While Mackinac State Historic Parks’ sites remain closed for the winter season, history lovers can still experience the stories of the Straits from the comfort of home.
The next installment of the popular “History at Home” series will take place Wednesday, March 25 at 7 p.m. via Zoom. The virtual program will be led by Chief Curator Craig Wilson and will dive into a lesser-known but dramatic chapter of Mackinac’s past.
Image courtesy of Mackinac State Historic Parks
Titled “A Spirit of Dissention and Disobedience in the Troops: Military Mischief at Michilimackinac,” the presentation will explore events from the summer of 1780, when tensions among British soldiers stationed at Fort Michilimackinac reached a breaking point. Disputes over pay and mistreatment escalated into a collective refusal to follow orders, in other words, a mutiny.
Wilson will examine how the unrest extended far beyond the Straits, with repercussions felt in Detroit, Niagara, and even Quebec. The incident also had lasting consequences locally, disrupting plans to construct a more secure and strategically located fort on Mackinac Island.
Image courtesy of Mackinac State Historic Parks
The program connects these events to the broader upheaval of the American Revolution, offering insight into how global conflict shaped daily life in the Straits of Mackinac.
The cost to attend is $10, and advance registration is required. Participants will receive a Zoom link the day before the program.
The “History at Home” series is supported by Mackinac Associates, which helps fund many programs and projects at Mackinac State Historic Parks.
The MIFP Team
