WHERE HISTORY COMES ALIVE
Over 80 percent of Mackinac Island is State Park property , and is yours to enjoy . Whether experiencing the Island on foot , bicycle , horseback or carriage , the many geological and historical wonders are visual treasures to experience .
Upper Cannon Platform at Fort Mackinac
HISTORIC FORT MACKINAC
On the bluff looking south over the Island ’ s busy harbor and majestic Straits of Mackinac is the stately stone palisade of FORT MACKINAC . Built in 1780 , it is the Island ’ s most formidable of several State Park attractions . Inside the Fort walls are 14 original buildings filled with interactive displays and period furnishings .
Costumed interpreters guide visitors through realistic demonstrations , reenactments , programs , and tours . Daily programs highlight the changing face of Mackinac Island , the role women played at the fort , Mackinac ’ s time as a national park , and a look at who exactly made up the army of the 1880s .
Your Fort Mackinac ticket also includes admission to The RICHARD & JANE MANOOGIAN MACKINAC ART MUSEUM , located in Marquette Park . This year ’ s theme is Mackinac Rocks ! Your ticket also gives full access to the historic BID- DLE HOUSE , BENJAMIN BLACKSMITH SHOP , AMERICAN FUR CO . STORE AND DR . BEAUMONT MUSEUM . Step inside these buildings , and step back into time ! They ’ re filled with authentic furnishings and historic costumed tour guides , to let you experience 19th century Mackinac Island .
WHAT ’ S NEW FOR 2024
The Milliken Nature Center , located at Arch Rock , will open in early summer . In addition to new , modern restrooms , the nature center will showcase how natural features such as Arch
Rock are formed and explore other natural features located around Mackinac Island , such as Sugarloaf Rock , Crack-inthe-Island , Cave-of-the-Woods , and others . The nature center will feature a large , interactive model of Mackinac Island as its centerpiece .
At Fort Mackinac , a new program , “ Medicine at Mackinac ,” will look at the Army Surgeons stationed at the fort and how the Army began changing military medicine in the 1880s . The Biddle House will have a new program : Mackinac Island : A Village of Change , which will highlight how the Village of Mackinac Island came to be . At The Richard & Jane Manoogian Mackinac Art Museum , located in front of Fort Mackinac in Marquette Park , a new juried art exhibition will debut on the second floor – “ Mackinac Rocks !”
2024 STATE PARK SUMMER CALENDAR
MAY
3 Fort Mackinac Opening Day , 9:00 a . m . MISP Visitor ’ s Center Opening Day , 9:00 a . m .
10 Benjamin Blacksmith Shop Opening Day , 10:00 a . m . Biddle House Opening Day , 10:00 a . m . The Richard & Jane Manoogian Mackinac Art Museum Opening Day , 10:00 a . m . 11 Fort2Fort Five Mile Challenge , Mackinac State Park , 9 a . m . 18 Mackinac ’ s Wonderful Wildflowers , Fort Mackinac , 1:00 p . m . 27 Memorial Day Observance , Fort Mackinac Cemetery , 8:30 a . m .
JUNE
1 American Fur Co . Store Opening Day Dr . Beaumont Museum Opening Day McGulpin House Opening Day British Landing Nature Center Opening Day 8 Movie in the Fort , Fort Mackinac , Dusk 9 Lilacs & Warblers Walk , meet in Marquette Park , 9:30 a . m . 12 Mackinac in the 1830s Walking Tour , Downtown Mackinac Island
Artist-in-Residence Program , 7:00 p . m .
22-23 Civil War Weekend , Fort Mackinac 26 Artist-in-Residence Program , 7:00 p . m .
JULY
4 A Star Spangled Fourth of July , Fort Mackinac
16 Exploring Ancient Mackinac Island , Fort Mackinac , 4:00 p . m . 17 Mackinac Island Cemetery Tour , meet at Fort Mackinac , 5:00 p . m . 20 War of 1812 Bike Ride , Meet at Fort Mackinac , 5:30 p . m . 27 Vintage Base Ball , Fort Mackinac , 6:30 p . m .
AUGUST
3 Mackinac ’ s Forgotten Features , meet at Fort Mackinac , 5:30 p . m .
7 Artist-in-Residence Program , 7:00 p . m . 19 Full Moon over Mackinac , Meet at Fort Mackinac , 8:15 p . m . 21 Artist-in-Residence Program , 7:00 p . m . 24 Movie in the Fort , Fort Mackinac , Dusk
SEPTEMBER
4 Artist-in-Residence Program , 7:00 p . m . 14 September Stroll to Arch Rock , meet at Fort Mackinac , 1:30 p . m . 18 Artist-in-Residence Program , 7:00 p . m . 19 Mackinac Island Cemetery Tour , meet at Fort Mackinac , 5:00 p . m .
OCTOBER
2 Artist-in-Residence Program , 7:00 p . m .
This is only a partial list of highlighted events . For full calendar , go to mackinacparks . com
22 Inside Mackinac