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Events & Lecture Series

2026 Schedule

  • Mackinaw Bridge at Sunset

    January Lecture Series | Building of the Mackinac Bridge

    Jan 12 7:00-8:00PM | MAPL

    Join us guest lecturer and MAHS board member Roy Cole as he shares with us the history of the building of the bridge. This event is free and open to the public.

    Speaker: Roy Cole

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  • A woman dressed in historical colonial attire with a bonnet, standing in a lush garden with flowering plants, in front of a wooden and stone wall.

    February Lecture Series | Historic Costume Interpretation

    Feb 9 7:00-8:00PM | MAPL

    Guest lecturer and MAHS board member LeeAnn Ewer provides insight into costume interpretation at a historic site. This event is free and open to the public.

    Speaker: LeeAnn Ewer

    Learn More
  • Mackinaw Women's Club Blue Building

    April Lecture Series | History of the Mackinaw Area Women's Club

    Apr 13 7:00-8:00PM | MAPL

    Come learn from board member and guest lecturer Donna Falor as she shares with us the background and impact of the Mackinaw Area Women’s Club. This event is free and open to the public.

    Speaker: Donna Falor

    Coming Soon
  • A woman observing with binoculars at a scenic outdoor location with a body of water in the distance, surrounded by trees and grassy area, with a telescope on a tripod nearby, and a picnic table with various outdoor gear and notebooks.

    May Lecture Series | The Annual Raptor Watch

    May 11 7:00-8:00PM | MAPL

    Join us for our popular lecture series- This lecture explores the fascinating topic—of the Raptor watch when the birds and watchers alike descend upon Mackinaw City. This event is free and open to the public.

    Speaker: TBD

    Coming Soon
  • Sign for Mackinaw City Bible Church with landscaping and bushes in the foreground

    June Lecture Series | History of the Mackinaw Bible Church

    June 8 7:00-8:00PM | MAPL

    In this session our host, Reid Nelson, explores the history of the Mackinaw Bible Church from it’s building, the congregation to the impact on the community. This event is free and open to the public.

    Speaker: Reid Nelson

    Coming Soon
  • A family of four outdoors, with a woman and a man sitting together, and two young children in front. They are all smiling and appear happy.

    July Lecture Series | A History of the Mackinaw Fudgies

    July 13 7:00-8:00PM | MAPL

    Mackinaw has long been a top US tourist spot bring generations of families to the area. Join Meghan Flynn, MAHS Board member, as she explores one families fudgie history.

    Speaker: Meghan Flynn

    Coming Soon
  • People holding colorful ribbons attached to a pole in an outdoor setting with green trees.

    Annual Historic Festival at Heritage Village

    July 25 10:00am-2:00PM

    Step back in time to the years 1880–1917 at Heritage Village’s annual Historic Festival. This free, family‑friendly event sprawls across 43 acres of woodland trails and vintage buildings, where costumed docents reenact daily life on the North Woods frontier.

    Coming Soon
  • pedestrians walking along a storefront-lined street in a small town under clear blue skies, with colorful buildings, hanging flower baskets, and outdoor decor.

    August Lecture Series | An Exploration of Tourism in Mackinaw

    Aug 12 7:00-8:00PM | MAPL

    Join MAHS board member and author, Frank Boles, in an exploration of the history of tourism in Mackinaw City and it’s impact on the area.

    Speaker: Frank Boles

    Coming Soon
  • Sunset over the ocean viewed from a sandy beach with grass and plants in the foreground, and a cloudy sky.

    MAHS 30th Anniversary Celebration

    Aug 22 6:00-8:00PM | Pavilion

    Details coming soon!

    Coming Soon
  • A historic fort site featuring a wooden building with a shingled roof, an American flag flying on a flagpole, a grassy area with picnic tables, and a view of the Mackinac bridge over water in the background.

    September Lecture Series | About Fort Michlimackinac

    Sept 14 7:00-8:00PM | MAPL

    Come learn about this iconic historical destination. Speaker, Brian Jaeschke, will share interesting facts and stories about this 18th century military installment located on the Straits.

    Speaker: Brian Jaeschke

    Coming Soon
  • A two-story brick building with a sign reading 'Deer Head Inn' on the front, featuring striped awnings over windows, a front porch with hanging plants, an American flag, and well-maintained lawn and landscaping.

    Annual Meeting & History of the Deer Head Inn

    Oct 12 6:00-8:00PM | MAPL

    Visitors are welcome to join our annual MAHS meeting to learn about our plans for the upcoming year. Stay afterward for the September lecture series featuring the Deer Head Inn.

    Speaker: Nancy Dean

    Coming Soon
Mackinaw Area Public Library building with trees in the background.

The Lecture Venue: Mackinaw Area Public Library (MAPL)

Our lecture series is brought to you free of charge, thanks in part to, the Mackinaw Area Public Library (MAPL).

MAPL Address: 117 S Main St, Mackinaw, IL 61755, United States

Lectures are hosted in the back room; accessed after hours through the rear entrance. Questions? Contact Us.

Missed An Event ?

All the Mackinaw Area History, all whenever is convenient for you. Our YouTube Channel allows you to time travel back and attend events you missed. Happy viewing!

Explore Our YouTube
Close-up of blackened wooden planks reinforced with gray metal brackets and bolts.

Attend Virtually

Interested in attending the lecture series but can’t get there in person? No, problem. We might be a historical society but we’ve embraced the digital age. Join us on Zoom.

Meeting ID: 319 998 8836

Passcode: history (lower case)

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