| Events
DAILY INTERPRETIVE PROGRAMS
 Living History Program
Costumed interpreters act as members of the military garrison. Leave the present and join them in the year 1870!
June 17 - August 18
Future Historians
The Michigan Historical Center has Future Historians portray actual girls and boys that lived at Fort Wilkins. They perform daily chores, play historic games and talk to visitors about life at this remote outpost. Times vary each day.
July 12 - 14; July 25 - 27; August 2 - 4; August 16 - 18
2017 Summer Programs and Special Events (updated 2/26/17)
All 2017 events will require a State of Michigan Recreation Passport on all vehicles... More Info at www.michigan.gov
Sponsored by the Fort Wilkins Natural History Association and Fort Wilkins Historic State Park – DNR
Please note this year the Programs are in and around the park; watch carefully for times and locations.
All evening programs are held at the Fort Wilkins West Barracks, at 7:30 PM EDST (unless indicated otherwise) Weather Permitting.
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MAY |
5/29, Monday 10am
Memorial Day Program
Fort Wilkins Historic State Park will host a Memorial Day program on the Fort Wilkins parade grounds to commemorate U.S. soldiers who died while in the military service. The program will feature Students from the Copper Harbor School and a special Memorial Day address. Refreshments will be served following the program.
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JUNE |
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JULY |
7/4, Tuesday 2pm
Independance Day Program
Join our role players at 2:00 PM on the Fort Parade Grounds near the flag pole for the reading of the Declaration of Independence. |
7/10, Tuesday 7:30pm
Agate Walk
Come learn and look for agates with West Campground hosts, Shirley and Lee Jackson. |
7/12, Wednsday 7:30pm
From Flintlock to Cartridge – the Guns of Fort Wilkins
Learn mechanics, origins, and see firearms used at Fort Wilkins during the time of 1844 and 1870 with a presentation by Jim Billings, owner of Swede’s Gift Shop. |
7/13, Thursday 10:30pm
Astronomy in the Fort
Join Joel Kimball, Professor of Physics and Engineering, and Doug McIntosh, local amateur astronomer, on the Fort Parade Grounds at 10:30 PM to view the stars, planets, galaxies and more via high powered telescopes. Rain date Friday, July 14 at 10:30 PM.
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7/15, Saturday 7:30pm
Raptors and Mammals of the Upper Peninsula
Come explore the wildlife of Northern Michigan with Tim Burke. Mounts of Michigan’s birds of prey will be shown; owls, falcons, and hawks. Dissect an owl pellet and learn about the mammals of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula’s life history, what they eat and how they adapt to living up north. |
7/17, Monday 7:30pm
Archaeology at the Astor House and Range Light Keeper’s House
Explore the process of archaeology and the work conducted at the Astor House and Range Light Keeper’s house during the 2017 field season with James Schwaderer, from the Michigan Technological University’s archaeological dig. |
7/18, Tuesday 7:30pm
Archaeology at Fort Wilkins
Since the 1970s, several episodes of archaeology have been conducted at Fort Wilkins to support the interpretation and restoration of the Fort. Learn about the archeology at Fort Wilkins with an illustrated presentation by Patrick Martin, retired Michigan Technological University Professor of Archaeology. |
7/19, Wednsday 7:30pm
Four Immigrant Stories
Join Pastor Robert Langseth and listen to four immigrant stories: the 1872 Honey Mooners Tornio Finland, the 1910 Teenager Seeks American Gold, 1916 Fleeing the Russians, and the 1867 Great Grandpa Long Yarn. |
7/20, Thursday 7:30pm
Exploring the Keweenaw; Let Geo-Heritage Be Your Guide
Join Tom Wright, lead guide and Facilities Supervisor from the Quincy Mine in Hancock, for a presentation on the Keweenaw. Learn more about what makes the Keweenaw such a unique place geologically, historically, and culturally, along with the Copper Country’s contribution to our nation’s development. |
7/21, Friday 10:30pm
Astronomy in the Fort
Join Joel Kimball, Professor of Physics and Engineering, and Doug McIntosh, local amateur astronomer, on the Fort Parade Grounds at 10:30 PM to view the stars, planets, galaxies and more via high powered telescopes. Rain date Saturday, July 22 at 10:30 PM. |
7/24, Monday 7:30pm
Bats – Creatures of the Night
Join Shirley and Lee Jackson, West Campground hosts, in learning about bats and how to build a bat house. |
7/25, Tuesday 7:30pm
1900 Lives
Larry Lankton, retired Michigan Tech Professor of History and author of Beyond the Boundaries and Cradle to Grave, will speak about the human cost of mining copper during the 1900s. |
7/26, Wednsday 7:30pm
Life of a Copper Miner
Join Larry Molloy, Keweenaw County Historical President and author, to answer the question “What exactly did a miner do underground?” |
SPECIAL EVENT
7/28 Friday, through 7/30 Sunday
33rd Annual Battery D – Civil War Encampment
Battery D, 1st Michigan Light Artillery, a Civil War era living history
group returns to Fort Wilkins for its 33rd annual weekend encampment. The weekend event will be open to park visitors Friday and Saturday from 8 AM to 8 PM and Sunday from 8 AM to 4 PM. Battery D will interpret army life of the period, demonstrating artillery and small arms drills, period cooking and soldiers’ pastimes.
