The Andrew J. Blackbird Museum
Northern Michigan has a rich history. The area north of Harbor Springs near Good Hart has had many names over its history. The first settlers, the Native Americans, called it L’Arbre Croche or Crooked Tree. A large tree with a crooked trunk located at the foot of the Lamkin Hill drive just down from Good Hart was a visible marker on Lake Michigan for canoes coming into shore.
The Lake Michigan shoreline was a natural gathering place for Native Americans and large populations settled in what is now Harbor Springs, Seven Mile Point, Good Hart, and Cross Village. Middle Village was the half way, or middle spot, between Harbor Springs an Good Hart.
Andrew J. Blackbird was born in what is now Harbor Springs around 1815. His father was an Ottawa chief named Mack-e-te-be-nessy (Makade-binesi, "black hawk"). The name was mistranslated as "Blackbird", which became the family's English name. Mack-e-te-be-nessy was chief of the Arbor Croche, or Middle Village band of the Ottawas. Andrew was trained as a blacksmith but enjoyed education and attended Twinsburg Institute in Ohio and Michigan State Normal School, now Eastern Michigan University.
During the 1850s, Blackbird was a counselor for both the U.S. and Ottawa and Ojibwa peoples and worked to help Native American veterans receive pensions. He helped settle land claims and worked to achieve citizenship for Native Americans. He married and bought a house in Harbor Springs. He became the town’s first postmaster in 1858.
Today, Blackbird’s mark on Harbor Springs as well as the Native American influence on Northern Michigan is preserved at the Andrew J. Blackbird Museum. Located on Main Street in Blackbird’s restored house, the Museum shares space with the Harbor Springs Area Chamber of Commerce. Native American artifacts fill the museum space. This tiny museum is across the street from the Harbor Springs History Museum.
For more things to do in Northern Michigan, visit:
Calendar of Events
More Northern Michigan Summer Links
- Carriage Rides in Harbor Springs
- Fort Mackinac is Filled with History
- Petoskey's Festival on the Bay
- Indian River SummerFest
- Bear River Valley Recreation Area Whitewater Map
- Bay View Music Festival
- July 4th Up North
- Boyne City's July 4th Celebration
- Summer Concert Series in Charlevoix
- Charlevoix's Four Beaches
- Historic Festival & Taste of The North
- Stroll the Streets Music in Boyne City
- Street Musique--Music in Downtown Harbor Springs
- Concerts in the Park in Downtown Petoskey
- Memorial Day Parades & Services
- Charter Boat Sailing in Harbor Springs
- Icebreaker Mackinaw Maritime Museum
- The Young Americans Dinner Theatre
- Lake Charlevoix Mariners
- Little Traverse Yacht Club's Ugotta Regatta
Last Updated: 01-01-2012 02:48 PM
