Photo by Mackinaw City Area Chamber of Commerce

Heritage Village Celebrates Mackinaw's History

Mackinaw City’s Heritage Village lets visitors explore life in the Straits of Mackinac as it was years ago. Focusing on the era of 1880-1917, Heritage Village looks just as it would during these Northern Michigan decades–buildings, lawns, outhouses, costumes, history, and stories.

The Mackinaw City Historical Society manages the 43-acre Heritage Village and continues to add new buildings and exhibits. The Heritage Village is just west of downtown Mackinaw City.

Highlights of Heritage Village:

  • An 1880’s one-room school house from the nearby community of Freedom.
  • The Mackinaw City pest (pestilence) house from the same era as the school house.
  • The turn-of-the-century sawmill that cut the logs for the locks at Sault Ste. Marie.
  • A tar paper work shack.
  • A vintage base ball field where games are still played.
  • An artifacts building filled with pieces of history.
  • A community garden.
  • A community pavilion.
  • Modern outhouses.
  • An 1897 church from nearby Brutus.

School children from around Michigan come to Heritage Village in the spring and fall to learn about the history of the area. Volunteers and docents offer half and full day educational programs.

On the first weekend of August each year, the Mackinaw Area Historic Festival takes place at Heritage Village with vintage 1880’s base ball, live raptors, children’s games, Native-American displays, great food, and more.

For more information on Heritage Village:

Mackinaw Area Historical Society

1425 W Central Ave., Mackinaw City, MI, 49701

(812) 797-6000

mackinawhistory.org

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