National Register of Historic Places

Geary, Mathew, House

Mackinac Island, Mackinac County, Michigan
Listed
May 5, 1971
Type
Building
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
71000407

About this property

The Matthew Geary House is a wood-framed single family home located at 7248 Market Street in the city of Mackinac Island, Michigan built about 1846. The lot this house stands on was first platted in 1811, and sold to John Ogilvy. The parcel passed through multiple owners in the next few decades, including the American Fur Company, until it was purchased by Matthew Geary (1807–1873) in the mid-1840s. Geary was a prominent citizen of Mackinac Island, having been elected fish inspector for the island. He was also elected as a village trustee in 1848, and held other elective positions on the island. Geary constructed this house in about 1846. Following Geary's death on March 8, 1873, the house was passed to his family. The Geary House remained in the Geary family until 1968, when it was purchased by the Mackinac Island State Park Commission, the current owner as of 2026. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1971. The Matthew Geary House is a two-story, side-gabled frame house with an entrance porch topped with a balustrade and an enclosed side porch. Its raised basement, an architectural response to bedrock close to the surface, is characteristic of traditional Mackinac Island architecture. A rear addition, and the glassed-in side sun porch, are not original to the house. The basement can be accessed via a short flight of steps from the outside of the building. On the interior, the main floor contains a centran hall and staircase and four surrounding rooms. The kitchen is located in the rear to the east room, and a parlor/bedroom is located in the front to the east. On the west side of the house hall is a large combination living-dining room, and the rear sunporch is located behind this room. The second floor contains four bedrooms, two on either side of the central hall. A bathroom is located at the rear within the two-story addition.

Location

Mackinac Island, Mackinac County, Michigan
45.85053, -84.61822

Categories

COMMERCE
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

Unlimited access

Everything a full report reveals about Geary, Mathew, House

This page lists Geary, Mathew, House. A full Aubrey report for an address near it pulls together this listing alongside battlefield records, land patents, and every other historical record within a chosen radius:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
First month just $5.99, then $11.99 a month. Unlimited locations, cancel anytime.

Every location is different. Not every section appears for every place, only what the historical record actually holds turns up in a report.

Start your Geary, Mathew, House report
Or see a real report first

Nearby Historic Sites

Stuart, Robert, House
Industrial
0.1 mi
Fort Mackinac
Civil War
0.1 mi
Young, Lawrence Andrew, Cottage
Industrial
0.1 mi
Indian Dormitory
Industrial
0.2 mi
Grand Hotel
Industrial
0.4 mi

Nearby Battles

Siege of Fort Mackinac 1814 (American attempt)
1814Early Republic
0.1 mi
Battle of Mackinac Island 1814
1814Early Republic
0.1 mi
Capture of Fort Mackinac 1812
1812Early Republic
0.1 mi
Surrender of Fort Mackinac
1812Early Republic
0.1 mi
Recapture of Fort Mackinac (US Attempt)
1814Early Republic
0.1 mi

Questions about this property

When was Geary, Mathew, House listed on the National Register?

Geary, Mathew, House was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on May 5, 1971.

What type of historic resource is Geary, Mathew, House?

Geary, Mathew, House is classified as a building in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Geary, Mathew, House?

The period of significance for Geary, Mathew, House is recorded as the industrial era.

Can I research the history near Geary, Mathew, House?

Yes. Aubrey Research reports search National Register listings, battlefield records, land patents, and other primary historical sources within any radius of a US address. A report for an address near Geary, Mathew, House will include this listing and all other historical records in the area.

More in Mackinac County

Historic places, battles, and census history across Mackinac County.

Explore MackinacCounty ›

More historic places in Michigan

Browse all historic places in Michigan.

View Michiganhistoric sites ›

Conflict records

Explore 19,000+ military engagements across American history.

Browse US conflicts ›

Michigan history

Colonial settlement, territorial period, and statehood narrative.

Michiganhistory ›

Research the history near this site

An Aubrey US report for an address near Geary, Mathew, House will include this listing alongside battlefield records and other historical sources within your chosen radius.

Research your locationView a free sample report