The Ojibway legend has it that the great she bear Mishe Mokwa and her two cubs were chased from Wisconsin my a massive forest fire.
Mishe Mokwa lead her cubs into Lake Michigan and, together, the three of them swam for the Michigan shore.
When Mishe Mokwa arrived in Michigan, she climbed to the top of a hill and looked for her cubs, but they had long tired and slipped beneath the waves.
The Great Spirit saw Mishe Mokwa's heartache, and to ease it, He caused a sleep to come upon her.
Soon, the sand blew up around the mother bear and covered her, eventually becoming the place we now know as Sleeping Bear Dunes.
Where the cubs had drown, the Great Spirit raised two islands as markers.
Those islands are today called North Manitou and South Manitou Islands.
The Manitou Islands are part of the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore Park, and were settled when Michigan was still young.
By 1840, there was a lighthouse on South Manitou and in 1879, a new lighthouse was constructed that still stands today (guided tours are available.
) Just a little way down the shore from the lighthouse is the lifesaving station, which was constructed in 1839.
Both of these structures were built to watch over the "Manitou Passage," which is considered a highly dangerous but important part of the Great Lakes.
A South Manitou Island Tour is available with drivers who will take you to all of the historic spots, including historic farmsteads, the old school house, and many places of natural interest.
One spot in particular to see is the "Valley of the Giants.
" This is one of a very few stands of virgin timber remaining in the United States and consists of white cedars over 100 feet tall and includes a national champion cedar.
Reaching the valley of the Giants is no feat for the meek, it entails a 6.
9 mile hike.
Notice I did not say 7 miles--that is because 6.
9 does not sound nearly as bad.
Another hike you can make is along the lake shore where occasionally the wind and waves uncover a shipwreck that has washed ashore from the Manitou Passage.
Or, you can simply swim or sunbathe on the sandy beaches.
A visit to the Manitous on your Michigan Vacation will show you what Michigan looked like before it was settled, when all of the state was wild and rich and barely populated.
The Manitous are important spirits in Northern Michigan, come visit and get to know them.
You will be glad you did.
Manitou Island tours start from Leland, Michigan.