Mackinac Bridge is a Michigan landmark. That's because it is the fifth longest suspension bridge in the world. It spans the Straits of Mackinac, a body of water that connects Lake Michigan and Lake Huron, making travel between the upper and lower peninsulas of Michigan a breeze.
According to the Mackinaw Bridge Authority (MBA), it opened in 1957 to replace a ferry system that struggled to keep up with increasing traffic demands. At just under five miles long, it's a sight to behold and something unique to drive at least once. So we paid $8 in tolls round trip just to say we had done it!
We chose to visit Mackinaw Island on Sunday of Labor Day weekend because the following day was a special occasion. Since 1958, they have closed the bridge for the Bridge Walk. This year's event attracted about 35,000 people in a single morning. I heard people on Mackinac Island talk about looking forward to walking Mighty Mac the next day.
It's a smooth ride at 45 miles per hour and quite a view. It took about seven decades of planning and construction to bring the dream of this bridge to fruition. Locals were inspired by the construction of the Brooklyn Bridge, engineers were informed by a 1940 bridge catastrophe in Washington, and it was finally built at the cost of nearly $100,000,000 and five lives lost.
Here's a fun fact for you. The MBA says it takes seven years to paint the bridge and that once complete, they turn around and start it again.
Our ferry captain was kind to detour underneath this famous bridge on our way to Mackinac Island so I'm pleased to say I have driven on and sailed under this bridge.
Visit the Make the Journey Fun Facebook page for a short clip of our drive across Mighty Mac. tomorrow, we will talk about Mackinaw Island, another bucket list item from this trip!
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