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AUGUST |
8/2, Wednsday 7:30pm
Firearms of the Copper Rush
Join Jim Billings, owner of Swede’s Gift Shop, to learn more about the firearms and knives used in Michigan during the Copper Rush. |
8/3, Thursday 7:30pm
Exploring the Keweenaw; Let Geo-Heritage Be Your Guide
Join Tom Wright, lead guide and Facilities Supervisor from the Quincy Mine in Hancock, for a presentation on the Keweenaw. Learn more about what makes the Keweenaw such a unique place geologically, historically, and culturally, along with the Copper Country’s contribution to our nation’s development. |
8/4, Friday 10:30pm
Astronomy in the Fort
Join Joel Kimball, Professor of Physics and Engineering, and Doug McIntosh, local amateur astronomer, on the Fort Parade Grounds at 10:30 PM to view the stars, planets, galaxies and more via high powered telescopes. Rain date Saturday, August 5th at 10:30 PM. |
8/5, Saturday 8:45am - 3pm
Copperman Triathlon and Duathlon
A 6k run, a 23-mile bike ride and a 5-mile run. The bike route and the 5-mile run will be the same as the Triathlon bike and run. This event begins at 8:45 AM at the Fort Wilkins boating access site with the 6k run starting things off. Then the Triathlon ½-mile swim will begin at 9:00 AM. Participants will swim tranquil Lake Fanny Hooe, bike along the shores of Lake Superior and run through the wilderness on shady paths. The swim is ½-mile (cap mandatory and provided), bike 23 miles (helmet mandatory – bring your own), and run 5-miles. Visitors may observe all stages of the event from the Fort Wilkins boating access site. Register at https://aspiruscopperman.wordpress.com or phone Crystal Holzberger at (906) 337-7000 for more information. Participants must pre-register. Registration is limited to 195 individuals and 50 teams. All registrations are final. No refunds. Entry Fees: Individuals: $80.00 Teams: $180.00 (pricing is the same for the Triathlon and Duathlon). Sponsored by the Aspirus Keweenaw Hospital.
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8/8, Tuesday 7:30pm
Wait… did you say that the Keweenaw is a billion years old?
Join Geologist and Geo-Heritage Specialist, Erika Vye, as she discusses the geological process that formed the Keweenaw over the past billion years. |
8/10, Thursday 7:30pm
What’s Going on With Our Weather?
Matt Zika, a meteorologist from the National Weather Service, will look back at what’s going on with the weather in our area. |
8/12, Saturday 8:00pm
Meteors and S’mores
Come enjoy s’mores and a campfire at the Picnic Shelter near the Fort parking lot at 8 PM. Then join special guest Joel Kimball and Doug McIntosh on the Fort Parade grounds at 10 PM for stargazing and meteor watching. Bring a blanket or chair to sit on and some bug spray! In the event of rain, date will be moved to Sunday, August 13 at the same times. |
8/14, Monday 7:30pm
Archaeology at the Astor House and Range Light Keeper’s House
Explore the process of archaeology and the work conducted at the Astor House and Range Light Keeper’s house during the 2017 field season with James Schwaderer, from the Michigan Technological University’s archaeological dig. |
8/15, Tuesday 7:30pm
Local Rocks to Jewelry
Join Don and Bonnie Reed, jewelry makers and creators of Snob Appeal Jewelry, in the showing of how they turn local rocks and minerals, such as agates that are found in rock piles or on the beach, into beautiful jewelry. |
8/16, Wednsday 7:30pm
Wait… did you say that the Keweenaw is a billion years old?
Join Geologist and Geo-Heritage Specialist, Erika Vye, as she discusses the geological process that formed the Keweenaw over the past billion years. |
8/17, Thursday 7:30pm
Step into the Woods
Take a nature walk with Naomi Haycock, West Campground Host, as she points out our local berries and interesting plants. Walk will begin at the camp host site 120 in the West Campground. |
8/18, Friday 7:30pm
Wander and Wonder Fort Wilkins
Have you been wondering what flowers are blooming around the park? What animals are chipping, singing, or hooting all around you? Join Naturalist Dorothy McLeer from the University of Michigan-Dearborn and get to know your plant and animal neighbors as we look up, down, and all around on this serendipitous stroll when the day shift gives way to the night. If you have binoculars, please bring them! We’ll begin and end our walk at the Lighthouse Overlook across the road from the Fort. In the event of rain, Dorothy will present an indoor program in the West Barracks. |
SEPTEMBER |
9/9, Saturday 9am
11th Annual Geocaching at Fort Wilkins
Registration is at 9:00 AM at the Picnic Shelter near the Fort parking lot,
where you can pick up a Geocaching list. Following the event there will be a bonfire and a hot dog luncheon at the Picnic Shelter at 2:30 PM. For more information telephone Fort Wilkins State Park at (906) 289-4215.
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