Exhibits will open later in 2025 The largest building at Fort Mackinac, the Soldiers’ Barracks (1859) was home to the enlisted men. Originally most of the soldiers lived on the first floor and the large central room on the second floor was the post chapel. After Mackinac National Park was established and a second company of soldiers added in 1876, both floors were used for housing with the kitchens and mess halls in the back wing. An elevator in the rear of the Soldiers’ Barracks provides access between floors and the upper and lower sections of the fort.
Today the first floor of the Soldiers’ Barracks houses the fort’s largest exhibit Mackinac: An Island Famous in These Regions. This comprehensive exhibit presents the complete history of Makcinac Island. It tells the story of how Mackinac Island evolved through the centuries and focusing on the varioius people who helped Mackinac grow into a major tourist destination.
The second floor of the Barracks is home to two exhibits: A Desirable Station: Enlisted Soldiers at Fort Mackinac, and A Military History of Fort Mackinac. A Desirable Station interprets the lives and duties of the enlisted soldiers stationed at Fort Mackinac in the 1880s. A Military History covers the construction, conflicts, and changing fortunes of Fort Mackinac between 1779 and 1895.
The former post chapel on the second floor is now home to a theater with regular showings of The Heritage of Mackinac, which provides an overview history of Mackinac Island, as well as A Pride of Purpose: The Story of Mackinac National Park, discussing the creation and legacy of Mackinac National Park.
Restrooms, an elevator, and water fountain can also be found at the Soldiers’ Barracks.