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Discover Mackinac History

Home » Discover Mackinac History » Museum Exhibits » Colonial Michilimackinac Interpretation

The exhibit is located in the reconstructed Soldiers' Barracks of Fort Michilimackinac. The barracks is the building behind the British ensign.

Redcoats on the Frontier

The Soldiers' Barracks reconstruction houses a permanent exhibit which features artifacts from British Military life at the fort and inside the barracks. The barracks is an accurate reconstruction provided by scientific archaeological excavations performed at the site in the early 1960's.

The permanent exhibit was partially funded by Mackinac Associates and the American Automobile Association of Michigan.

Various exhibit cases with artifacts in the barracks.

Artifact Exhibits

The barracks has numerous exhibit cases with archaeological artifacts found at the site and period artifacts interpreting barracks life of the British Military.

A winter period setting with two British Soldiers trying to keep warm.

Period Settings

Period settings help interpret areas of the barracks and the lifestyle of the British Military in different seasons.

An audio visual program depicting winter conditions at Michilimackinac.

Audio Visual Programs

Linked with the winter period setting is an audio visual program which shows what conditions are like at Fort Michilimackinac during the winter season. A season park visitors can't experience since the parks are closed for the season.

A mess room for the British Soldiers. In the foreground is an exhibit cube with archaeological artifacts from the barracks excavation.

Period Setting And Archaeological Artifacts

Another period setting depicts a mess room for British Soldiers in the barracks and archaeological artifacts found at the site showing what types of ceramics and glassware that the soldiers used.

A young visitor explores the Discovery Room of the barracks.

Discovery Room

A room at the end of the barrack's exhibit poses questions and gives some answers with interactive activities for our younger visitors to imagine what British Military life would be like for them if they enlisted.

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