Numerous military installations have been located in Michigan since the earliest French fortified trading posts appeared to modern National Guard bases. The Native Americans of the area established only temporary war camps although some were quite large (Chief Pontiac's 6-month encampment during the siege of Fort Detroit had around 1,000 warriors). The earliest French bases were quite small and short-lived. Later some installations would be in use for over a century (Fort Wayne, Fort Mackinaw) and spread over large areas (Fort Custer - 14,000 acres (57km2), Camp Grayling - 147,000 acres (590km2)).
Naval Air Station Grosse Ile, on an island in the Detroit River, served to train Navy and Marine pilots and included a hangar for dirigibles.
In chronological order:
The reconstruction of Fort Michilimackinac is a state park and ongoing archaeological site.
Fort St. Joseph at Niles, Michigan, built in 1691, given to Britain 1761
Fort Pontchartrain du Détroit, built in 1701, replaced Fort de Buade, turned over by the French to Britain in 1760 who used it until 1779, when it was replaced by Fort Lernoult
Fort St. Philippe de Michilimackinac, (commonly called Fort Michilimackinac), at the Straits of Mackinac, built 1715 during the Fox Wars, turned over by the French to Britain in 1761 who used it until 1781, replaced by Fort Mackinac
Fort de Repentigny, at Sault Ste. Marie, built in 1751, captured by the British in 1760
Fort Mackinac on Mackinac Island
The British assumed control of French forts in Michigan after defeating the French in the French and Indian War.
Fort Detroit, in use from 1760 until 1779, when it was replaced by Fort Lernoult
Fort de Repentigny, captured by the British in 1760, destroyed by fire in 1762
Fort St. Joseph, in use from 1763 until 1780, occupied by Spanish militia for one day in 1781
Fort Sinclair, St. Clair County, built 1765, abandoned about 1785
Fort Lernoult, built in 1779, turned over to the Americans in 1796, in British hands again during part of 1812-1813
Fort Mackinac, built in 1781, turned over to the Americans in 1796, captured in the War of 1812, it was again under British control from 1812 to 1815
Fort George, an inland blockhouse on Mackinac Island, during the War of 1812, renamed by Americans, Fort Holmes
Fort Drummond, Drummond Island, built 1815, closed 1828
Forts and other Army bases
Barracks at Fort Wayne, one of the longest-lived bases in Michigan
Although the U.S. nominally controlled Michigan after the 1783 Treaty of Paris, several forts remained in British hands for more than a decade.
Fort Lernoult, turned over to the Americans in 1796, renamed Fort Detroit, in British hands again during part of 1812–1813, renamed Fort Shelby, abandoned 1826
Fort Mackinac, built in 1781, turned over to the Americans in 1796, captured in the War of 1812, it was again under British control from 1812 to 1815, closed 1895
Fort Gratiot, built in 1814, finally abandoned 1879
Fort Holmes, an inland blockhouse and redoubt built by the British as Fort Holmes on Mackinac Island during the War of 1812, renamed by Americans Fort Holmes but soon abandoned by the U.S. Army
Grosse Ile Stockade, Grosse Ile, built 1815, closed 1819
Fort Brady, Sault Saint Marie, built 1822, closed 1944 (except for an antiaircraft battery in place until 1962)
Michigan's northern location made it a good site for several Cold War air bases, especially Strategic Air CommandB-52 / KC-135 bases. Numerous other sites around the state had antiaircraft gun or missile installations during the Cold War.
Selfridge Air National Guard Base, Mount Clemens, built 1917, originally an Air Force Base, transferred to Air National Guard, still in use
