Indian Dormitory Art Museum
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Restoring History. Creating Art.
A year ago, Mackinac State Historic Parks staff began outlining a proposal to convert the unused historic structure into an art museum, which is being created to inspire creativity in others. The next stage of the project, which begins this fall, requires a major restoration of the building. This includes archaeology of the ground where an addition will be built to house an elevator and fire exit, replacing the roof and rotted windows, and foundation repairs. Drainage work and interior and exterior painting will also be completed. Deteriorated exhibits will be removed from the inside and the space prepared for the new art exhibition. A fire suppression system, security system, and HVAC will be installed. Rooms will be refurbished, electrical systems upgraded, and a new restroom added. At that point, the micro-climate exhibit case system will be installed to allow long-term exhibit items to remain in place throughout the year.
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“This is a great project because it allows us to restore a significant building and exhibit a major part of our collection that currently has no public display venue,” said MSHP Director Phil Porter. “This will provide an entirely new experience for our guests on Mackinac Island. The Park Commission is very grateful to the Richard and Jane Manoogian Foundation for its support of this important project.”
All three floors of the revitalized building will be fully utilized. The first floor will contain the permanent collection exhibit, with the second floor housing changing exhibits and work from contemporary Mackinac Island artists. This will allow exhibition of much of the parks’ extensive historical fine and decorative arts collection, which is too large to be displayed at one time and so remains in storage.
“The theme of the art museum will be how Mackinac Island inspired artistic creation throughout history beginning with Native American objects and including 18th, 19th, and 20th century maps, paintings, drawings, ceramics, glassware, hand-tinted black-and-white photographs, and other Mackinac Island art objects,” Porter said. “The exhibition will also include works from modern day artists whose narratives will explain how Mackinac Island inspired their artistic creation.”
Plans for the ground level include an art learning studio. An art educator and a 500-square-foot learning studio will provide a hands-on art learning experience for visitors. The art educator will work with guests, allowing them to express their artistic talents. Guests will have the option of taking a MSHP-provided easel into Marquette park to paint lilacs, weave Native American-style baskets, or create hand-tinted photographs as William Gardiner did in the early 20th century, among many other artistic projects.
“The art studio will be particularly enjoyable for children,” said Porter. “After viewing the art in the upper levels, they will be inspired to create their own art. Visitors will see art from different eras and times and then express their own creations, and we’ll provide the tools and the educator to do this.”
The lower level will also include a catering kitchen for small receptions.
Historic Significance
The 1838 Indian Dormitory was built on Mackinac Island as part of improvements to the Mackinac Island United States Indian Agency called for in the 1836 Treaty of Washington, in which Indian nations of the Great Lakes deeded significant portions of Michigan’s upper and lower peninsulas to the United States. The dormitory was constructed to house Native Americans who came to the island to receive payment as part of the provision. However, as the Native Americans visiting the agency continued to camp along the harbor, it was primarily used by Indian agents as an administrative building and as the residence of the dormitory keeper. After eight years, it no longer served this purpose and was eventually converted into a schoolhouse for island children. The front of the building was subsequently enlarged for that purpose, and it served as the Mackinac Island Public School for nearly100 years.
During the early 1940s, the school building served as the “Mackinac Island Summer School of Art.” The program was part of an effort to establish a permanent summer art colony on the island. Artists taught courses and the students’ works were exhibited in the school. Although successful, the program was suspended during WWII and not revived.
In 1964 the seven-member Mackinac Island State Park Commission, the governing body of Mackinac State Historic Parks, purchased the property from the Mackinac Island Board of Education. In 1965-66 the commission completely restored the building to its 1838 appearance including the removal of the later addition. Exhibits were installed and it was opened each summer to the public from 1966 until 2002, at which time it was closed due to budget cutbacks. The building remained closed and has since fallen into disrepair.
