Fund a Need
Help Us Fulfill Our Wishlist
If you enjoy the programs at Mackinac State Historic Parks and want to make a contribution to sponsor a specific item, a wish list of needed items requested by staff is shown below. Items on this list range between $50 and $300 and represent items we can always use more of. Your gift will fulfill a tangible and essential need. To sponsor an item, please contact Mackinac Associates. All donations to sponsor wish list items will be recognized in Curiosities.
Please contact 231-436-4100 or membership@mackinacassociates.com for information on how to sponsor an item on the wish list.
Garden and Chicken Items and Supplies
Garden items that are needed every year include quantities of twine, plants, and seeds. We would also like to continue adding glass bell jars (cloches), as well as other gardening tools such as historically appropriate watering cans and rakes. Our flock of hard-working Dominique chickens can always use food, treats, and enrichment items for their henhouse and run.
Equipment
Needs in this area are quite varied. They include blacksmith and carpenter tools and rifle and musket parts. Cooking equipment, such as historically appropriate bowls, pots and storage containers are also needed for the kitchens and food programs. Behind the scenes we are hoping to upgrade our food storage containers for bulk supplies.
Flower Baskets and Marquette Park Garden Maintenance
Mackinac State Historic Parks purchases and maintains the flower baskets surrounding Marquette Park along Main and Fort streets. Marquette Park also includes the entry garden at the main sign at the corner of Main and Fort Streets, the Peace Garden, and several other garden beds. Help us maintain these gardens and baskets at the level worthy of Mackinac Island.
Clothing and Accessories
We are fortunate to have some wonderful craftspeople who produce much of our clothing in-house, but that means we are always in need of period-appropriate fabric, notions, and sewing tools. Some other items are purchased from outside vendors, but with daily use in our public programs, eventually all of the interpretive clothing and accessories need to be replaced. These items may include pieces such as linen and flannel shirts, shoes, corsets, stays, and caps.
Publications for the Library
Keith Widder Library at the Petersen Center in Mackinaw City maintains a library of books, research files, photos, maps and microfilm on Mackinac history. The library and its materials are available for research by appointment. There are always print publications we are looking to add to the library. The donor’s name is inscribed on a bookplate of each title sponsored.
Black Powder and Reloading Materials Purchase
From the first cannon salute of the day to the many rifle, musket and artillery firing demonstrations at Fort Mackinac and Colonial Michilimackinac, Mackinac State Historic Parks uses about 350 pounds of black powder annually. Most of the ammunition is filled inhouse each winter in preparation for some of the most popular attractions with our guests. Mackinac Associates helps support the cost of this each year, as well as purchasing new primers for the cannon at Fort Mackinac. If you’ve enjoyed the cannon and rifle demonstrations during your visit, please consider supporting this program.
