• Historical Information
• Archaeology
• Museum Collections
• • Collections Management
  • Gifts and Donations
  • Archaeological Collection
  • Historical Collection
  • Archival Collection
  • Historic Photographs
• Museum Exhibits
• Researching Mackinac History
• Books & Museum Publications
• Museum Links

Brass Jesuit rings from Fort Michilimackinac.

Museum Collections

Mackinac State Historic Parks collects objects to preserve and interpret the history of the Straits of Mackinac and Upper Great Lakes. Major themes guiding our collecting activity include the military activity of the French, British, and Americans; the fur trade; missionary activity; Victorian tourism; and Great Lakes transportation. The objects collected include furnishings, textiles, artwork, decorative art objects, tools and equipment, personal items, archival material, and photographs. 

Our collections fall into two broad categories: archaeological objects and historical objects. The first group is made up of the objects excavated by MSHP at our historic sites. The historical material consists of original items donated to or purchased for the collection, including three-dimensional objects, archival material, and photographs. Further descriptions of these collections are provided in the Collections Sampler galleries below. 

Many of the items in the collection are exhibited at our sites, either in formal exhibits or as part of  recreated period settings. Objects are also obtained for research purposes. Information on using the collection for research can be found on the Researching Mackinac History page. 

The collecting activities of the Mackinac Island State Park Commission began in 1914 when a portion of the Fort Mackinac Officers’ Stone Quarters was set aside as a museum. Artifacts exhibited there documented early Mackinac and the Old Northwest. After World War I, the exhibits included objects documenting Michigan’s military history. Although collecting was sporadic, a cataloging program was introduced in 1937 and systematic collections management began after 1958 when professional museum staff were employed. The bulk of the historical collection has been gathered since that time and today includes nearly 20,000 objects. 

Collections Management

Gifts and Donations

Collections Sampler:

Archaeological Collection
Archival Collection
Historical Collection
Historic Photographs