Leslie Avenue is a picturesque pathway winding through the Mackinac Island forest from Arch Rock to British Lansing Road. Whether on foot, bicycle or horse, Leslie Avenue provides a restful retreat into Mackinac’s quiet beauty. Fort Mackinac commandant Leslie Smith began construction on the roadway in 1871, but the project was not completed until 1888.

Captain Leslie Smith took command of Fort Mackinac in 1869. Born in Ireland, Smith immigrated to the United States and enlisted in the army in 1849. At the outbreak of the Civil War, Smith was commissioned second Lieutenant in the 1st U.S. Infantry. Smith remained in the 1st Infantry and commanded the first regular army soldiers to occupy the fort following the war.

As Mackinac Island became an increasingly popular summer resort following the Civil War, Smith resolved to make the island’s scenic beauty more accessible to visitors. In 1871 he surveyed and began cutting a road from Arch Rock “along the cliff to Early’s Farm, a distance of about 2 miles.” A lack of funds kept Smith from completing the work and the project lay dormant until seventeen years later when Captain Greenleaf A. Goodale took command of the fort. Using Mackinac National Park funds, Goodale completed the road and named it in honor of Smith.

Love Mackinac Island history? Explore all of our Throwback Thursday stories for a look back at the Island’s people, places, and moments through the years & visit Mackinac State Historic Parks to dive even deeper into Mackinac’s rich history.

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