Greening Michilimackinac Posted July 10, 2015 If you have visited Colonial Michilimackinac in recent years, you have probably noticed some changes to the site. We have a whole new building, bigger than any that had previously been reconstructed, new tours, programs and updated exhibits. We excavate every day in the summer, learn as much as we can from the artifacts that we find, and apply that information to ultimately reconstructing the buildings and the life that was there 250-300 years ago. But that word “life” can be tricky. What makes a neighborhood, village or city alive? Our staff believes that in addition to presenting a collection of buildings and artifacts, we can also share the smells, tastes and sounds of historic Michilimackinac. We have taken the challenge of making Michilimackinac come alive very literally. Right now there are 13 recreated gardens inside the fort’s palisade. Some are small or some, like the commanding officers’ garden, are actually quite large, containing 16 beds centered around a brass sundial and totaling around 785 square feet. All the gardens big and small in the 1770s were a source of food, medicine and household supplies. Due to the small space and diverse nature of food and household needs, many types of plants were tucked in together. One example of this is found in a small backyard garden that belonged to a French fur trader. In it there are planted chives, radishes and violets. (more…)
Weapons of Michilimackinac Posted June 15, 2015 Although it primarily served as a logistical center for the Great Lakes fur trade, the post of Michilimackinac remained a military establishment from the moment it was constructed by French soldiers in 1715 to the day the last British troops abandoned the fort in 1781. Especially during the period of British control (1761-81), Michilimackinac served as an increasingly important and well-defended military outpost. (more…)
Colonial Michilimackinac History Posted February 21, 2014 In 1715 French soldiers constructed Fort Michilimackinac. This fortified community became the great fur trade center of the Northwest until its relocation to nearby Mackinac Island in 1781. It was here where fur traders and Indians rendezvoused, French and British officers organized war parties and explorers began their journeys into the vast western unknown. Michilimackinac Timeline 1,000 BC to 1650 AD– Semi-nomadic peoples at Straits of Mackinac. By 1650 AD- Anishanabeg people at Straits of Mackinac. 1634– Jean Nicolet passes through the Straits of Mackinac looking for the Northwest Passage. 1670– Father Claude Dablon, S.J. visits Straits of Mackinac and winters on Mackinac Island. 1671– Father Jacques Marquette, S.J. brings Hurons to Straits of Mackinac, and establishes Mission of St. Ignace on north side of straits near existing Odawa village. 1670s– Fur trade community flourishes around St. Ignace Mission. 1679– René-Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle, arrives at St. Ignace Mission aboard the Griffin, the first large sailing vessel on the upper Great Lakes. Griffin disappears somewhere between Wisconsin and St. Ignace. 1688-1690– Fort de Buade established near mission in response to King William’s War. 1697– Fort de Buade abandoned 1702-03– Most local Huron and Odawa move south to Detroit. 1705– Jesuits abandon and burn mission of St. Ignace, but Father Joseph Marest, S.J. returns every summer to minister to remaining Odawa. 1708– Major fire damages Odawa village. 1708-10– Odawa relocate village to south shore of straits; Father Marest re-establishes St. Ignace Mission near the villages. 1712– Constant Le Marchand de Lignery establishes a French military camp near St. Ignace Mission in preparation for campaigns against the Fox tribe of Wisconsin. 1715– French soldiers construct Fort Michilimackinac near Odawa community and Jesuit mission on the south side of the straits. 1716– Residents of Fort Michilimackinac participate in victorious attack on Fox tribe in Wisconsin. 1728– Commandant of Michilimackinac leads combined French, Odawa, and Ojibwa force into Wisconsin to defeat the Fox. The Fox avoid battle. 1733– Another force of French and American Indian allies assembles at Michilimackinac and launches an expedition into Green Bay against the Fox. Commandant of Michilimackinac killed in battle. Expansion of fort begins with new layout for buildings. 1739– Michilimackinac serves as base for French expedition against the Chickasaw south of the Ohio River. Despite some success, Chickasaw never decisively defeated. 1742– Odawa relocate 25 miles south to L’Arbre Croche. Jesuits transfer St. Ignace Mission to new location, but maintain a parish church at Fort Michilimackinac. 1743– New parish church building constructed at Fort Michilimackinac and named in honor of Ste. Anne. 1744– Tensions between French and English erupt into King George’s War. 1747-48– Fort repaired and expanded. 