Be inspired.  

This is Mackinac. 

Nowhere else does such a rare and exceptional collection of Mackinac-related art and photography come together to tell Mackinac’s story.

In complement to the natural beauty of Mackinac Island, The Richard & Jane Manoogian Mackinac Art Museum allows visitors to experience fine and decorative arts inspired by Mackinac through the ages.

One of the most diverse art museums in the region, the museum’s collection offers no shortage of beauty and history – from hand-beaded Native American garments and 17th and 18th-century maps of the Great Lakes, to one-of-a-kind pieces from the height of Mackinac Island’s Victorian era.

Original photographs from the mid-19th to the mid-20th century present the beauty of Mackinac as captured by the camera’s eye. Featured are the works of William H. Gardiner, including dozens of his famed early-twentieth century hand-tinted views.

The Richard & Jane Manoogian Mackinac Art Museum will open for the 2023 season May 12. 

Highlights

Exhibits

Fine and decorative arts related to Mackinac are presented in four long-term exhibits. The first floor main gallery contains works depicting views of Mackinac from the early 19^th to the late 20^th century. Two smaller galleries feature decorative and Native American Art. Mackinac photography from the permanent collection is featured on the second floor, as well as a gallery dedicated to Great Lakes maps. Audiovisual presentations provide deeper exploration of some of the prominent works.

Live Programs

Live programs take place at The Richard & Jane Manoogian Mackinac Art Museum every Tuesday-Saturday in the summer months.

11:30 a.m. Kids’ Time – Make a Craft!
Mackinac has inspired artists for generations – now it’s time to let it inspire your little one! An art attendant will present a craft centered around a daily theme – turtles, horses, boats, lilacs, history, and more. 

1:30 p.m. The Photography of William Gardiner
William Gardiner’s surviving collection of glass plate negatives give us tremendous insight into the artistry of photography and the tourism industry on Mackinac Island. Join an art attendant for an engaging program exploring the life and works of William Gardiner, a Mackinac Island-based photographer who worked on the island from 1896-1935, and took many of the iconic shots of Mackinac Island and Mackinac Island State Park in the early 2oth century that we recognize today. 

2:30 p.m. Gallery Tour
For centuries, artists have depicted Mackinac’s beauty and culture in a variety of mediums and styles, and that continues to this very day. Join an art attendant for a full gallery tour of The Richard & Jane Manoogian Mackinac Art Museum. Guests will learn the history of the building and its uses; explore the history of the Straits of Mackinac through art; view Native American art, including a piece that dates to 800-1000 A.D.; admire decorative arts created and inspired by Mackinac Island; enjoy photography from the island; study maps and see the evolution of how the Great Lakes area was portrayed; and finally move into the contemporary wing of the building and the juried art exhibition. 

3:30 p.m. Kids’ Time – Make a Craft!
Mackinac has inspired artists for generations – now it’s time to let it inspire your little one! An art attendant will present a craft centered around a daily theme – turtles, horses, boats, lilacs, history, and more. 

2023 Contemporary Art Show: A Mackinac Day

The theme for the 2023 juried art exhibition is A Mackinac Day. There’s always something special about being able to spend a day on Mackinac. The sun seems to shine a little brighter. The sky seems a little bluer. Even days where things don’t go to plan can seem perfect. Everybody has their “Mackinac Day.” We encourage artists working in all media to share with us their artistic visions of what A Mackinac Day means to them. Click here for more information.

Artist-in-Residence Program

Mackinac has inspired artists for generations. Here’s your chance to let it inspire you. Click here for more information.

Learn more about The Richard and Jane Manoogian Mackinac Art Museum: