Somewhere in Time Mackinac Island | Grand Hotel by Ship

Somewhere in Time Mackinac Island | Grand Hotel by Ship

Somewhere in Time Mackinac Island | Grand Hotel by Ship  After boarding the boat back to reality, we catch a last glimpse of the Grand Hotel in late afternoon sun; much as it looked back in 1912 to Elise and in 1980 to Richard.  It remains; somewhere in time.  To read the whole story with all images, see Somewhere in Time Mackinac Island | a 7 Image Story.

Somewhere in Time Mackinac Island | Back Country

Somewhere in Time Mackinac Island | Back Country

Somewhere in Time Mackinac Island | Back Country  Riding through the back country, it looks much the same as it did over a hundred years ago.  Oh, today, you might see an electrical wire that would not have been there a hundred years ago.  Still, the ride brings out the romantic in all of us.  To read the whole story with all images, see Somewhere in Time Mackinac Island | a 7 Image Story.

Somewhere in Time Mackinac Island | Grand Houses

Somewhere in Time Mackinac Island | Grand Houses

Somewhere in Time Mackinac Island | Grand Houses  Continuing the horse-drawn carriage past the Grand Hotel and farther up the hill, several grand old homes come into view.  Imagine Richard Collier and Elise McKenna riding along as they think about their first home together.  To read the whole story with all images, see Somewhere in Time Mackinac Island | a 7 Image Story.

Somewhere in Time Mackinac Island | Grand Hotel

Somewhere in Time Mackinac Island | Grand Hotel

Somewhere in Time Mackinac Island | Grand Hotel  Continuing the surrey-with-the-fringe-on top ride, the Grand Hotel with the world’s longest porch, comes into view as you ride up the hill.  Since 1887 Grand Hotel has hosted guests to old-world hospitality.  It holds many events like afternoon tea, dress up dinner, and nightly dancing.  Of course , the Grand Hotel is also well know for being the main site for filming Somewhere in Time, starring Jane Seymour and Christopher Reeve.  Each October, it hosts a Somewhere in Time Weekend for the film’s fans.  To read the whole story with all images, see Somewhere in Time Mackinac Island | a 7 Image Story.

Somewhere in Time Mackinac Island | Little Stone Church

Somewhere in Time Mackinac Island | Little Stone Church

Somewhere in Time Mackinac Island | Little Stone Church  Close your eyes and you can almost imagine Richard Collier and Elise McKenna taking a stroll or riding in a surrey and passing by this old church.  Maybe, they even talked of marrying in this church, which is only a short walk from the Grand Hotel.  To read the whole story with all images, see Somewhere in Time Mackinac Island | a 7 Image Story.

Somewhere in Time Mackinac Island | Lighthouse

 

Somewhere in Time Mackinac Island | Lighthouse

Somewhere in Time Mackinac Island | Lighthouse  The Round Island Light, also known as the “Old Round Island Point Lighthouse” and sometimes referred to as the Mackinac Island Lighthouse, is almost as famous as Mackinac Island itself.  It was constructed in 1895 and located on the western shore of Round Island.  Located on the Straits of Mackinac just across the shipping lane from Mackinac Island, it is one of the most photographed lighthouses in the world.   Thousands of tourists pass within a half mile of the 123 year old lighthouse on ferries each day during the summer season.  The lighthouse is one of the first things and one of the last things people see when visiting Mackinac Island by boat.  Certainly in 1980, Richard Collier (Christopher Reeve) saw the old lighthouse and in 1912, Elise McKenna (Jane Seymour) saw the new lighthouse on their journeys to the island’s Grand Hotel.  To read the whole story with all images, see Somewhere in Time Mackinac Island | a 7 Image Story.

Somewhere in Time Mackinac Island | a 7 Image Story

Somewhere in Time Mackinac Island | Ferry RideSomewhere in Time Mackinac Island | a 7 Image Story  Mackinac Island takes us back to an era where life moved a bit slower; a time when horses were the fastest way to travel over the ground.  The island does not allow motor vehicles except for a couple of emergency vehicles.  Most people arrive and leave by boat; just like a hundred years ago.  The island does allow small planes to land at the airport.  To get around the island, you have several choices; walk, ride a bike, ride a horse, or ride in a horse-drawn carriage, a surrey with fringe on top.

The island has been the main site for several movies including “Somewhere in Time” where many Mackinac Island workers and residents were cast in the film.  About half of the movie was filmed inside Grand Hotel or on its grounds.  Each October, the Grand Hotel hosts a Somewhere in Time Weekend for the film’s fans.

Somewhere in Time is also well known for its soundtrack; a musical score composed by John Barry.

 

In 1980, a young playwright, Richard Collier (Christopher Reeve) becomes so obsessed with the portrait of a beautiful turn-of-the-century stage actress, Elise McKenna (Jane Seymour), that he travels back in time to find her and fall in love.  Collier learns she was at the Grand Hotel in 1912.  He travels to the Grand Hotel and through hypnosis, he travels back in time to have a love affair with her.  Although they appear destined to be together, a love affair, somewhere in time, gets complicated.

The Round Island Light, also known as the “Old Round Island Point Lighthouse” and sometimes referred to as the Mackinac Island Lighthouse, is almost as famous as Mackinac Island itself.  It was constructed in 1895 and located on the western shore of Round Island.  Located on the Straits of Mackinac, just across from Mackinac Island, it is one of the most photographed lighthouses in the world.   Thousands of tourists pass within a half mile of the 123 year old lighthouse on ferries each day during the summer season.  Certainly in 1980, Richard Collier saw the old lighthouse and in 1912, Elise McKenna saw the new lighthouse on their journeys to the island’s Grand Hotel.

Close your eyes and you can almost imagine Richard Collier and Elise McKenna, taking a stroll or riding in a surrey, and passing by this Little Stone Church.  Maybe, they even talked of marrying in the church, which is only a short walk from the Grand Hotel.  Continuing your ride in the surrey-with-the-fringe-on-top, the Grand Hotel with the world’s longest porch, comes into view as you ride up the hill.  Since 1887 the Grand Hotel has hosted guests to old-world hospitality.  Continuing the horse-drawn carriage ride past the Grand Hotel and farther up the hill, several grand old homes come into view.  Imagine Richard Collier and Elise McKenna riding along as they think about their first home together.  Then, riding inland through the back country, it looks much the same as it did over a hundred years ago.  The ride brings out the romantic in all of us.  Richard and Elise may have spent long hours wandering through the countryside.  Finally, the carriage ride draws close to its end.  After boarding the boat back to reality, we catch a last glimpse of the Grand Hotel; much as it looked back in 1912 to Elise and in 1980 to Richard.  It remains; somewhere in time.

Each image will be posted individually this week with a bit more narrative under category Somewhere in Time Mackinac Island. 

Click any image below for a slide show!