1747– American Indian unrest and attacks on French at Michilimackinac and Detroit. 1751– Expansion of fort toward lake authorized. 1752– Charles Langlade leads party of Odawa and French in a successful raid on the aggressive English traders at Pickawillany in Ohio country. 1753– Large Indian council held at Fort Michilimackinac. Each nation agrees to ally with the French. 1755– Warriors from Michilimackinac help defeat General Edward Braddock near Fort Duquesne in Pennsylvania. 1760– French defeated at Montreal, following the fall of Quebec in 1759. New France passes into British hands. Troops from Fort Michilimackinac present at both battles. French evacuate fort in October. 1761– British take control of Fort Michilimackinac in September following French and Indian War. 1763– Fort Michilimackinac attacked and captured by local Ojibwa as part of Pontiac’s Uprising. 1764– Fort Michilimackinac returned to the British by American Indians. British arrive aboard the schooner Gladwin, the first sailing vessel to call at the straits since the ill-fated Griffin in 1679. 1765– Jesuit mission of St. Ignace at L’Arbre Croche closes. Development of Michilimackinac suburbs begins. 1766– Commandant Robert Rogers dispatches exploration party in search of northwest water passage to Pacific Ocean. 1772-75– Major repairs and improvement to fort walls, platforms, stairs and gates. 1774– Captain Arent DePeyster holds council between Ojibwa and Sioux at Michilimackinac, securing peace between these historic enemies. 1776– Ojibwa and Odawa war parties from Michilimackinac dispatched to assist British operations against American rebels at Montreal. 1777– Menominee, Ojibwa, and Odawa war parties from Michilimackinac dispatched to join General John Burgoyne’s British army in New York. Parties return to Michilimackinac before Burgoyne’s army surrenders. 1779– Clearing of land begins on Mackinac Island in October. First house moved in November. 1780– Large war party dispatched from Michilimackinac against Spanish posts in Missouri, but force is easily defeated by Spanish and American rebels. 1780-81– Fort Michilimackinac moved to Mackinac Island. What is not moved is burned. The site of the community is covered by blowing sand. 1857– Modern-day Mackinaw City is platted. Site of fort at “Old Mackinac Point” reserved within a community park. 1880– Railroad arrives at Mackinaw City and small community develops. 1904– Village of Mackinaw City transfers park to State of Michigan. 1909– Park designated Michilimackinac State Park and placed under the care of the Mackinac Island State Park Commission. 1920s– Park develops into a popular summer campground. 1933– Fort palisade reconstructed and small museum opens inside the fort walls. 1958– Mackinac Island State Park Commission begins historical museum program. 1959– Professional archaeology begins at fort site. 1960– Reconstruction of fort based on archaeological evidence begins; 1930s palisade demolished. 1971– Campground closed; Visitor’s Center constructed beneath Mackinac Bridge Fort Michilimackinac Historical Facts and FAQ Established: 1715 Dates of occupation: ca. 1714 to 1781 Who originally built and occupied the Fort Michilimackinac? The French When did the British take control? 1761, following the fall of New France a year earlier. What tribes occupied the region? At the time of French settlement of the straits, the Odawa (also spelled Ottawa) occupied the region. Father Marquette brought a band of Huron Indians with him in 1671 and an Odawa village was also established near the mission. The Huron moved to Detroit after 1701. This Odawa village moved south to the location of Michilimackinac between 1708 and 1710. Why was Michilimackinac important? Michilimackinac served as a transshipment center and refueling post for the upper great lakes fur trade. What was the date of the capture of Fort Michilimackinac during Pontiac’s Uprising? June 2, 1763. What happened to the fort? In 1780-81 the fort was moved to Mackinac Island. Several of the fort’s buildings were dismantled and reassembled on Mackinac Island. What was not moved was burned. Why was the fort moved? The British feared an attack by American rebels. The fort was extremely vulnerable to a naval assault. The island location was far more secure. When was Michilimackinac State Park created? 1909. How big is Michilimackinac State Park? It covers 37 acres with 2,100 feet of Great Lakes shoreline. When did the Michilimackinac Archaeological excavation begin? 1959 When did the Michilimackinac Archaeological excavation end? It has not yet ended, and continues every summer. How many artifacts have been recovered? Over one million. How much of the fort has been excavated? Approximately 65% Federal Recognition: Fort Michilimackinac is a National Historic Landmark.
