What’s new at Mackinac State Historic Parks for 2021

Mackinac State Historic Parks

The Adventure Tour at Historic Mill Creek Discovery Park. Photo by Mackinac State Historic Parks, used with permission

MACKINAW CITY, MICH. -- Visitors to Mackinac State Historic Parks can expect some fun, fresh programming and updates for the 2021 season.

Mackinac State Historic Parks oversees several living history museums and nature parks located in Mackinaw City and on Mackinac Island, including historic Fort Mackinac and Colonial Michilimackinac.

Updates and programming additions include:

The Biddle House opening: This historic home once belonged to the early 19th-century merchants Edward Biddle and Agatha Biddle, an Anishnaabek woman. The home now houses the new Mackinac Island Native American Museum, which will officially open to the public May 1.

“We believe everyone will enjoy the reinvented Biddle House,” said Steve Brisson, MSHP director. “Working with the various tribal partners to tell the continuing story of the Anishnaabek people has been very rewarding, and we’re excited to have it open for the season.” More details can be found here

Fort Mackinac updates: Opening on May 1, this Mackinac Island landmark is updating its beloved Kids’ Quarters, allowing guests to experience how soldiers and civilians lived there in the 19th century.

“The Kids’ Quarters has consistently been one of our most popular exhibits,” Brisson said. “We’re happy to unveil this expanded and reimagined version to our guests.”

New programs at Fort Mackinac this season include “The Changing Face of Fort Mackinac,” “The Army of the 1880s,” a deeper look into Mackinac National Park, and others.

The fort’s Grand Hotel-operated Tea Room, which dishes up one of the most stunning views in the area, will feature new menu items for the 2021 season as well.

Special events at Fort Mackinac and Mackinac Island include the annual Vintage Base Ball game on July 24, special activities in honor of July 4, and Movies in the Fort throughout the summer.

As usual, the fort’s classic cannon and rifle firings will take place throughout the day, and guests can purchase the opportunity to fire the very first cannon salute of the day. More information here

Exhibition at the Richard and Jane Manoogian Mackinac Art Museum: This season the museum will host a new juried art exhibition, “The Seasons of Mackinac,” on display from May 1 through October 10. Additionally, seven artists-in-residence will stay on Mackinac Island throughout the summer, each offering a free workshop on the second Wednesday of their residency. More information here

New programming at Colonial Michilimackinac: Located in Mackinaw City, this fur-trading fort allows guests to experience how soldiers, civilians, and Native people lived and interacted in the 18th century.

A new program at Michilimackinac allows guests the opportunity to fire all four black-powder weapons at the fort, including muskets, a mortar and a cannon. Two additional new programs give guests the opportunity to get hands-on with history, from unpacking a trade bale to exploring an artilleryman’s arsenal. Other programs examine women’s roles at the fort, the enslaved community, the 5,500 square feet of gardens, and musket and artillery demonstrations.

2021 special events at Colonial Michilimackinac include the “Fire at Night” program, informative history talks, a celebration of the King’s Birth-day on June 4, Movies by the Bridge, Fort Fright, and A Colonial Christmas, among others. Open for the season on May 5. More information here

Old Mackinac Point Lighthouse reopening: Open for the season on May 6, this 1889-built lighthouse, home to the Straits of Mackinac Shipwreck Museum and other exhibits, will have all its galleries fully open for the 2021 season. More information here

Activities returning to Historic Mill Creek Discovery Park: Returning to operation for the 2021 season, this park’s Adventure Tour takes visitors into, above and through the northern Michigan forest, ending with a 425-foot “Eagle’s Flight” zip line. Other activities include historic tours and guided nature hikes through three miles of groomed hiking trails. Open for the season on May 7. More information here

Visit mackinacparks.com for a complete listing of updates and projects at Mackinac State Historic Parks.

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