Gchi Mshiikenh Deh Minising / Heart of Great Turtle Island Project Homepage
Where is the project site and what does the site include?
The project site is an 80-acre portion of Straits State Park in St. Ignace that includes the Father Marquette National Memorial. (The west side of the I-75 approach to the Mackinac Bridge)
Has the project been reviewed for compliance with the National Historic Preservation Act’s Section 106 regulations?
The project has been conditionally designated as having no adverse effects on cultural or natural resources.
Is there funding for proposed improvements?
A $3.6 million grant from the Mellon Foundation means we can move ahead with Phase 1. The grant, to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, is part of the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation’s Monuments Project—a commitment to give $500 million to transform the nation’s commemorative landscape through public ventures that more completely and accurately represent the multiplicity and complexity of American stories.
When will Phase I Improvements begin construction on site?
Under current plans Phase 1 construction will begin in early summer 2024 and be completed in 2025. More precise information will be available once the contract for the construction work is signed.
How much will the Phase 1 cost?
Phase 1, which includes exhibits and interpretive signage, commissioned and purchased art, support for marketing and project management, and first-year programming and evaluation is budgeted at $4.9 million.
What are the next steps?
DNR Parks and Recreation staff and the Department of Management and Budget will issue bid documents for the construction. The Michigan History Center and tribal partners are currently working on details of the interpretive plan. An art committee is being formed to guide the purchase and commissioning of art. In spring 2024 the state will bid contracts for project marketing, exhibit design and fabrication, and project management