July 24, 2008

Mackinaw City, Mich. - From 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on July 26-27, Mackinac State Historic Parks (MSHP) will host the Campeau's Company encampment at Colonial Michilimackinac in Mackinaw City. Re-enactors from throughout Michigan join the 18th-century British soldier interpreters already stationed at the reconstructed fort and fur-trading village. During Campeau Company's stay, both soldier and Colonial re-enactors will accurately portray many aspects of French colonial life.

"It's good to welcome them back," said Kate Arbogast, Michlimackinac interpretation supervisor. "They make great contributions to the interpretation of Colonial Michilimackinac." According to Arbogast, Campeau's Company, which as been visiting the 1770's fort and fur-trading village for nearly 15 years, has a different woodworking project each year. "This year they will be making small, square wooden supply boxes with rounded corners similar to the ones used by voyageurs in their canoes," she said.

The 50 Campeau's Company re-enactors will supplement daily events with cooking demonstrations, military drills, musket firings, woodworking and demonstrations on village life, including period clothing shows and craft demonstrations.

Colonial Michilimackinac will host several other re-enactor groups throughout August. From 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on August 1-3, the Compagnie Franche de la Marine Michlimackinac Encampment, also known as the Michilimackinac Marines, will join the interpreters already at the fort and fur-trading village. These re-enactors from throughout Michigan and the Midwest will portray both French and British colonists from the French and Indian War period. The Michilimackinac Marines are part of the fort's largest invitational encampment event, and will supplement daily events with demonstrations, including military marching and drilling techniques, as well as period clothing presentations and equipment demonstrations.

From 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on August 9-10, the fort will also host the Jaeger's Battalion of Roger's Rangers encampment. These re-enactors from throughout Michigan will portray a British military group from the Revolutionary War period. The Roger's Rangers military unit fought guerilla-style warfare away from the front lines, and demonstrations will showcase this unique military tactic. Colonial Michilimackinac is a reconstructed 18th-century French fur-trading village and military outpost. Attractions at the living history museum include on-site archaeology and interactive military and civilian life demonstrations from the British 1770s occupation and American Revolution era. Colonial Michilimackinc contains 13 authentically reconstructed buildings filled with exhibits, interactive displays and period furnishings.

All events are included with admission to Colonial Michilimackinac: $10 for adults, $6.25 for youth ages 5-17 and free for children 4 and under.

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.

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