

Joseph Godfrey's Trading Post
(1821 - unknown), Coldwater
A settlers' trading post was located on the Coldwater River at Oak Grove Cemetery.

Fort (Daniel) Hogan
(1832), Colon
A local militia palisaded earthwork fort built during the Black Hawk War, located at the east end of the Nottawa Prairie on Hogan's farm property. It was abandoned after three days (August 1832), as there was no real threat to this area.

Camp Smith
(1889), near Battle Creek
A temporary Federal camp located on the shore of a nearby lake.

Fort Custer (State Military Reservation)
(Fort Custer Industrial Park)
(Fort Custer State Recreation Area)
(1917 - 1968/present), Battle Creek
A National Army cantonment training encampment and demobilization center for the 85th Division, originally named Camp Custer. Most buildings removed in 1921, then reverted to the state and became a training area for the ROTC and CMTC. Used by the CCC after 1933. Federalized again in 1940 and renamed, with much new construction for WWII training. Site of a German POW camp. The U.S. Air Force established a radar site here 1959 - 1969. Most of the original reservation was later acquired by the city in 1971 as an industrial park and residential housing area, and another parcel (over 3000 acres) was acquired by the state as the Fort Custer State Recreation Area. Since 1968 the remaining military post continues to serve the MI National Guard and other state and Federal agencies.

Barry County Trading Posts
(unknown dates), Barry County
Historic references mention several historic period trading posts once located within present Barry County, along the Thornapple River basin. Further details are lacking.
Joseph Coffin's Trade Post: Orangeville Township, N 1/2, NE 1/4, Section 3 (Arch. Site #20 BA 44)
McKnight's Trade Post: Orangeville Township, Section 9 (Arch. Site #20 BA 45)
Louis Campeau's Trade Post (3): Thornapple Township, southeast corner (Arch. Site #20 BA 52)
Charboneau - Moreau Trade Post: Thornapple Township, NW 1/4, NW 1/4, NE 1/4, Section 33 (Arch. Site #20 BA 33) (same as below ?)

Louis Moreau's Trading Post
(1827 - 1836), near Irving
A settlers' trading post located about six miles northwest of Hastings. Monument (1914, replaced 1966) at site on Irving Road.

NOTE: There is another marker located at "Scales' Prairie", about two miles southwest of Middleville, at Adams and Norris Roads, that mentions Louis Moreau and Robert Scales opened a trade post and inn in the spring of 1834 in Thornapple Township on the old "Gull Trail". Moreau left for Grand Rapids after three years, leaving Scales in charge until 1847 before he left for Kalamazoo. The post was then abandoned and later torn down in 1859.

Fort St. Joseph (2)
(1697 - 1781), Niles
The French built the fortified trading post to protect a Jesuit mission (St. Joseph) established earlier in 1691. It became British in 1761. Captured by Pontiac in 1763, but returned to the British in 1764. However, the British did not garrison the fort again until the American Revolution. In February 1781 Spanish troops from St. Louis captured and held the fort for one day. American settlement of the area began in 1829. No remains, site near the Niles dam on what is now landfill. Marker on South Bond Street, north of Fort Street. Of interest in town is the Fort St. Joseph Museum at 508 East Main Street. See also Fort St. Joseph History from Northwest Territory Alliance

Joseph Bertrand's Trading Post
(1808 - 1821 ?), Bertrand
A French-Canadian settler's trading post. Madeline Bertrand was his Indian wife, and this land was deeded to her in 1821. Marker located in Pare Aux Vaches - Madeline Bertrand Park at 3088 Adams Road.

Fort Miamis
(1679 - 1680, 1683 ?), St. Joseph
A French fort built by explorer René Robert Cavelier, sieur de LaSalle. It was a triangular timber fort, about 40-by-80 feet on the defended sides, located by the river. It was later burned down. State marker located at Lake Blvd. and Ship Street.

Some of LaSalle's men may have later built a temporary crude stockade here in the winter of 1682-83 during the final return leg of LaSalle's Mississippi River Expedition.

William Burnett's Trading Post
(1780 ? - 1833), St. Joseph
An American Patriot settlers' trading post located on the west bank of the river, about one and one-half miles upriver from the mouth. He is said to have arrived here sometime between 1775 and 1782. He also built a warehouse at or near the site of Fort Miamis. He was arrested by the British in 1785 and sent to Montréal, but later released. He disappeared during the War of 1812, but his son James continued to manage the post afterwards until 1833. Marker located at Langley Ave. and Miller Drive.