Colonial Michilimackinac – American Indian Interpreter Posted January 8, 2014 Department: Museum Programs Location: Colonial Michilimackinac, Mackinaw City Start Date/End Date: Early May through early October Pay Rate: Starting at $13/hr Click here to fill out an application. Scope of Duties: Mackinac State Historic Parks (MSHP) seeks qualified individuals to serve as historic interpreters at Colonial Michilimackinac, a reconstructed 18th century fortified fur trading center in Mackinaw City, Michigan. This full-time seasonal position is responsible for interpreting the history of Native Americans at Michilimackinac during the 18th century. Responsibilities: 1. Put visitors to Michilimackinac and other MSHP sites first by treating them with respect, serving their needs, and providing an enjoyable and educational experience. 2. Interpret the history of Native people visiting Michilimackinac for trade, diplomacy, and military purposes in the late 18th century. 3. Interpret and maintain the recreated summer encampment site, including seasonal lodges and other temporary structures. 4. Present formal and informal interpretative programs about the history and traditions of the Odawa and Ojibwa Indians, including their role in the Great Lakes fur trade, their relationship with Europeans, their technology, material culture, and foodways, and their social structures. 5. Wear and interpret recreated clothing and accouterments that reflect the appearance of Odawa or Ojibwa Indians in the 1770s. 6. Assist in the regular maintenance and care of chickens, gardens, the interpretive supplies, clothing, tools and equipment. 7. Participate in other regularly scheduled interpretive presentations and special events as required. Requirements: 1. Must have an interest in historical interpretation and be dedicated to public engagement and education. 2. Must be outgoing, enthusiastic, self-motivated, and have strong public speaking skills. 3. Must have an interest in the interpretation of Native American traditions and history. 4. Membership in a federally-recognized upper Great Lakes Odawa or Ojibwa tribal band is strongly preferred, but is not a requirement of employment. 5. Experience with or interest in historic interpretation, historically appropriate cultural traditions such as quillwork, beadwork, leather work (including tanning), birchbark construction, stone and wood carving, fish net-making, gardening, and cooking is recommended. 6. Must be able to work assigned position length. Position works 23 weeks, from early May through mid-October Work Location and Schedule: This is a full-time seasonal position, which typically works 40 hours per week for 23 weeks from early May through mid-October. The workstation for this position is Colonial Michilimackinac, although the employee may be required to work at other MSHP park sites. The position is primarily based outdoors at the recreated Native summer encampment at Michilimackinac. Work schedules are posted in advance and are subject to change depending on park operational needs. The employee may be asked to work evenings, holidays, and/or weekends as park needs dictate. Physical Requirements Stretching and bending are moves commonly made throughout the day by employees in this position. The employee must have the ability to do the following activities, with or without reasonable accommodation: frequent lifting, carrying, transporting, loading and unloading of up to 35 pounds, walking on rough terrain and walking long distances in all weather conditions, frequent twisting, bending, stooping, reaching and grasping, sitting, kneeling and/or standing for long periods of time. The employee will be required to wear a historic costume at all times while working indoors and outdoors in various weather conditions. This position will be exposed to extreme heat, cold and wind conditions working within historic buildings and outdoors around the site; employees must be able to work in this type of environment. Dress Code: The park maintains a dress code for employees in the public service to promote a productive and safe work environment and to maintain MSHP’s public image. This means no inappropriate hairstyles, jewelry, clothing or fashion statements are allowed. Employees are required to be in approved park costume at all times while on duty, which includes the wearing of proper footwear. The park will furnish the employee with the required costume items which must be returned at the end of seasonal employment. Violation of the dress code may result in disciplinary action up to and including dismissal. Supervision: The employee works under the direction of the Curator of Interpretation and the Chief Curator. This position does not supervise other employees. Due to the high volume of applications received, only those applicants invited to interview will be contacted. Click here to fill out an application. Questions or cannot apply online? Please contact: Employment P.O. Box 873 Mackinaw City, MI 49701 231-436-4100 x111
