Fort Mackinac Reading Room and School Reinterpretation

FAIN: ZPP-283396-22

Historic Mill Creek (Mackinaw City, MI 49701-8606)
Craig Wilson (Project Director: May 2021 to April 2025)

Reinterpretation of Fort Mackinac’s historic reading room and school building.

This project will reinterpret the original 1879 reading room and school building at Fort Mackinac to better represent its appearance in the 1880s, and create a new exhibit focused on the immigrant experience in the U.S. Army of the late 19th century, army reforms, and education at Fort Mackinac. Reading rooms and schools such as the one at Fort Mackinac were part of army-wide efforts to educate enlisted soldiers, nearly 50% of whom were immigrants in the post-Civil War era. At Fort Mackinac, soldiers from 22 countries served between 1867 and 1895. Using an updated 1880s period setting, interpretive panels, and digital elements allowing visitors to read original newspapers and periodicals, this project will interpret the education of Fort Mackinac’s soldiers, the reasons immigrants enlisted and how these soldiers fared once in the military, and how the U.S. Army reformed itself to better serve soldiers and the American public.

Media Coverage

Park's Fort Mackinac Reading Room (Media Coverage)
Publication: St. Ignace News
Date: 2/2/2022
Abstract: Article regarding receiving the grant

Fort Mackinac Opens New Exhibit (Media Coverage)
Author(s): Paige Hodder
Publication: St Ignace News
Date: 7/21/2022
Abstract: Article discusses the content of the exhibit and how it was put together
URL: http://https://www.stignacenews.com/articles/fort-mackinac-opens-new-exhibit-debuts-reading-room-this-summer/

From Schoolhouse to Reading Room (Media Coverage)
Author(s): Paige Hodder
Publication: Mackinac Island Town Crier
Date: 6/11/2022
Abstract: Describes the content of the new exhibit and the process of developing it
URL: http://https://www.mackinacislandnews.com/articles/from-schoolhouse-to-reading-room-fort-mackinac-opens-new-exhibit/

Associated Products