Oct. 8, 2008

Mackinac Island, Mich. - Mackinac State Historic Parks (MSHP) has recently begun the development of an innovative art museum and learning center in the 1830s-era Indian Dormitory on Mackinac Island, due to open in the summer of 2010. The multi-phase project, which includes restoration of the historic building and installation of a micro-climate exhibit case system, has been generously funded by the Richard and Jane Manoogian Foundation. The museum will center around fine and decorative arts inspired by Mackinac Island through the ages, from Native American baskets to present-day paintings of the island by residents.

"This is a great project because it allows us to restore a significant building and exhibit a major part of our collection that currently has no public display venue," said MSHP Director Phil Porter. "This will provide an entirely new experience for our guests on Mackinac Island. The Park Commission is very grateful to the Richard and Jane Manoogian Foundation for its support of this important project."

The 1838 Indian Dormitory was built on Mackinac Island as part of improvements to the Mackinac Island United States Indian Agency called for in the 1836 Treaty of Washington, in which Indian nations of the Great Lakes deeded significant portions of Michigan's upper and lower peninsulas to the United States. The dormitory was constructed to house Native Americans who came to the island to receive payment as part of the provision. However, as the Native Americans visiting the agency continued to camp along the harbor, it was primarily used by Indian agents as an administrative building and as the residence of the dormitory keeper. After eight years, it no longer served this purpose and was eventually converted into a schoolhouse for island children. The front of the building was subsequently enlarged for that purpose, and it served as the Mackinac Island Public School for nearly 100 years.

During the early 1940s, the school building served as the Mackinac Island Summer School of Art. The program was part of an effort to establish a permanent summer art colony on the island. Artists taught courses, and the students' works were exhibited in the school. Although successful, the program was suspended during World War II and not revived.

In 1964 the seven-member Mackinac Island State Park Commission, the governing body of Mackinac State Historic Parks, purchased the property from the Mackinac Island Board of Education. In 1965-66 the commission completely restored the building to its 1838 appearance, including the removal of the later addition. Exhibits were installed, and it was opened each summer to the public from 1966 until 2002, at which time it was closed due to budget cutbacks. The building remained closed and has since fallen into disrepair.

A year ago, MSHP staff began outlining a proposal to convert the unused historic structure into an art museum, which will inspire creativity in others. The next stage of the project, which begins this fall, requires a major restoration of the building. This includes archaeology of the ground where an addition will be built to house an elevator and fire exit, asbestos abatement, replacing the roof and rotted windows, and foundation repairs. Drainage work and interior and exterior painting also will be completed. Deteriorated exhibits will be removed from the inside and the space prepared for the new art exhibition. A fire suppression system, security system and HVAC will be installed. Rooms will be refurbished, electrical systems upgraded and a new restroom added. At that point, the micro-climate exhibit case system will be installed to allow long-term exhibit items to remain in place throughout the year.

All three floors of the revitalized building will be fully utilized. The first floor will contain the permanent collection exhibit, with the second floor housing changing exhibits and work from contemporary Mackinac Island artists. This will allow exhibition of much of the parks' extensive historical fine and decorative arts collection, which is too large to be displayed at one time and so remains in storage.

"The theme of the art museum will be how Mackinac Island inspired artistic creation throughout history, beginning with Native American objects and including 18th, 19th and 20th century maps, paintings, drawings, ceramics, glassware, hand-tinted black-and-white photographs and other Mackinac Island art objects," Porter said. "The exhibition will also include works from modern-day artists whose narratives will explain how Mackinac Island inspired their artistic creation."

Plans for the ground level include an art learning studio. An art educator and a 500-square-foot learning studio will provide a hands-on art learning experience for visitors. The art educator will work with guests, allowing them to express their artistic talents. Guests will have the option of taking a MSHP-provided easel into Marquette park to paint lilacs, weave Native American-style baskets or create hand-tinted photographs as William Gardiner did in the early 20th century, among many other artistic projects.

"The art studio will be particularly enjoyable for children," said Porter. "After viewing the art in the upper levels, they will be inspired to create their own art. Visitors will see art from different eras and times and then express their own creations, and we'll provide the tools and the educator to do this."

The lower level will also include a catering kitchen for small receptions.

Mackinac State Historic Parks, a pure Michigan family of living history museums and parks in northern Michigan's Straits of Mackinac, is an agency within the Michigan Department of History, Arts and Libraries. Its sites - which are accredited by the American Association of Museums - include Fort Mackinac, Mackinac Island State Park and Historic Downtown on Mackinac Island, and Colonial Michilimackinac, Old Mackinac Point Lighthouse and Historic Mill Creek Discovery Park in Mackinaw City. Mackinac State Historic Parks is governed by the Mackinac Island State Park Commission, established in 1895 to protect, preserve and present the parks' rich historic and natural resources for the education and recreation of future generations. Visitor information is available at (231) 436-4100 or on the Web at www.MackinacParks.com.

Read more press releases from the Department of History, Arts and Libraries (HAL).