Category: Colonial Michilimackinac

What’s New for 2026?

Join us as we celebrate the American Revolution with special events, daily programs, and more, and learn all about what’s new for 2026.

Soldier Ghosts

Every night, at the stroke of twelve, soldiers could be heard marching to roll call. The only problem? There were no soldiers there. Fort Fright is based on French tales told at Michilimackinac. Enjoy “Soldier Ghosts,” from “Were-Wolves and Will-O-The-Wisps.”

A Big Finish

The 2025 field season at Colonial Michilimackinac wrapped up August 23 with finds including glass seed beads, iron tools, and a rare metal-wrapped textile fragment. Long-time readers will also note that the tree stump has also been removed! Learn more here:

At the Half

We’re past the halfway point of the archaeological field season. What have we learned?

It’s Spring, and Thoughts Turn to Excavating

It’s spring, and while many people think of gardening, archaeologists think of excavating. The 2025 archaeological field season at Colonial Michilimackinac has begun! Get re-acquainted with the dig site here:

Behind the Scenes Archaeology

Thanks to a onetime influx of infrastructure money, Mackinac State Historic Parks is in the middle of a construction boom. Archaeological potential is considered during project planning, and testing and monitoring are carried out when appropriate. Here is a rundown of what’s been a very busy winter:

Black Sailors at Michilimackinac

In the late 18th century, a small number of sailing vessels crisscrossed the upper Great Lakes. Each vessel only required a few sailors to operate, with diverse crews that involved enslaved individuals.