Artist-in-Residence Program

Posted

Join our resident artist for a free workshop. Details posted soon! Workshop to be held in the Station 256 Conference room, located above the Mackinac Island State Park Visitor’s Center. This is a free workshop! #thisismackinac

Artist-in-Residence Workshop

Posted

Join our resident artist for a free workshop. Workshop to be held in the Station 256 Conference room, located above the Mackinac Island State Park Visitor’s Center. This is a free workshop! #thisismackinac

June 12 – Rug braiding with multimedia artist Jillian Blackwell
June 26 – Island Echoes: Exploring the Sonic Canvasses Inspired by the Art and Nature of Mackinac Island with musician Carrie Pierce
July 10 – Sound as Story, Story as Sound: Explorations in Sound Art with sculptor and sound artist Susan Byrnes
July 24 – History of furniture making and the art and craft of woodworking with woodworker Kyle Huntoon
August 7 – A reading and discussion of an in-progress work, “Grand Island,” with writer Theodore Van Alst
August 21 – Creating compelling ultra-resolution photography with adventure photographer David Mills
September 4 – A discussion on the process of creating botanic illustrations with watercolor artist Jane Kendra
September 18 – A presentation of the choreographed work to the themes of Jane Schoolcraft’s writing with dancer Sarah Langdon
October 2 – A presentation on the personal work and trajectory as an artist with visual artist Mary Jo Karimnia

Artist-in-Residence Workshop with Author and Journalist Amy Haimerl

Posted

Amy Haimerl will host a workshop that is a mix of presentation and “Ask Me Anything” about how media works. Haimerl will present a warp speed history of media, from cave walls to TikTok. Then the group will discuss how changes in distribution have detached media from community and how those changes impact newspapers and magazines now. Finally, Haimerl will get granular and talk about how and why certain stories get assigned — and why some do not. All along, Haimerl will take questions from the audience about how the media sausage is made.

This is a free workshop located in the Station 256 Conference Room, located above the Mackinac Island State Park Visitor’s Center. #thisismackinac

What Can I Find at the Mackinac Island State Park Visitor’s Center?

Posted

Ready or not the 2021 season is ready to start.

The Mackinac Island State Park Visitor’s Center from Fort Mackinac.

  If you’ve visited Mackinac Island, you probably remember the Mackinac Island State Park Visitor’s Center. It’s the building with the red roof just past the Chippewa Hotel. Today, we would like to share with you what the Mackinac Island State Park Visitor Center on Mackinac Island is all about and what you can find there.

  It’s simple, really: at the Mackinac Island State Park Visitor’s Center you can find out about all things Mackinac Island State Park. Want to know what demonstrations are going on at Fort Mackinac, or are interested in buying a ticket? Wondering what all comes with your Fort Mackinac ticket? We can help! Wondering about special events like Movies in the Fort or Music in the Park? Talk to us! Curious about the juried art exhibition at The Richard and Jane Manoogian Mackinac Art Museum, the Artist-in-Residence program, or the new exhibit at the Biddle House? We have the info. Want to know about the Botanical Trail, what’s at British Landing, or the status of M-185? That’s what we’re here for.

  There are some things we cannot help you with, though. Wondering who has the best fudge or how much a taxi ride is up to the Grand Hotel? You’re out of luck. If you’re interested in a Carriage Tour you’ll need to head down to the stand on Main Street. If you’re curious about hotels on the island, or dinner reservations, or who has the best night life, the Mackinac Island Tourism Bureau is your best bet, and that building is just down the road.

A new Arch Rock t-shirt available for the 2021 season.

  Starting in 2021, the Mackinac Island State Park Visitor’s Center will also serve as the home to the official Mackinac Island State Park Store. We will have great new souvenirs and merchandise: Arch Rock t-shirts, M-185 mile marker stickers, ornaments, mugs, and magnets, just to name a few. We also have all the Mackinac State Historic Park publications pertaining to Mackinac Island and as well as a few about our Mackinaw City sites.

U.S. Coast Guard Life-Saving Station stamp.

  Did you know that the Mackinac Island State Park Visitor Center was originally the site of the Coast Guard Life-Saving Station?  It was built in 1915, the year the Life-Saving Service and the Revenue Cutter Service were merged to form the U.S. Coast Guard. The Coast Guard closed the Mackinac Island Life-Saving Station in 1969, transferring operations to its new base in St. Ignace. In 1970 the Mackinac Island State Park Commission acquired the building, and the Visitor’s Center was born. We have a passport stamp available at the Mackinac Island State Park Visitor’s Center for the Mackinac Island U.S. Coast Guard Life-Saving Station if you would like to stop by and have your book stamped for a donation.

  The Mackinac Island State Park is also home to the Mackinac Island Artist-in-Residence Apartment, on the second floor, as well as the Station 256 Conference Room, also on the second floor. The conference room can be booked for small meetings and gatherings.

  The Mackinac Island State Park Visitor’s Center and official State Park Store open May 7. We hope to see you this summer!

Island History Series: Fudge – Mackinac’s Sweet Souvenir

Posted

Mackinac Island and fudge. Both symbolize indulgence, fantasy and escape. But there’s more to fudge than sugar, butter, chocolate and cream. Join Phil Porter, Mackinac State Historic Parks Director and Chief Fudge Taster, as he explores the history of Mackinac’s most delicious souvenir. Presented at the Station 256 Conference Room. This is a free Mackinac Parks: 125 event!