Mackinac Island (‘Somewhere in Time’)

Arguably the most underrated movie in history, Somewhere in Time holds a special — almost cultish — place in the hearts of Romantics and time-travel enthusiasts. Set and filmed on Mackinac Island, Michigan, the 1980 film was directed by Jeannot Szwarc and written by Richard Matheson. It garnered little respect upon its initial release (because of the studio’s lack of enthusiasm and an actors strike that prevented stars Christopher Reeve, Jane Seymour and Christopher Plummer from promoting it) but is today regarded by many, this critic included, as a 5-star masterpiece.

These photos were taken on June 27-28, 2012, the 100th anniversary of the date to which Richard Collier (Reeve) time-traveled. Places shown include the 19th-century Grand Hotel (the main setting for the movie), a small museum inside the hotel that houses memorabilia from the movie, Round Island Light, the twin trees where Richard and Elise meet for the first time, and the downtown building used as Baxter’s Coin Shop in the film. (There is no “Hall of History” as depicted in the film; it was a set.)

All photos are copyright Cameron Meier and may be used only with written permission and copyright credit. (Click each one for a higher-res, larger version.) Thank you to Elizabeth Brulia for photographic assistance, and friendship.

For more information on the movie, visit Wikipedia.