Excavations at Fort Michilimackinac 1983-1985: House C of Southeast Rowhouse – The Solomon-Levy-Parant House Posted December 16, 2013 Archaeological Completion Report Series, Number 11 From the book: “Research on House C of the Southeast Row House provides a view of life inside the 18th century fur trading and military post of Fort Michilimackinac … Analysis of House C included the use of numerous historic documents and archaeological data from several seasons of field work at Michilimackinac. In the resulting interpretation both types of data are used to complement and test each other. The history of the fort, the fur trade, and the house owners was revealed as far as records permitted, and this information is correlated with the artifact assemblages, both in terms of content and spatial distribution, to provide details about activities and behavior inside the house and part of its garden. … The focus of this research project is the archaeological remains of a structure lived in by Europeans. Its formal designation today is House C of the Southeast Row House, but in the 18th century it was a dwelling facing the parade ground and bordering the narrow Rue de la Babillarde (Street of Gossip) in back. There were several row houses inside the fort, each a long building divided into separate, privately owned compartments … Originally House C was the home of a large family of French Canadians, but after rebuilding its function appears to have become a warehouse and possibly a temporary summer residence for a fur trader or traders. The following report addresses first the documentary evidence and insights from previous excavations inside the fort and then discusses specifically the stratigraphy and artifacts from House C. … The conclusions… may be useful for further anthropologically-oriented research of frontier subsistence, settlement growth, systemic change in the fur trade, and so on. … ” “Halchin’s analyses of the history of the structure, the procurement and processing of food, and the evidence of commercial trade provide a comparative baseline for the study of other houses in the fort and elsewhere… This is a fine report…Halchin has provided a superior ethnoarchaeological study of a unique structure which witness a major transition in early regional colonial history.” – Charles C. Kolb Ethnohistory
Colonial Michilimackinac Posted December 12, 2013 Michilimackinac 1781: The End. This is Mackinac. Treasures from the past come to life at this 18th-century fort and fur trading village, reconstructed based on historic maps and more than 60 years of archaeological excavations. As you walk through Colonial Michilimackinac, you are stepping back in time to 1781, when local and global forces uprooted the entire community as soldiers and civilians relocated to Mackinac Island. After six decades as a thriving diplomatic and economic hub, Michilimackinac came to an end in 1781. Historical interpreters representing voyageurs, British soldiers, and French-Canadian merchant families are stationed throughout the fort to answer your questions and perform demonstrations. The past and present blur into a fascinating and unmatched experience at Colonial Michilimackinac. Watch smoke billow from cannons, mortars and muskets and see residents prepare food and tend the gardens. At one of the longest ongoing archaeological excavations in North America, archaeologists are on site throughout the summer, pulling history from the soil, bit by bit. Located on the shore of the Straits of Mackinac, visitors can enjoy stunning views of the Mackinac Bridge, the straits, and the Upper Peninsula. Highlights Live Programs and Tours Demonstrations and tours by costumed interpreters take place throughout the day. Cooking, crafts and trades are conducted at key locations and vary by season. Exciting programs for the 2024 season include Michilimackinac 1781: The End, Building Michilimackinac: Architecture of the Frontier, The Pleasures of the Table: Dining Culture at the Merchant’s House, a look at the enslaved community at Michilimackinac, Some Tea and Loaf Sugar: Tea at the British Trader’s House, Bales, Barrels, and Boxes: Supplying the Great Lakes Fur Trade programs, and more! Click any schedule below to see what will be happening during your visit. May 8 – May 31, 2024 June 1 – September 1, 2024 September 2 – October 3, 2024 October 10 – October 20, 2024 (Thursday-Sunday ONLY) Click to enlarge. Exhibits All sixteen buildings in the fort are open and furnished with period settings or themed exhibits. Special exhibits include: Slavery at the Straits, in the Southwest Rowhouse, explores how throughout the 17th and 18th centuries slavery was an integral part of the community at Michilimackinac. France at Mackinac, 1670-1760, Michilimackinac as it was under the French regime. Treasures from the Sand, an underground exhibit exploring the process of historical archaeology. Redcoats on the Frontier, describing the life of the British soldier, including a new interactive space that will allow visitors to step back in time to experience the lives of British soldiers in the 1770s. Powder Magazine and Firearms on the Frontier, a subterranean exhibit describing the preserved ruins of this military structure. Commanding Officer’s House, showcasing the life of Michilimackinac’s commanding officer. Movies Michilimackinac: Crossroads of the Great Lakes, a 15-minute movie, is presented in the King’s Storehouse. It plays every 20 minutes. Attack! at Michilimackinac presents the most dramatic event in the fort’s history. It plays continuously in the Trader’s House of the Southwest Rowhouse. Kids’ Rendezvous Children can exercise both bodies and brains as they explore the routes of the fur traders. Located just outside the Visitor’s Center. Ongoing Archaeology During the main season, from early June until mid-August, you can witness archaeologists continuing the excavation of Michilimackinac. Taking place each summer since 1959, the dig is one of longest ongoing excavations of its kind in the nation. Watch the video below to see all that Colonial Michilimackinac has to offer!
