HISTORY OF BELLE ISLE

Belle Isle has an interesting and unique history.

It is the largest island park in the United States comprised of 985 acres, and the tenth largest municipal park in the United States. Belle Isle is the third largest island in the Detroit River after Grosse Ile and Fighting Island

There is an old Indian legend on the formation of Belle Isle.

Long ago Ottawa Chief Sleeping Bear had a daughter so beautiful that he hid her along the shore in a boat covered with a heavy cloth. The chief wanted no one to gaze upon her as he was afraid that she would be stolen from him. One day when bringing her some food, the wind gods caught a glimpse of the maiden and, captivated by her beauty, blew hard enough to ripple the cover off the boat and force the craft into the river’s strong current.

As the boat floated past the lodge of the keeper of the water gates, he also was stunned by her beauty and retrieved the boat. He brought the young maiden into his tent. This enraged the winds who fell upon him, and buffeted him wildly about until he finally died from the beating. The winds, sorry for uncovering her beauty, returned the maiden back to her father, Chief Sleeping Bear.

The winds begged the chief not to hide her from them again, but to let them enjoy her beauty forever. To protect his daughter, the chief placed the princess on an island in the Detroit River and sought the aid of the Great Spirits to protect his beloved daughter by surrounding the island with rattlesnakes to keep mortals away.

The snakes succumbed to her charms and came to worship her. The Great Spirit made her immortal so that her spirit might live on Belle Isle forever. There she could run free with the winds around her. The spirits transforming her into a white doe and let her live out eternity on the island.

The water-gate keeper, who was killed by the angry winds was buried on Isle au Peche (Peach Island across the Detroit River on the Canadian side closer to the entrance to Lake St. Clair), where his spirit remained for many generations. Native American braves often sought out this spirit for counsel before going to war. His voice was heard through the wind in the trees and could be understood only by those who had prepared themselves through fasting and meditation. Even Chief Pontiac, before planning his war against the English, spent a week on Peche Island, fasting in order to clear his mind, and to seek the wisdom of the water gate keepers spirit.

The island has had a variety of names throughout its history

As part of the Ottawa and Chippewa territory, Belle Isle was known as Wah-na-be-zze (meaning White Swan), because it was the resting place for migratory swans.

In 1620, local tribes gave the island the name of Rattlesnake Island due to its infestation of rattlesnakes. Legend says the snakes were placed there by the God Manitou to keep evil spirits away.

Between 1701 and 1810, Antonie de lay Mothe Cadillac named it "Isle lay Marguerite" in honor of one of his daughters.

Some early French settlers called it "Isle Au Ste. Clair".

In 1759, the French called it "Isle Aux Cochons" (Hog Island), as they placed their hogs and cattle on the island. If the hogs were on the mainland, they would destroy the crops on the local ribbon farms. Also, hogs eat snakes and could help control the rattlesnakes there.

On July 4, 1845, the island was named "Belle Isle" in honor of Miss Isabelle Cass, the daughter of then Governor (General) Lewis Cass.

On August 29, 1881, Detroit Common Council officially changed the name to "Belle Isle Park".

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Important dates from the island's history

1768 – Belle Isle was purchased from Chippewa and Ottawa Indians by Lt. George McDougall on June 5, 1768, for:  4 barrels of run, 3 rolls of tobacco, 3 pounds of vermillion and a belt of wampum plus an additional three barrels of rum and 3 pounds of paint – Value $1,000 or 194 pounds sterling. King George of England granted ownership of Hog Island (as it was known) to McDougall.

1771 – Geographic survey establishes the island's size as 704 acres.

1773 – Census taken on the island revealed 200 farm animals and 5 people.

1783 – In the Treaty of Paris, the island became American Territory, the British gave up all claims to the island as the Revolutionary War ends.

1793 – The McDougall family sold one-half of the island to William Macomb.

1794 – William Macomb purchased the other half of the island from the McDougall heirs for 813 pounds sterling

1811 – Patent certifies Macomb's ownership. Son David Macomb becomes sole owner.

1817 – Macomb's heirs sold the island to Barnabas Campau for $5,000.

1840 – Ferry boat service to the island began (1870 - the dock on the Canadian side was built, 1883 – the dock on the lower end of the island was added, and 1912 – the dock between the bridge and beach bathhouse was built).

1845 – Hog Island is named “Belle Isle” in honor of Miss Isabelle Cass, the daughter of Governor (General) Lewis Cass (July 4th).

1851 – Summer resort opens on Belle Isle.

1864– Campau widow married R. Storrs Willis and buits the white farm house, known currently as “The White House.” The name “Inselruhe”, [in-sill-rue-ah] (German for Island Rest), was given to the house by Walter Schweinert who rented it in 1965. This building currently houses the island administration staff.

1879 – City of Detroit purchased the island for $180,000 on September 23.

1881 – Detroit Common Council officially changed the name of the island to "Belle Isle Park" on August 29. Frederick Law Olmstead was hired to develop a plan for Belle Isle Park. Property on the eastern end of the island was purchased on April 6, 1881, from the City of Detroit for the sum of $1.00 for a Light Station Belle Isle and construction began.

1882 – The original Belle Isle Lighthouse was first lit on May 15th. The foundation of this old lighthouse lays under the USCG Station Belle Isle parking lot. It was a 43-foot tall red, square, brick tower attached to the dwelling. The light was a fixed red visible for ten nautical miles.

