In an effort to "put Americans back to work" during the Great Depression, the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) enrolled more than 100,000 young Michigan men to perform a variety of conservation and reforestation projects. Between 1933 and 1942, the Michigan CCC planted 484 million trees, spent 140,000 days fighting forest fires and constructed 7,000 miles of truck trails, 504 bridges and 222 buildings. Their accomplishments also revitalized the Michigan state park system, helping to establish Isle Royale National Park and improve campgrounds in Michigan's national forests.
With the U.S. entry into World War II, the CCC was discontinued. CCC alumni donated to the museum many of the photographs and artifacts depicting their day-to-day life and accomplishments.
Read more about the CCC in Michigan in "Roosevelt's Tree Army: Michigan's Civilian Conservation Corps."
The CCC Museum is located in North Higgins Lake State Park and interpreted in cooperation with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources.
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Updated 05/04/2006
Michigan
Historical Center, Department of History, Arts and Libraries
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