King’s 8th Still Present at Michilimackinac Posted September 19, 2012 In 1774, between 65 and 70 enlisted men and three to four officers of the 8th, or King’s, Regiment of Foot arrived at Fort Michilimackinac. This detachment comprised two companies of the 8th Regiment: the elite grenadier company as well as the “General’s” company. Under the command of Captain Arent S. DePeyster, these men protected the combined military garrison and civilian fur trading community at Michilimackinac. Most of the men spent their time on fatigue duty, maintaining the fort’s walls and other government buildings, chopping firewood, hauling supplies, and performing other tedious but necessary chores. All soldiers regularly took part in drills and stood guard. Lieutenant-Governor Patrick Sinclair took command of the garrison and community of Michilimackinac in October 1779. Interpreters dressed as members of the King’s 8th at Colonial Michilimackinac discuss the duties of the day. Under Sinclair’s direction, the men of the 8th dismantled the post of Michilimackinac for the move to Mackinac Island. There, with assistance from soldiers from the 84th Regiment of Foot, they began to construct Fort Mackinac. Unhappy with their treatment at Sinclair’s hands as well as their own officers, the men of the 8th publically complained to DePeyster, their beloved former commander. To prevent more trouble, the grenadier company was transferred from Michilimackinac in September 1780, while the “General’s” company was relieved in August 1781. The 8th remained in North America until 1785, having served there since 1768. Excavated from Colonial Michilimackinac this past summer, the 8 is still visible after more than 200 years on this button. Bits and pieces of the 8th still remain from the 1700s, including the unique buttons on the regiment’s dress uniform. This coming weekend, September 22 and 23 2012, the King’s 8th will be back at Fort Michilimackinac demonstrating drill and the other duties of the soldiers. For more information on the encampment, click here or go to Kings8th.com
Marchand De Lignery and the Voyageurs Posted April 5, 2024 French weapon parts recovered at what is now the South Southwest Rowhouse at Colonial Michilimackinac. In the years between 1712 and 1720, France was entangled in a long war with the Meskakie Nation in Wisconsin. The area which would later become Michilimackinac became a jumping off point for the troops who were going to go fight in that war. Those forces were made up of a handful of soldiers, French canoe men or voyageurs, and Native Americans led by Louis de La Porte de La Louvigny and Constant Marchand de Lignery. They were to travel separately to the gathering place before heading further west.A 1749 map of Michilimackinac, when it was under French control by Michel Chartier de Lotbiniere. Courtesy Public Archives of Canada. Lignery had arrived at Michilimackinac by 1714 under orders to “persuade the savages of Michilimackinac” and to make war with them against the Fox. Unfortunately, by the spring of 1715 those plans to go to Wisconsin were still muddy. Louvigny had been delayed and food and other supplies were not as well-stocked as the Commanding Officer would have liked. In addition, close to the end of the year, there were grumblings of discontent and four voyageurs had left Michilimackinac without Lignery’s consent. In response Lignery had them arrested as deserters. The men were sent to prison in Montreal to wait for their sentences. On January 13, 1716, Jean-Baptiste Adhémar, royal notary, and Pierre Raimbault, the King’s attorney, began interrogating the four voyageurs. In response to “why he left before the said convoy” and if “he had the commandant’s permission” the twenty-eight-year-old Jean Verge dit Desjardins said that “not being one of the coureurs de bois he did not believe he was absolutely obliged.” Desjardins further argued that he contracted “a sickness in prison” from being wrongfully jailed. LeBoeuf answered to the same question that “he thought he did not do anything wrong in leaving secretly” and that he was “returning from fur trading.” Jean Gautier responded “that he did not hear any king’s order on this topic.” Pierre Monjeau added that he was “obligated by his contract” to obey his master and feared “he would lose his wages.”A French weapon part recovered at what is now the South Southwest Rowhouse at Colonial Michilimackinac. In the end, despite their perceived desertion by Lignery, the men were acquitted. Adhémar and Raimbault let the men go but they were to return to Michilimackinac and “place themselves under the orders of the commandant.” The deserters were volunteers, after all, and were probably more interested in trade than fighting in a war. Once Louvigny arrived at Fort Michilimackinac, Lignery was relieved of his command and criticized for his failure. However, the trouble with the voyageurs still continued under Louvigny. Even when Louvigny went on campaign with his forces, the voyageurs abandoned their post on their return and departure of the Fort. Despite its rocky beginning, the presence of those early French voyageurs and soldiers became the start of more than 40 years of successful French military occupation at Michilimackinac. The soldiers during that time never ended up fighting in Wisconsin, but instead built the first version of what we now can see as the reconstructed fort and village.Inside the France at Mackinac exhibit at Colonial Michilimackinac. To learn more about the French military at Colonial Michilimackinac and its other great history or to plan your trip, go to mackinacparks.com.
