The Mackinaw Area Historical Society (MAHS) began with a dream followed by a meeting on July 22, 1996, which was described in the minutes as "an informal meeting of people in Mackinaw City who are interested in starting a Historical Society." From that simple beginning, MAHS was born. The "Articles of Incorporation" were filed by August 21 of the same year. Shortly thereafter the Internal Revenue Service granted tax exempt status to the fledgling organization.

Our most treasured objective is to educate children through exciting interpretation, participation, and enthusiastic retelling of the history of that time. In a typical year hundreds of school children visit Heritage Village. We invite teachers to bring their students to our Village to "really see what Great Grandma Smith meant about no lights, no cars, no planes, no telephones when she was a girl." High school and college students, home for the summer, fall in love with base ball using 1870's rules when gentlemenliness was the standard and an umpire could simply ask, "Were you safe or out?" and a "ballist" (player) would respond honestly, much to the delight of the "cranks" (fans).

Mackinaw Area Historical Society
Street Address:
1425 West Central Avenue
Mackinaw City, MI 49701

Mailing Address: P. O. Box 999
Mackinaw City, MI 49701

Info provided by: www.mackinawhistory.org