This is a beautiful combination of local history an art history. Dunnigan, a curator of the William L. Clements Library at the University of Michigan, tells the story of Mackinac in Upper Michigan. From the first Europeans to the beginning of the Civil War, Mackinac was a fur trading center, military outpost and summer resort. It was a popular place for artists and later writers like Horace Greeley and Henry David Thoreau. Using maps, sketches and paintings, Dunnigan gives a vivid picture of life at the Northern edge of the United States."

Splendidly illustrated throughout with colorful maps, vintage artwork rendition from the land and portraits of notable historic figures, architectural plans from the era, and much more, A Picturesque Situation is a richly detailed resource, captivating to simply page though and thoroughly accessible for public library collections, history shelves, and anyone interested in the cornucopia of stories behind this crossroads of frontier America."

This collection of rare images and comprehensive text allows the reader privileged glimpses into the fascinating past of the Straits area. Essential reading for all those who love Mackinac Island.

Drawing on decades of research, Brian Leigh Dunnigan presents a stunning collection of pre-photographic images of Mackinac including maps, plans, drawings, engravings, and paintings complemented by a comprehensive, thoroughly researched, and eminently readable text. No collection of Michigan history is complete without a copy of this superb volume.

The wealth of information that can be found in each portrait description, the incredible diversity and beauty of the landscape depictions, and the abundance of maps make A Picturesque Situation a must have" for the public and for scholars who study this region. Dunnigan's narrative, coupled with the paintings, maps, and drawings that provide information about this strategic island before the invention of photography, make this an outstanding volume. Wayne State University Press invested the time and money necessary to reproduce obscure and little-known maps in highly legible format. The resulting volume is a treasure trove of information for the layperson fascinated with this island and an invaluable work from scholars."

As he did so successfully with Detroit in Frontier Metropolis, Brian Leigh Dunnigan now presents the definitive study of the evolving appearance of Mackinac, key strategic and commercial post in the Upper Great Lakes for almost three centuries, in A Picturesque Situation: Mackinac before Photography 1615-1860. It combines finely reproduced contemporary images with Dunnigan's always careful and exhaustive scholarship in a well-written narrative that will appeal to general readers and specialists alike.

All of these rare and important glimpses of Mackinac before the age of the camera are elegantly presented in this full-color volume. Brian Dunnigan's detailed research and excellent writing have, once again, brought an important place in Michigan history to life and filled an important niche in the history of one of the truly magic paces of our great state of Michigan."