August 19, 2004

Mackinac Island, Mich. - Approximately 70 costumed re-enactors from across Michigan will occupy Fort Mackinac the weekend of Sept. 13-14, joining forces with the regular Fort Mackinac staff to present military interactive programs from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.  Saturday and Sunday. The soldiers of the 16^th Michigan Infantry and 102^nd U.S. Colored Infantry will demonstrate marching drills, stage military skits and present 1860s period clothing.

"With upwards of 70 soldiers performing their military duties, Fort Mackinac really comes alive," said Mackinac State Historic Parks' Lead Interpreter Dennis Havlena.

Approximately 15 costumed re-enactors from the U.S. 102^nd Colored Infantry will travel from Detroit as guests of the 16^th Michigan Infantry to participate in the weekend's events. The group includes descendants of soldiers who served in the original unit that consisted of over 1600 African-American soldiers from across Michigan and Canada. All events are included with Fort Mackinac admission -  $9 for adults, $5.75 for youths 6-17, and free for children 5 and under.

The 16^th Michigan and 102^nd Colored infantries will post guards, drill and perform firing demonstrations for the public. The civilians will picnic and stroll the grounds, presenting first-person accounts of the civilians that may have visited the island during the Civil War.

Fort Mackinac is open daily from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. until October 10. The historic fort is a professionally restored 18^th- and 19^th-century British and U.S. military outpost with 14 original historic buildings, exhibits and live demonstrations including rifle and cannon firings, concerts of military music and court martial re-enactment.

Mackinac State Historic Parks is a family of living history museums and parks in northern Michigan's Straits of Mackinac region, and is an agency of the Michigan Department of History, Arts and Libraries. The sites include Fort Mackinac, Historic Downtown and Mackinac Island State Park on Mackinac Island, and Colonial Michilimackinac, Historic Mill Creek and Old Mackinac Point Lighthouse in Mackinaw City. The sites are accredited by the American Association of Museums. Visitor information is available on the Web at www.mackinacparks.com and by phone at (906) 847-3328 or (231) 436-4100.

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