This is Bob Myers from the Historical Society of Michigan with a Michigan History Moment. Every year thousands of vacationers enjoy staying at the Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island. The grand is not only a favorite vacation hotel, but has also served as the setting for two motion pictures, this Time for Keeps and Somewhere in Time. The Grand Hotel was built in 1887 as a summer resort hotel. Three transportation companies created a subsidiary organization called the Mackinac Island Hotel Company to build the Grand Hotel. The three firms, the Michigan Central Railroad, the Grand Rapids and Indiana Railroad, and the Detroit and Cleveland Steam Navigation Company wanted a resort destination to attract tourists and fair paying customers to northern Michigan. Detroit architects George Mason and Zachariah Rice designed the Grand Hotel. Contractor Charles Caskey built the gigantic structure in less than four months using 2 million board feet of white pine lumber milled in St. Ignace. Originally called P. Plank's Grand Hotel for its first manager, John Plank, it opened on July 10, 1887. The first movie filmed at the grand was a musical romance titled this Time for keeps. Filmed in 1946 and released in October 1947, the picture starred Esther Williams, Jimmy Durante and Johnny Johnston. The plot revolved around Johnston's character, a recently returned soldier who wanted to make a career of popular music. He introduces himself to an aquatic ballet dancer played by Esther Williams, whom he met during the war. Romance ensues. This Time for Keeps was filmed at both the MGM studios in California and at the Grand Hotel. It was one of several aqua musicals that starred swimming champion Esther Williams. The swimming pool at the grand is named in her honor. The movie industry returned to the Grand Hotel in 1979 for somewhere in Time. The science fiction drama starred Christopher Reeve, Jane Seymour and Christopher Plummer. In the movie, Reeves character travels back in time to meet a young woman played by Jane Seymour, whose vintage portrait he saw hanging on the wall in the hotel. Somewhere in Time opened in theaters in October 1980. Although the movie was not an instant commercial success, it developed an enormous following among fans. Every year, the Grand Hotel hosts a Somewhere in Time weekend with a special screening of the movie, appearances by some of the cast and crew, and other celebratory activities. This Michigan history moment was brought to you by michiganhistorymagazine.org.