Part 12/15:
In Michigan, Mackinac Island became a favorite retreat for Midwest elites. Accessible solely by boat, it offered a car-free paradise that emphasized tranquility and old-world charm. The grand Grand Hotel, introduced in 1887, became the symbol of Victorian elegance, with its famed 660-foot porch and panoramic views of Lake Huron. With elegant promenades, horse-drawn carriages, golf, and horse racing in the summer, it epitomized the leisurely lifestyle of the era.
Rebuilt after a fire in 1909, the hotel settled into a tradition of luxury and classic American leisure, maintaining its historic grandeur for over a century.