write to: SaveOurIsland@AOL.com
The island became the 2nd National Park in the United States in 1875, just 11 years after Abraham Lincoln signed into law the first act of Congress setting aside land for Yosemite valley in California, the first set aside land by a national goverment in world history. Mackinac Island National Park became the first popular national park in the nation, visited by hundreds of thousands of tourists long before any other national park was so visited. And then it became the first and only National Park in the United States to be defeated as such.

Our great state of Michigan rescued this park for all, and our small island became the first great example of the principles upon which national parks are based, the setting aside of the most beautiful places in our great nation for the enjoyment and benefit of ALL. The fundamental democratic principle of our nation.

We are the first truly protected state park in the Nation and the first time any national OR state park was truly cared for in world history...We are a protectorate of a truly great, NATIONAL park.

Here is what REPUBLICAN U.S. President Theodore "Teddy" Roosevelt said about the founding principles of National Parks:

"The Yellowstone Park [technically the first national park] is something absolutely unique in the world so far as I know, this park was created and is now administered for the benefit and enjoyment of the people. The scheme of it's preservation is noteworthy in its essential democracy. The only way that the people as a whole can secure to themselves and their children the enjoyment in perpetuity of what the Yellowstone park has to give is by assuming ownership in the name of the nation and jealously safeguarding and preserving the scenery, the forests, and the wild creatures..."[throughout later speeches, he quoted from the Congressional Act creating it and 3 years later OUR Mackinac park] "...for the BENEFIT and ENJOYMENT of the PEOPLE."

And here is what DEMOCRAT U.S. President Franklin Delano Roosevelt said in brief:

"There is nothing so American as our National Parks. The scenery and wildlife are NATIVE. And the fundamental idea behind the parks is NATIVE. It is in brief that the country belongs to the PEOPLE. They are NOT for the RICH alone."[each capitalized word is what he vocally emphasized]

We must all learn to share whatever beautiful spot we have on this most beautiful Isle of Creation in the World, and most sacred place to the original island inhabitants here who have from the beginning wanted to and been willing to share everything here for all time with everyone as long as they could remain...

COMMENTS

"Please PLEASE do not destroy the McNally House.  Along with Grand 
Hotel and Fort Mackinac it is the essence of Mackinac Island's 
history and should be preserved, not only for the building itself, 
but for the singular view of the Straits it affords."
-Marion Peterson of Petoskey, September 13, 2009

To All Persons Interested In Saving & Preserving The Mc Nally Cottage On Mackinac Island  & The Shoreline Property Across The Street From The Cottage
 
  My name is Bill Maynard, and along with my wife Janis, we have been enjoying Mackinac Island for over 35 years ... and staying at The Mc Nally Cottage from about 1980 until it closed a couple of years ago.  Words cannot express the joy we felt having a chance to experience The Mc Nally hospitality; and the incredible view from the wicker rockers, on the beautiful porch ...  of the boats, and the waters of the straits. Hearing the stories, and experiencing the island, and the hospitality of Mc Nally  ... is an amazing joy we will always hold dear.  My two sons grew up visiting Mc Nally with their grandparents every year; and will always remember the joy of living for a few days on the main street of Mackinac Island --- watching the horses and the people go by --- and dreaming about how life must have been ... so many years ago. To lose this most beautiful part of the history and charm of Mackinac Island would truly be very sad.     My wife Janis and I hope and support all efforts to SAVE  MC NALLY COTTAGE ... and preserve this historic home as a joyful memory of the island's past ... recalling for all future children who visit Mackinac Island ... an opportunity to see the beauty and charm of the Island's past. Please make every effort to SAVE  MC NALLY COTTAGE  &  THE SHORELINE PROPERTY across the street. Yours truly,
 
Rev. Bill & Janis Maynard, East Tawas, Michigan
 September 16, 2009

 
I have also been visiting the Island for about 53 years(since I was a few months old) and have wonderful memories of my visits.It is truly my favorite place! I have passed this on to my husband and children and hate to see some of the changes taking place.One of them is the chain type business that recently opened(a well known coffeehouse) and now the possibility of tearing down the McNally Cottage. The cottage has always been a familiar landmark.When I was young I could only ride my bike as far as the McNally Cottage and then I had to turn around and go back to the hotel!I really hate for all this modernization to take over and ruin such a wonderful place.Please don't tear it down!!!!

-W. Thomson, September 18, 2009

We have visited Mackinac Island for more than 40 years and have enjoyed the wonderful island. We have also watched how the island has changed with the new homes along the lakeshore and the new businesses that come and go in the downtown area. What surprised us this year was the sale of McNally cottage. We were shocked to learn that a group of investors purchased the historic home and instead of restoring the home,
they plan to demolish it and build a three story hotel with retail stores!
We feel sad for the year-round residents and workers of Mackinac Island going through a transformation that seems to have no respect for the historic integrity of the island. We feel sad and disappointed that money and greed seem to be the operative values determining changes on the island.
During our recent 5 day visit to Mackinac Island, we again enjoyed visiting the shops and strolling through the streets and biking around the island. We saw many changes, many more condos and large new homes, some new shops and businesses. Some of these changes were pleasing, some distressing - especially the loss of the downtown historic homes. What bothers the most is that a group of investors who are not year-round residents of the island, can make drastic changes to the island.
We felt helpless listening to a resident of the island, on our second to last day, on the island. She had tears in her eyes describing what is happening to a place that she calls home. It seems that the quality of life for the year-round residents matters not in the commercial decisions of island authorities.
We've always appreciated the historical beauty and ambience of the island and would encourage the city leaders to make their choice decisions with integrity and wisdom in order to preserve the beauty and historical character of Mackinac Island for all to enjoy for now and the future.

-Jim and Terry Allor, Plymouth, Michigan September 20, 2009