Fort Wilkins Historic State Park

Fort Wilkins Historic State Park is a 360-acre site along Lake Superior's shore with restored military buildings and woodland trails in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. The grounds include 19 preserved structures from the original post and offer fishing, camping, and exploration opportunities.

The Army built the post in 1844 to keep order during the copper mining boom and protect government interests in the region. The fort served as a key base during the period of rapid resource development in the north.

Seasonal interpretive programs show military drills and daily work like cooking that reflect how soldiers lived during the 1840s garrison period. Visitors can walk through the buildings and understand the routines and skills of that time.

The grounds are open spring through fall and offer camping spots, hiking paths, and fishing areas around the buildings and shoreline. Visitors should know that lakeside weather can be unpredictable and trail conditions vary depending on the season.

Two lighthouses from the 1860s stand on the park grounds and mark the northern shoreline of the Keweenaw Peninsula. These towers are rare remnants of the region's early shipping history.

Location: Keweenaw County

Inception: 1923

Operator: Michigan Department of Natural Resources

Address: U.S. Highway 41

Website: https://www2.dnr.state.mi.us/parksandtrails/details.aspx?id=419&type=SPRK

GPS coordinates: 47.46722,-87.86972

Latest update: December 8, 2025 20:00