Mighty Mac
February 10, 2004

A long time ago on the straits
A vision was seen on the lakes
A roadway for hunters to share
And tourist who longed for clean air

96 mil’ was the fee
Strong fearless men were the key

So hail to Mighty Mac

Standing tall just like a king
Mighty Mac spreading her wings
Five miles she’d span in the wind
Her life it was soon to begin

Authority said, “Give it a go!”
Prepare for the ice and the snow

So hail to Mighty Mac

34 piers was the plan
Two main towers would stand
Derricks that floated in wake
Caissons set deep in the lake

Engineers plotted its course
To conquer the deep watercourse

So hail to Mighty Mac

Beginning at pier 17
Birth of the bridge soon was seen
Spans were pinned into place
Flow of the steel to be braced

Catwalks built up in the sky
Sidewalks for men up so high

So hail to Mighty Mac
So hail to Mighty Mac

Copper from the UP
Lumber cut from the trees
Iron ore soon filled the sea

By hands of American Bridge
The companies grand heritage
Putting the framework in place
Towns people soon would embrace


Towers connecting the Caissons
Gave life to this mighty icon

So hail to Mighty Mac

Cable spring wheels wound the wire
Placing the strands it required
Miles upon miles it would soar
300 men did the chore

2 cables strung in 8 days
Soft in the wind they would sway

So hail to Mighty Mac

The year ‘57 began
Springtime exactly as planned
Suspender ropes hooked in and braced
The roadway now floated in place

89 sections it took
The north and the south then were hooked

So hail to Mighty Mac

Majestically setting in place
Over 500 feet at her face
Ton and tons of pure steel
Concrete from head to its heal

42 months at two shifts
The men gave the State a true gift

So hail to Mighty Mac
So hail to Mighty Mac

Safety records were met
But five deaths we’ll never forget
It’s part of the bridge epitaph

Come to the north look and seen
The mighty bridge ivory and green
The science of bridge building set
This awesome and great monument

Flowing so soft in the breeze
Through summer and winter freeze

So hail to Mighty Mac
So hail to Mighty Mac