What’s in Store for ’24? Posted December 20, 2023 As the calendar flips to 2024, the Mackinac State Historic Parks crew is hard at work constructing new buildings, creating new exhibits, fine-tuning programs, preparing the historic sites, and finalizing special events to share the rich historic and natural treasures of Mackinac Island and Mackinaw City. “We are excited to welcome visitors to experience our parks and numerous attractions,” said Steve Brisson, Mackinac State Historic Parks Director. “We are hard at work and busy preparing to have everything ready for our spring openings.”A rendering of the new Milliken Nature Center at Arch Rock. The Milliken Nature Center is built to accent the natural beauty of Arch Rock – not dominate it. The exhibit inside, Arch Rock: Unsurpassed in Nature’s Beauty, will celebrate what was known as the “Jewel of the Mackinac National Park” and is still today known as a “Star Attraction of Mackinac Island State Park.” It features dozens of stunning historic images of Arch Rock as well as a timeline on how the arch was formed. In addition, the center will highlight geology on Mackinac Island as a whole, from the formation of the island itself and how stunning features such as Sugarloaf Rock and Skull Cave came to be. A highlight of the center will be an interactive 3D map of the island. Finally, modern new restrooms will also be located at the site.A rendering of the new exhibit, “Arch Rock: Unsurpassed in Nature’s Handiwork,” at the Milliken Nature Center. “The Milliken Nature Center will be a welcome and fitting addition to Mackinac Island State Park,” Brisson said. “We look forward to welcoming guests this spring. We’re honored it will feature the name of Governor Milliken, who loved this island, and are appreciative of the support of Governor Whitmer, the state legislature, and Mackinac Associates to see this project come to fruition.”The Milliken Nature Center and restrooms are slated to open May 3.Progress on the Southwest Rowhouse addition in mid-December. Moving to Mackinaw City, construction is underway on the first new building at Colonial Michilimackinac since 2013. Located on the east end of the Southwest Rowhouse, the building will host a new exhibit, combining archaeological and archival research to help present community life at Michilimackinac in the 1700s: Slavery at the Straits. Throughout the 17th and 18th centuries, slavery was integral part of the community at Michilimackinac, as well as the rest of Michigan. Enslaved Black and Native American men and women worked in all levels of society, doing everything from domestic work to skilled labor. Already a hub of the Great Lakes fur trade, Michilimackinac also served as the center of the regional trade in enslaved workers as French and British colonists exploited preexisting systems of Native American enslavement to feed a growing demand for enslaved labor.“This new exhibit explores the lives of these enslaved individuals and how their experiences fit in with the larger story of Michilimackinac, allowing us to present a more complete vision of the site in the 18th century,” Brisson said.A new tour highlighting historic architecture adds to the robust schedule at Colonial Michilimackinac. Staying at Michilimackinac, the year 1781 will be explored, when local and global forces uprooted the entire community as soldiers and civilians relocated to Mackinac Island. After six decades as a thriving diplomatic and economic hub, Michilimackinac came to an end in 1781. A special daily program will go into detail on the end of Michilimackinac. Other programs throughout the day explore the rich history of the site and showcase how it was more than a military outpost. Get an up-close look at the merchandise that passed through Michilimackinac during the height of the fur trade; learn about the different architectural styles found at the fort; explore dining culture at a Merchant’s House; explore the 5,500 square feet of gardens during an engaging tour; have tea at a British Trader’s home and dive into the complexities of British society; find out what civilians and soldiers were up to; and, of course, feel the power of Michilimackinac’s weapons with musket and artillery firings. “The gorgeous setting and beautiful reconstruction of the 18th century fur trading village and fort overlooking the Straits of Mackinac are worth a visit for everyone that comes to Mackinaw City,” said LeeAnn Ewer, Curator of Interpretation. “Here you will be able to explore and learn about what the last year of Michilimackinac was like for the soldiers and civilians that disassembled the community and moved to Mackinac Island. Our newest tour will highlight the move to the island, as well as the historic architecture that would have housed the community daily from Michigan weather as well as the occasional war.”Mackinac State Historic Parks archaeology program will enter its 66th year in 2024. The Mackinac State Historic Parks’ archaeology program will enter its 66th season in 2024. Work will continue in House E of the Southeast Rowhouse at Colonial Michilimackinac. Archaeologists will be out daily (weather permitting) during the summer months. Guests will have the opportunity to see the most recent finds at Colonial Michilimackinac with a “Recent Excavations” display inside the Colonial Michilimackinac Visitor’s Center. Want to get closer than ever to the action at Colonial Michilimackinac? Guests have two opportunities to fire black powder weapons: an opening cannon blast, at 9:30 a.m., or they can fire the full complement of weapons at Guns Across the Straits. Reservations for either program can be made by calling (231) 436-4100. More information can be found here. Special events at Colonial Michilimackinac include exhilarating “Fire at Night” programs, deep dives into Michilimackinac’s maritime history, a celebration of the King’s Birth-day on June 4, a look at Askin’s Men and Women at Michilimackinac in August, a moonlit Michilimackinac evening, the ever-popular Fort Fright, and A Colonial Christmas. More information can be found at mackinacparks.com/events.Colonial Michilimackinac opens for the 2024 season May 8.The Oil House added in 2023. A privy, pump, and flagpole will be added in 2024 to complete the restoration of the house to its 1910 appearance. Old Mackinac Point Lighthouse, across the park from Colonial Michilimackinac, will see the continued restoration of the site to its 1910 appearance. This summer will see small details added to the site, including a privy, pump, and flagpole. A small sidewalk will be added to the privy and pump, and, along with the oil house that was added in 2023, new interpretive signs will be added. Old Mackinac Point Lighthouse opens for the season May 9. Programs at Historic Mill Creek feature daily demonstrations of a reconstructed 18th century sawmill. With the smell of fresh sawdust in the air, the awesome power of the water never fails to impress as the mill springs to life, fed by the pond and ever-flowing currents of Mill Creek. Log hewing and pitsaw demonstrations will be relocated near the millpond, providing easier access and shaded seating for visitors of all ages. At the workshop historic farming programs highlight what life was like beyond the sawmill more than 200 years ago.Themed weeks, including a Wildlife Week, highlight the Historic Mill Creek schedule in 2024. During the summer months, special themed weeks will dig deeper into the story of Historic Mill Creek. From June 23-29, enjoy “Wildlife Week at Historic Mill Creek,” featuring the amazing animals of the North Woods. From July 21-27, enjoy “Hay Cutters & Summer Pasture,” as programs explore historic hay making at the Straits of Mackinac. Finally, August 18-24 will feature “Lost Rocks & Mackinac Millstones,” where guests will earn about the grist mill at Mill Creek, and how the Mill Creek millstones were hewn from “lost rocks” deposited by glaciers thousands of years ago. On the wild side, Historic Mill Creek’s 3.5 miles of interpreted hiking trails are always open and available to explore. During the summer months, join a trained naturalist at various times of the day for a guided walk along the trails, looking for blooming wildflowers, fruiting fungi, and singing birds among the trees, as well as for any wildlife along the banks of Mill Creek. “We’re excited to enter a year of transition at Historic Mill Creek,” shared Park Naturalist Kyle Bagnall. “This year, special themed weeks will highlight aspects of the site’s amazing history. Guests can join a naturalist for short, guided trail walks. We’ll bask in the summer sun as we listen for the swish of the scythe and tales of historic hay cutters. Finally, we’ll join a hunt for “lost rocks” which traveled hundreds of miles thousands of years ago before landing at Mackinac.” Historic Mill Creek will also host two special Snowshoe Strolls, on February 10 and March 3, both from 2:00-3:30 p.m. Bring your snowshoes and explore the snowy North Woods on this guided stroll. This two-mile guided hike will allow you to search for signs of wildlife and other wonders of the natural world. After the walk enjoy treats near a campfire. This event is admission by donation. Historic Mill Creek opens for the regular 2024 season May 10.A new ‘Medicine at Mackinac’ tour will showcase Army Surgeons and military medicine in the 1880s. Moving back to Mackinac Island, Fort Mackinac opens for the 2024 season on May 3. Guests can discover two new programs: “Medicine at Mackinac,” where interpreters will provide the history of Army Surgeons and how the Army began changing military medicine in the 1880s. In addition, a Guard Mount Program will show guests how soldiers would conduct this complex military ceremony. Other programs at the fort include a walking tour about the changing face of Fort Mackinac, an exploration of the people who lived and worked at the fort, how the Army of the 1880s conducted itself, a look at Mackinac’s time as a national park, a program showcasing the equipment a soldier was issued, and an exploration of what happened at Fort Mackinac after the sun set. In addition, the classic rifle and cannon firing demonstrations will both feature refreshed presentations. “2024 will be an exciting year because we are continuing to expand the programs we offer as well as adding greater depth to our classic programs, creating a fun and educational experience for anyone coming to Mackinac Island,” explained Jack Swartzinski, Mackinac State Historic Parks’ Interpretation Coordinator. The Tea Room at Fort Mackinac, operated by Grand Hotel, will feature new menu items for the 2024 season, and, as always, will feature one of the most stunning views in Michigan. Perhaps the way to make a Fort Mackinac visit most memorable is firing the opening cannon salute, which is available to one guest daily. More information can be found here.Fairy Arch by Henry Chapman Ford (1874). The Richard & Jane Manoogian Mackinac Art Museum, located in Marquette Park in front of Fort Mackinac, will feature Mackinac Rocks!, a juried exhibition in the second floor changing gallery. From looking in wonder at the natural curiosity that is Arch Rock to skipping rocks at Windermere Point, to maybe enjoying some ‘rock’ at a local establishment or the fact that Mackinac Island is