Mackinac State Historic Parks prepares for spring season

Jillian Fellows, Cheboygan Daily Tribune
·3 min read
A rendering of the Milliken Nature Center at Arch Rock.
A rendering of the Milliken Nature Center at Arch Rock.

MACKINAW CITY — With spring on the horizon, the staff at Mackinac State Historic Parks are working to ensure that everything is ready for opening day at their buildings, parks, exhibits and more.

“We are excited to welcome visitors to experience our parks and numerous attractions,” said Steve Brisson, Mackinac State Historic Parks Director, in a press release. “We are hard at work and busy preparing to have everything ready for our spring openings.”

The largest project taking place is on Mackinac Island, where the Milliken Nature Center remains under construction.

More: Groundbreaking on new Milliken Nature Center set for Sept. 1

According to Mackinac State Historic Parks, the Milliken Nature Center was designed to accent the natural beauty of Arch Rock. It will feature the exhibit “Arch Rock: Unsurpassed in Nature’s Beauty” with dozens of historic images of Arch Rock as well as a timeline on how the arch was formed. In addition, the center will highlight geology on Mackinac Island from the formation of the island itself to how features such as Sugarloaf Rock and Skull Cave came to be.

Officials also said the center will include an interactive 3D map of the island and new modern restrooms.

“The Milliken Nature Center will be a welcome and fitting addition to Mackinac Island State Park,” Brisson said. “We look forward to welcoming guests this spring. We’re honored it will feature the name of Governor Milliken, who loved this island, and are appreciative of the support of Governor Whitmer, the state legislature and Mackinac Associates to see this project come to fruition.”

The ceremonial groundbreaking for the Milliken Nature Center took place on Sept. 1, 2023. The project is estimated to cost $7.5 million.

During construction, the upper viewing area of Arch Rock, known as the Arch Rock Plaza, is closed. It is estimated to remain closed through at least April.

The Milliken Nature Center is slated to officially open in May.

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A Colonial Michilimackinac sign is photographed in front of the Mackinac Bridge. People can visit the historic fort in Mackinaw City.
A Colonial Michilimackinac sign is photographed in front of the Mackinac Bridge. People can visit the historic fort in Mackinaw City.

Over in Mackinaw City, another project is underway with the first reconstruction at Colonial Michilimackinac since 2013.

Located on the east end of the Southwest Rowhouse, the building will host a new exhibit called “Slavery at the Straits” that combines archaeological and archival research to help present community life at Michilimackinac in the 1700s.

According to Mackinac State Historic Parks, slavery was an integral part of the community at Michilimackinac throughout the 17th and 18th centuries. Enslaved Black and Native American men and women worked in all levels of society, doing everything from domestic work to skilled labor.

“This new exhibit explores the lives of these enslaved individuals and how their experiences fit in with the larger story of Michilimackinac, allowing us to present a more complete vision of the site in the 18th century,” Brisson said.

An excavated fireplace from an original French house at Fort Michilimackinac in Mackinaw City. The fort is the site of the longest-running archaeological dig in North America.
An excavated fireplace from an original French house at Fort Michilimackinac in Mackinaw City. The fort is the site of the longest-running archaeological dig in North America.

The Mackinac State Historic Parks’ archaeology program will also be entering its 66th season in 2024. Work is expected to continue in House E of the Southeast Rowhouse at Colonial Michilimackinac. Archaeologists will be out daily, weather permitting, during the summer. Guests can view the most recent finds at the “Recent Excavations” display inside the Colonial Michilimackinac Visitor’s Center.

Find out more information about events, opening days and ongoing projects at mackinacparks.com.

— Contact Jillian Fellows at jfellows@petoskeynews.com.  

This article originally appeared on The Petoskey News-Review: Mackinac State Historic Parks prepares for spring season