A Must See Mackinac Island Museum

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Surrounded by natural beauty, Mackinac Island is a work of art, sculpted and painted from the hands of Mother Nature. Mackinacs newest, and one of the most diverse art museums in the region, the Richard and Jane Manoogian Mackinac Art Museum, tells the story of this timeless and picturesque island.

Located at Mackinac Islands former Indian Dormitory, and generously funded by the Richard and Jane Manoogian Foundation, the museum showcases a variety of fine and decorative arts inspired by the Island throughout the years. The dormitory is a Federal-style structure built by the U.S. government in 1838. It was the primary housing facility for Native Americans visiting the Indian agency on the island. From 1867 until 1960, it was used as a public school and from 1966 until 2003 as a museum of Native American culture. On July 2, 2010, it opened as the Richard and Jane Manoogian Mackinac Art Museum, operated by Mackinac State Historic Parks. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

View a historic pottery rim fragment excavated near the museum, and marvel at the many historic oil paintings and sketches of Mackinac Island created during the fur trade era and

Native American encampments. Admire hand-beaded Native American garments, 17th and 18th-century maps of the Great Lakes, as well as one-of-a-kind pieces from the height of Mackinac Islands Victorian era.

Filled with interactive displays, hands-on activities, and beautiful exhibitions, this museum serves as an inspiration for creativity. The Kids Art Studio, located in the lower level, offers hands-on drawing, painting, stamping, window art and much more.

For additional information to help you complete your Island getaway, visit the Mackinac Island Tourism Bureau.