An historic US highway endpoint in Mackinaw City, MI

Highway	Approx. time period
US 23	1926-1958
US 27	1937-1961
US 31	1940-1960

Photo credits: Gary Voshol

At various times, the ferry dock at Mackinaw City marked the north end of US 23, US 27, and US 31. Below we're looking south on Huron Avenue, along what was the north beginning of each of those routes:

Voshol, July 2006

I've read accounts describing how - before the Mackinac Bridge was built - traffic would be backed up all the way down that street (and for literally miles beyond) as drivers waited to board the car ferries that would transport them over to the Upper Peninsula. Clearly the bridge was needed, but when it opened, the ferries ceased operating, and highway traffic was routed away from Huron. The car at far left is at the historic north end of US 23/27/31. If it were to turn to the viewer's left, the driver would be looking down the road shown below:

Voshol, July 2006

That's the old State Dock, where people would drive their cars onto the ferries that went to St. Ignace, where they could connect with US 2 and other U.P. destinations. (This is now known as the Mackinaw City Pier, and today people park here in order to catch the passenger ferry to Mackinac Island.) Below is another view of the old State Dock, as seen from the nearby railroad docks:

Voshol, July 2006