1883 – Construction of the Loop Canal begins.

1884 – Marsh run canal is built.

1885 – Frederick Law Olmstead resigns from the project although his plan is accepted by the Detroit City Council.

1887 – First Casino building completed for social gatherings. It was a gabled wooden structure with a canopied veranda on three floors with snacks or refreshments available on the first floor and a formal dining area ont he third. There was a Gentlemen's Parlor where cigar smoking was allowed. The building was later destroyed by fire. In the Casino, gambling of any kind was strictly forbidden.

1887 – Tacoma Lake is formed.

1889 – First Belle Isle bridge opened. Lake Okonoko is formed.

1890 – Nashua Creek is completed.

1892 – Newsboy Fountain and Sculpture is completed.

1893 – Police Station was built on Belle Isle. Grading of the athletic field began. Muskoday Lake is formed.

1894 – Riding Stable building was moved to Belle Isle from Eastern Market. The original Detroit Boat Club was destroyed by fire. Gilbert Watkins began his pony ride concession, which was operated by the family until 1960.

1895 – Belle Isle Zoo is established on the island with the population of a deer park and a bear.

1899 – Athletic Field House was completed.

1903 – First greenhouse is built.

1904 – Aquarium and Conservatory (Horticultural Building) designed by Albert Kahn opened. Construction begins on the new Casino.

1905 – Detroit Zoo on Belle Isle expanded to 15 acres with viewing for many animals.

1908 – After the original Casino was destroyed by fire, a new Casino designed by architects Van Leyen & Schilling was completed and opened.

1910 – Sylvan Creek completed.

1912 – Ferry Dock is built near the beach area.

1915 – Construction begins on the Scott Fountain and lagoon area using fill from downtown construction sites.

1916 – Wooden Belle Isle Bridge burns from hot coals falling from a city wagon. A temporary bridge was built.

1922 – 9-Hole Golf Course was completed.

1923 – A new Belle Isle Bridge (reinforced concrete cantilever bridge nearly one half-mile long with 5 lanes, 2 sidewalks and 19 spans) was completed. Later this bridge becomes the MacArthur Bridge.

1924 – Detroit News Nature Trail completed.

1925 – James Scott Fountain was completed. Unveiling ceremony held May 30, 1925.

1930 – Livingstone Memorial Lighthouse was erected and first lit on April 8th. It is a white, fluted 70-foot high tower made from Georgian Marble and the only marble lighthouse in the world. It was construction from private donations as a memorial to William Livingstone, the President of the Lake Carriers Association from 1902 until 1925.

1930 –Blue Lagoon completed.

1940 – Nancy Brown Peace Carillon Tower was dedicated on June 17, 1940, at the seventh annual sunrise service. Construction of this 85-foot tall neo-Gothic style tower designed by Clarence Day began in 1939. The tower honors Nancy Brown, a much loved columnist with the Detroit News who wrote the Experience Column.

1940 – The formal English Garden next to the Casino was removed to create a parking lot.

1941 – Belle Isle Zoo and Aquarium operations turned over to Detroit Zoological Park Commission.

1942 – The Belle Isle Bridge is renamed the MacArthur Bridge after General Douglas MacArthur.

1943 – The old Belle Isle Lighthouse on the eastern end of the island facing the Canadian shore was demolished and replaced by the "Belle Isle Lifeboat Station" later becoming the U.S. Coast Guard Station Belle Isle.

1947 – Belle Isle Children's Zoo established with nursery rhyme themed exhibits.

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1950 – Flynn Memorial Skating Pavilion opened.

1952 – Flood Control Project completed.

1955 – Belle Isle Aquarium re-opened after one and one-half year renovation.

1956 – Belle Isle Children's Zoo dismantled due to prohibitive maintenance costs.

1957 – Last ferry boat service is the island. A three-acre driving range was added.

1960 – Dossin Great Lakes Museum completed.

1967 – Asphalt bicycle trail built.

1976 – Friends of Belle Isle organization is adopted by the Detroit Common Council.

1980 – Belle Isle Zoo expanded into the wooded area with raised walkways and called the Safari Zoo.

2002 – Belle Isle Zoo closed.

2005 – Belle Isle Aquarium closed after 100 years of service. Belle Isle Nature Zoo opens. New Giant Slide opened.

2006 – Anna Scripps Whitcomb Conservatory receives renovations.

2007 – Grand Prix race return to Belle Isle through the implementation of Roger Penske.

2008 – Belle Isle Golf Course closed.

2009 – Grand Prix race cancelled by Roger Penske and Bud Denker due to economy and automotive crisis causing a lack of sponsors.

2009 – Central Avenue historic bridge restoration.

Building up of the island

Originally, Belle Isle was mapped at 690 acres when the city purchased it. It now comprises 985 acres.

During the construction of the Scott Fountain an addition extended the western end of the island nearly 200 acres.

Building up of the shoreline accounted for approximately another 100 acres.

A section of the shoreline was filled with soil excavated from the Guardian, Buhl, Penobscot and Scott buildings in downtown Detroit provided additonal landfill. The soil was moved by truck from the constructions sites to a dock at the foot of Orleans Street and taken to Belle Isle on scows pushed by a tug, affectionately dubbed "Josephine". The excavated soil was dumped into a pit on the island, the dydraulic dredge used to redistribute it was call "By Heck".

The eastern point was added during the construction of the Livingstone Memorial Lighthouse.

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