History Talk: Ivan Swift and the Mackinackers

Join the Harbor Springs Historical Society for a History Talk about Ivan Swift and the Mackinackers on May 2 from 5:30 – 7. A resident of Harbor Springs for much of his life, H. Ivan Swift (1873-1946) was an artist, poet, philosopher, and naturalist. Widely regarded as the “Poet of the North,” Swift’s writings included The Mackinackers. First performed as a poetical/musical in 1909, this creative work was reimagined in 1926 as a series of historical biographies for Michigan History Magazine.

In this presentation, Kyle Bagnall, of Mackinac State Historic Parks, will explore Ivan’s Mackinac connections. Along the way, we’ll visit Chief Andrew J. Blackbird, fisherman and philosopher Alexander McGulpin, and colorful coureur-de-bois Alexander Gilbault. We’ll also unveil other Harbor Springs-Mackinac associations as we travel back in time with the “poet of the jackpines and the Mackinac land.”

Registration is required for this event.