July 25, 2007

Mackinaw City, Mich. - From 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Aug. 4 and 5, Mackinac State Historic Parks (MSHP) will host the Compagnie Franche de la Marine du Michilimackinac, or Michilimackinac Marines, encampment at Colonial Michilimackinac in Mackinaw City. Re-enactors from throughout Michigan and the Midwest will join the 18^th-century British troops already stationed at the reconstructed fort, a National Historic Landmark. Re-enactors will portray both French and British colonialists from the French and Indian War period.

Re-enactors at the fort's largest invitational encampment event will supplement daily events with demonstrations including military marching and drilling techniques, as well as period clothing presentations and equipment demonstrations.

Colonial Michilimackinac is a reconstructed French fur-trading village and military outpost. Attractions at the living history museum include on-site archaeology and interactive military and civilian life demonstrations from the British 1770s occupation and the American Revolution era.

All events are included with admission to Colonial Michilimackinac: $10 for adults, $6 for youth 6-17 and free for children 5 and under.

Mackinac State Historic Parks, a family of living history museums and nature parks in northern Michigan's Straits of Mackinac, is an agency within the Michigan Department of History, Arts and Libraries. Its sites - which are accredited by the American Association of Museums - include Fort Mackinac, Mackinac Island State Park and Historic Downtown on Mackinac Island, and Colonial Michilimackinac, Historic Mill Creek and Old Mackinac Point Lighthouse in Mackinaw City.  Visitor information is available at (231) 436-4100 or on the Web at www.MackinacParks.com.

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