itself a large rock, it is safe to say that Mackinac Rocks! An art attendant will lead guided tours of the galleries, including a look at Native American art on Mackinac, and the works of photographer William Gardiner. In addition, the attendant will lead two “Kids’ Time” crafts in the lower-level art studio. The sixth nine artists-in-residence will stay on Mackinac Island throughout the summer. Each artist will host a special, free workshop on the second Wednesday of their residency. Elsewhere on Mackinac Island, the Biddle House, featuring the Mackinac Island Native American Museum, shares the continuing story of the Anishnaabek on Mackinac Island, with daily interpretive programs and engaging exhibits. The Benjamin Blacksmith Shop, located next door to the Biddle House, is a working blacksmith shop that dives into the 1950s and the changing culture of workers on Mackinac Island. The American Fur Co. Store & Dr. Beaumont Museum and McGulpin House have both received new exhibits in the past two years. Admission to all of these sites is included with a Fort Mackinac or Historic Downtown Mackinac ticket. The Biddle House, featuring the Mackinac Island Native American Museum, Benjamin Blacksmith Shop, and The Richard & Jane Manoogian Mackinac Art Museum open for the 2024 season on May 10. The McGulpin House and American Fur Co. Store & Dr. Beaumont Museum open June 1.The annual ‘Vintage Base Ball’ game is a highlight of the summer season. Special events at Fort Mackinac and Mackinac Island include Twilight Turtle Treks on January 13, February 3 and March 2; the Fort2Fort Five Mile Challenge May 11; the annual Vintage Base Ball game July 27; special activities for July 4; special history evening programs including a guided tour of Historic Downtown Mackinac as it would have looked in the 1830s and a tour highlighting the creation of the village of Mackinac Island; special nature and birdwatching tours; night sky programs at Fort Holmes and Arch Rock; bike tours looking at Mackinac’s forgotten features and the War of 1812; and much more. More information can be found at mackinacparks.com/events. Every museum store will feature new items inspired by the site they represent. The Official Mackinac Island State Park Store, inside the Mackinac Island State Park Visitor’s Center, will continue to have new items inspired by the historic and natural elements of Mackinac Island. Most major projects were funded, in part, by Mackinac Associates. Visit mackinacparks.com for a complete listing of updates and projects at Mackinac State Historic Parks, hours of operation, daily events, special events, and more.
Archaeology at Fort Mackinac – Provision Storehouse Posted January 27, 2023 The “Store House” is the structure labeled “I” on the west end of the fort on this drawing from 1796. Credit: Historical Society of PennsylvaniaOne of the largest archaeological excavations to take place at Fort Mackinac was at the site of the original provision storehouse. This excavation was carried out during the summers of 1981-82 by University of South Florida field schools directed by Dr. Roger T. Grange Jr. These were part of the commemoration of the bicentennial of Fort Mackinac. Dr. Grange’s final report was published as Number 12 in the Mackinac State Historic Parks’ Archaeological Completion Report Series (Excavations at Fort Mackinac, 1980-1982: The Provision Storehouse – Mackinac State Historic Parks | Mackinac State Historic Parks (mackinacparks.com) and was the basis of this blog post. The provision storehouse is an unusual structure because is has been excavated twice, in two different locations. It was originally built by British soldiers just inside the water gate at Michilimackinac (on the south side of the straits) in 1773. Being a relatively new building, it was moved to Mackinac Island when the garrison was relocated in 1781 and appears on early maps of Fort Mackinac. The mainland site was excavated in 1959 and the storehouse reconstructed in 1961. Today it houses the orientation film at Colonial Michilimackinac.Scissors from the early American occupation.Leather shoe parts from post War of 1812 deposit. On the island, the structure served as a storehouse through the first British occupation (1780-1796), the first American occupation (1796-1812) and the second British occupation (1812-1815). After the War of 1812, it was converted into a barracks, with workspace for military tailors and shoemakers, and a hospital. Its use as a hospital (1815-1827) overlapped with the service of Fort Mackinac’s most famous post surgeon, Dr. William Beaumont. A portion of the storehouse appears as a log structure next to the 1827 hospital painted by Mary Nexsen Thompson shortly before it burned down days before completion.Microscope lens, possibly used by Dr. Beaumont.Mary Nexsen Thompson painting of 1827 hospital with portion of storehouse. Credit: William L. Clements Library, University of Michigan A completely new hospital building was constructed in 1828, over the middle of the storehouse/1827 hospital, but oriented north-south instead of northeast-southwest like the original. A portion of the west end of the provision storehouse behind the 1828 hospital was the area of the archaeological excavation. No remnants of the provision storehouse are visible today, but you can stand on the original location while touring Fort Mackinac (opens May 4, 2023). You can also visit the reconstruction of the original provision storehouse at Colonial Michilimackinac (opens May 10, 2023) and learn more about Dr. Beaumont’s work at the American Fur Co. Store & Dr. Beaumont Museum in downtown Mackinac Island (opens June 3, 2023).
