Provisions Store Project
A few men from the Royal Regiment of Artillery were stationed at Fort Mackinac during the entire early British period (1779-1796).  This gilt officer's button from that regiment belonged to Lieutenant Christopher Meyers, the only commissioned officer from that regiment to serve at Fort Mackinac.

MS3.C1P14.28

 This hat plate fragment is from a "Belgic" shako, first issued to British troops in 1811.  This equipment did not arrive at Mackinac until the autumn of 1813.  This style of hat was worn by men from the 1st Regiment of Foot, Michigan Fencibles, Royal Newfoundland Fencible Infantry and Corps of Royal Engineers, all stationed at Fort Mackinac during the waning months of the War of 1812.

MS3.C1H15.5

 Following the War of 1812 the rooms of the provision storehouse building were used for a variety of other purposes.  In 1816 one of these was housing tailors and shoe makers of the 3rd infantry.  This leather sole and cleat and ion boot heel plate are remnants of the shoesmakers' activities.

MS3.C1D8.43, MS3.C1D8.44

 Pearlware was a common type of ceramic in the early nineteenth century.  Even after transfer printing was developed, hand-painted desings continued, and were somewhat cheaper.  This reassembled pitcher is one of the most complete vessels found at Fort Mackinac because most large trash was disposed of outside the fort walls.

MS3.C1D6.2, MS3.C1E5.1, MS3.C1E7

 Part of the provision storehouse was used as the post hospital from about 1815 until it was razed and rebuilt in 1827.  This objective lens from a microscope was used by one of the physicians who served during that time.  The most famous was Dr. William Beaumont.

MS3.C1A3.1

Blacksmith Shops 
On September 16, 1895 the U.S. Army marched out of Fort Mackinac for the last time.  The fort, military reservation and Mackinac Island National Park were turned over to the State of Michigan and the Mackinac State Park Commission.  One hundred years later, during the commission's centennial summer, this 1895 copper penny was excavated at the site of the former blacksmith shop within Fort Mackinac.

MS3.E1M4.1

Fort Wall Restoration
This 1776 George III halfpenny actually predates Fort Mackinac.  It was found during the restoration of the fort wall.  One of the soldiers who helped build the fort between 1779 and 1781 probably dropped it.

FMW.680

 The foundation of the east blockhouse was repaired during the restoration of the Fort Mackinac wall and other masonry work at the fort.  Numerous buttons were found around the edge of the blockhouse.  They may have been swept out through trapdoors in the overhanging second floor.  The Americans constructed the blockhouse after their arrival in 1796 and used it as a barracks as well as a defensive structure.  The buttons shown here are some of the more unusual found.  All date to the early nineteenth century.  The buttons numbered 6 and 16 with UNITED STATES around them are infantry buttons issued from 1798 to 1802.  Although only the 1st regiment served at Fort Mackinac, buttons from nine regiments have been found here.  The army anticipated higher enlistments regardless of regiment.  The script "LA," for Light Artillery, button is another surplus button from a unit that never served at Mackinac.  The script RA button is from the 2nd Regiment of Artillery.  Men from this unit were stationed at Fort Mackinac from 1796 to 1812.  This particular button was manufactured from 1810 to 1813.  The eagle with "R" shield manufactured from 1812 to 1814.  Soldiers from this unit were among the first American troops to return to Fort Mackinac after the War of 1812.  The button with the anchor is from a naval uniform.  American and British navy buttons from the early nineteenth century are difficult to tell apart.  A few sailors from the Royal Navy were at Fort Mackinac during the War of 1812.

FMW.317, FMW.385, FMW.353, FMW.294, FMW.252, FMW.296