Michigan is home to plenty of bone-chilling attractions. From the mysterious Paulding Light to the supposedly haunted cemeteries that are dotted throughout our state, there’s no shortage of spooky stories to explore. One bizarre piece of Michigan history can be experienced firsthand with a visit to Skull Cave.
Google Maps Located off of Garrison Road on Mackinac Island, Skull Cave is a designated historical site with a fascinating history. It can be accessed approximately .4 miles north of Fort Mackinac.
Flickr/John W. Iwanski The cave is believed to have been formed during the post-glacial period by Lake Algonquin, which once overtook much of the area now covered by Lake Huron. Without understanding its back story, Skull Cave might easily be passed by.
Flickr/Dan Bodenstein But the cave’s history with humans is too bone-chilling to ignore. During the 18th century, Native Americans in the region used the shallowly carved area as a burial ground — which ultimately inspired its name.
Flickr/Kenzie When fur trader Alexander Henry came across the cave one night while seeking refuge during Pontiac’s War of 1763, he noted in his journal that upon waking the next morning, he found that he was “lying on nothing less than a heap of human bones and skulls, which covered the floor!”
Flickr/Jasperdo Today, hundreds of tourists visit the site of the cave each year to marvel at the small space that once held such an eerie importance. With a little imagination, you might be able to picture piles of human remains tumbling out of Skull Cave.
Wikimedia Commons/Notorious4life So if you’re looking for a small yet fascinating spot to check out during your next adventure on Mackinac Island, make the trek to this one-of-a-kind cave. It might be a bit spooky, but it’s one more unique feature that you’ll only find in Michigan.
If you’ve visited Skull Cave, did you experience any strange or spooky feelings? Mackinac Island as a whole is known for a few ghost stories — we’d love to know if you’ve lived any of these stories in your lifetime. Share your eerie tales in the comment section.
Google Maps
Located off of Garrison Road on Mackinac Island, Skull Cave is a designated historical site with a fascinating history. It can be accessed approximately .4 miles north of Fort Mackinac.
Flickr/John W. Iwanski
The cave is believed to have been formed during the post-glacial period by Lake Algonquin, which once overtook much of the area now covered by Lake Huron. Without understanding its back story, Skull Cave might easily be passed by.
Flickr/Dan Bodenstein
But the cave’s history with humans is too bone-chilling to ignore. During the 18th century, Native Americans in the region used the shallowly carved area as a burial ground — which ultimately inspired its name.
Flickr/Kenzie
When fur trader Alexander Henry came across the cave one night while seeking refuge during Pontiac’s War of 1763, he noted in his journal that upon waking the next morning, he found that he was “lying on nothing less than a heap of human bones and skulls, which covered the floor!”
Flickr/Jasperdo
Today, hundreds of tourists visit the site of the cave each year to marvel at the small space that once held such an eerie importance. With a little imagination, you might be able to picture piles of human remains tumbling out of Skull Cave.
Wikimedia Commons/Notorious4life
So if you’re looking for a small yet fascinating spot to check out during your next adventure on Mackinac Island, make the trek to this one-of-a-kind cave. It might be a bit spooky, but it’s one more unique feature that you’ll only find in Michigan.
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