In March of 1933, President Franklin Roosevelt formed the Civilian Conservation Corps (also referred to as the CCC), a government program created to protect the cultural and natural resources of the United States while also generating jobs for young men during the Great Depression. Members of the Civilian Conservation Corps reforested land, constructed buildings, and fought wildfires, among other duties. There was even a camp on Mackinac Island, where the contributions of the CCC remain visible today.
In Michigan alone there were 102,814 men who served in the CCC program over the course of its 9-year history, and throughout this time the Civilian Conservation Corps maintained state and national parks across the country. From 1933 to 1938, the CCC had a camp on Mackinac Island, where members worked on historic preservation of the buildings at Fort Mackinac and maintaining public land in the state park.
Within the museum collections of Mackinac State Historic Parks are many photographs that illustrate what life was like to serve as a member of the Mackinac Island Civilian Conservation Corps Camp. Captured by CCC member Lawrence A. Barnes, these images illustrate both daily life in the camp and the important work the Civilian Conservation Corps completed. Enrollees were provided with basic clothing and supplies in addition to their wages while living in the camp. Meals were also provided, as is shown in this photograph of CCC members receiving food on the parade grounds on Mackinac Island.
The work of the Civilian Conservation Corps enabled Mackinac Island State Park Commission to continue improving facilities throughout the Great Depression. Many parks across the nation continue to use buildings constructed by the CCC nearly 100 years ago. For example, the Scout Barracks located behind Fort Mackinac was built by the CCC in 1934. To this day, it continues to provide lodging for scout troops that visit and volunteer at Mackinac Island State Park each summer.
If you are interested in conducting research on the history of Mackinac Island and the Civilian Conservation Corps, appointments can be made by contacting Brian Jaeschke, Curator of Collections at Mackinac State Historic Parks, at [email protected].
Posted August 5, 2026
By Nova Lee, Collections Intern
