The 1880s represent an interesting time in US Army history, as the “old army” of the Civil War was meeting the emerging “new army” more recognizable today. This can be seen in the men who served as officers at Fort Mackinac.
As the calendar flips to 2025, the Mackinac State Historic Parks team is hard at work protecting, preserving, and presenting the rich history of the Straits of Mackinac by creating new exhibits, galleries, and tours, improving visitor experiences, celebrating a major anniversary, expanding our collections area and library, and finishing major infrastructure improvements on Mackinac Island.
In 2023 we accessioned 643 objects into our collection. Let’s learn about some!
While the Hospital Corps only came into being toward the very end of Fort Mackinac’s time as an active military post, it demonstrates another way Fort Mackinac experienced the changing times of the army.
What can you expect in 2024? A lot! Read more:
Fort Mackinac benefits from having several items in our collection – a physical representation that our guests see daily that we can translate to the present day. Take hats worn by Fort Mackinac soldiers, for instance.
Mackinac State Historic Parks’ collection pieces together the past like a puzzle by linking artifacts to moments somewhere in time in order to write the story of the island for the enjoyment of generations to come.
We’re excited to introduce you to three of the hardest-working members of the Mackinac State Historic Parks team – Holiday, Dex, and Doug.
You’ve heard of the Battle of Mackinac Island, but have you heard of the Cattle of Mackinac Island? This is their story.