Joseph LaFramboise's Trading Post (7)
(1796 - 1818), near Kalamazoo
An independent British fur trade post located on the east or north bank of the Kalamazoo River, probably in present-day Eastwood or Parchment. One of about 20 posts operated by LaFramboise, and his widow after 1806.

Charles Michel de Langlade's Trading Post
(1755 - 1760, 1785 ? - 1790), Grand Haven
A French fur trade post built to maintain control of the Ottawa and Potawatomi along the eastern shore of Lake Michigan. After the American Revolution, Langlade, now operating with the British, continued to use the post here as a wintering post through 1790.

Joseph LaFramboise's Trading Post (2)
(1796 - 1824), Grand Haven
An independent British fur trade post. Sold to the American Fur Co. by LaFramboise's widow in 1818, but probably still run by her until 1821.

Joseph LaFramboise's Trading Post (8)
(1796 - 1818), near Nunica
An independent British fur trade post located somewhere on Crockery Creek. One of about 20 posts operated by LaFramboise, and his widow after 1806.

Joseph LaFramboise's Trading Post (3)
(1796 - 1818), Grand Rapids
An independent British fur trade post on the Grand River, on the western side (downstream) of the rapids. One of about 20 posts operated by LaFramboise, and his widow after 1806.

Louis Campeau's Trading Post (1)
(1826 - 1830's ?), Grand Rapids
The trading post, blacksmith shop, and residential cabin of Louis Campeau were located on the east bank of the Grand River near the rapids. His family arrived in 1827 from Detroit. The town was incorporated in 1838. Campeau remained a permanent resident here until he died in 1871.

Joseph LaFramboise's Trading Post (9)
(1796 - 1821 ?), Ada
An independent British fur trade post on the Thornapple River. Sold to the American Fur Co. by LaFramboise's widow in 1818, but she continued operating it until 1821. She also probably relocated here in 1818 from the Flat River settlement, before retiring for good in 1821 and relocating permanently to her summer home on Mackinac Island. Rix Robinson may have continued operations here afterwards for the A.F.Co..

Joseph LaFramboise's Trading Post (1)
(1796 - 1821/1837), Lowell
An independent British fur trade post located on the north bank of the Grand River, west of the Flat River, and most likely just east of Lee Creek. An Odawa village (Segwun) was also nearby, on the south bank of the Grand River. This was LaFramboise's main post of his chain of about 20 trade posts throughout Michigan, from the Kalamazoo River to Grand Traverse Bay. Joseph was killed in the fall of 1806 while returning from Mackinac Island for the next trading season, but the post was continued by his widow Magdelaine until sold in 1818 to the American Fur Company. She then relocated her winter residence to the post at Ada, but continued running this post also until 1821 when Rix Robinson took over for the A.F.Co., operating it until 1837. A 1921 stone monument says the post was built "about 1800", and that LaFramboise was killed in 1809.

Louis Campau built a new post in 1826, in Segwun, using it until 1831. Daniel Marsac began trading here in 1829 and built a permanent cabin in 1831 to live here year round (also in Segwun, east of Campau's Post). Lewis Robinson and Philander Tracy built a fur warehouse in 1836 for Rix Robinson, on the west side of the mouth of the Flat River. John Hooker used the Marsac post from 1848 until 1857 when the Odawa left Lowell for the reservation in Oceana County.

Joseph LaFramboise's Trading Post (6)
(1796 - 1818), Muskegon
An independent British fur trade post located at the mouth of the Muskegon River, at the eastern end of Muskegon Lake. One of about 20 posts operated by LaFramboise, and his widow after 1806.

Daily - Badeau Trading Post
(1830 - 1848), Muskegon
A settlers' trading post. Site located near First Street and Shoreline Drive.

Jean Baptiste Recollect's Trading Post
(1812 - 1820 ?), North Muskegon
A French-Canadian settler's trading post. Recollect remained about a year before a new manager took over the post. The post operated for several more years. Stone chimney ruins were noted in 1836. Marker located at 310 Ruddiman Drive, near the outlet of Bear Lake.

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