Click above images to enlarge Blackbird, Andrew J., House 368 East Main Street, Harbor Springs - Emmet County Other Names Blackbird, Chief Andrew J., House Chief Blackbird Ottawa Indian Museum Property Type frame house Historic Use DOMESTIC Current Use RECREATION AND CULTURE Style Greek Revival Narrative Description The Andrew J. Blackbird House is a one-and-one-half-story building of wood frame construction, resting on a cement block foundation, with walls covered in painted clapboard siding. The gabled roof features eave returns and is covered with rolled roofing. The original section of the home has a porch extending the width of the front facade. The newer section, attached to the home on one side, has a false front and its own entrance. The entrance in the original section opens into a kitchen that housed the previous post office. Changes to the house, in addition to general maintenance, have included the installation of a lavatory and a furnace. The original house plan and features have been preserved. Statement of Significance The Andrew J. Blackbird home holds a significant place in the history of Harbor Springs. The building was the residence of the Andrew Jackson Blackbird family as well as the first post office in the town. The original house was built in approximately 1860 by a local (unknown) carpenter. Blackbird, son and successor of an Ottawa chief, was the first postmaster of the town as well as the U.S. interpreter for the Mackinac Agency. Blackbird published two books here on the Ottawa language and legends, one of which contained an autobiography -- one of the few autobiographical accounts published at that time by a Native American. After Blackbird's death, the house remained in his family until 1947 when it was sold to the Michigan Indian Foundation. The city of Harbor Springs obtained ownership in 1964 and has since operated the only museum of its type in the area, housing antiques and artifacts from the Ottawa and early European settlers of the region. Marker Name Makade Binisii Wegamik/Andrew J. Blackbird House Marker Text Odawa Text MAKADE BINISII WEGAMIK Kida maandaa ka kiiga etaabendaawaa. Ezhinikaadeg wagaa nakaazi maanpii odawaak gii bizhigewak odenwaa miinwaa gii zhin kaa daamgut wiikwaatoonsing. Miinwaa maanpii kade kii bindaatsit makade binissii maandaa pii 1815. Oosun gii odawawaa giimaa. Makade binissii kii maadsaa oowak kinamaagoo. Kiipshkaa bii maanpii gii bidaaa bimaadsiwin. Kiim noo biiga shebiiga minwaa gii shebiiaan. Nagwaa odaawak mazinigan. Maandaa wiigwaam gii zhiga maandaa pii abita 1800's minwaa gii kaadaat. Aanjitoon maajiibiigan wiigwaam. Gii naagadawanda maajiibiigun wiigwaam. ANDREW BLACKBIRD HOUSE Andrew J. Blackbird (c. 1815-1908), an important figure in the history of the Odawa (Ottawa) tribe, was the son of a chief. Educated in the traditions of the Odawa, he also attended Euro-American schools, including present-day Eastern Michigan University. Blackbird bought this building around 1858, when the town was inhabited mostly by Odawa people. From here, he ran the post office and wrote a history of the Odawa. As a councilor for the Odawa he participated in negotia-tions for the Treaty of 1855, which established a large home reservation for the Odawa in this area. Blackbird also helped Odawa veterans get pensions, and assisted with land claims. This site is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. Period of Significance 1826-1865 Significant Date(s) 1860, 1869 Registry Type(s) 07/21/2000 Marker erected 04/14/1972 National Register listed 10/29/1971 State Register listed Site ID# P23001