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GUIDE DUTY SPECIFICS 1

Mackinac Is land Honor Scouts

Training Manual

PART IV: Guide Duty Specifics


Avenue of Flags (FORT) BASIC KNOWLEDGE: The Avenue of Flags is the rear entrance to Fort Mackinac. It was built to accommodate visitors and is not an original entrance to the fort. All the flags at the Avenue represent a country or governing body that at some time in history owned or controlled Mackinac Island, except Canada.

WHERE YOU ARE:

The rear entrance to Fort Mackinac. Through Avenue of Flags.

WHAT YOU CAN SEE:

You can see down Avenue and onto the road that goes behind the Fort. You have a nice view of the Scout Barracks. You will see a lot of carriages go by.

YOUR POST:

Underneath the roof of the cashier’s booth.


What you need to know:

1. Time and location of rifle and cannon firings, guided tours, court martial, and slide shows. Refer to the daily event schedule for specific times.

2. Where visitors should begin their tour and where to direct visitors for special activities. (The slide show in the Post Commissary building by South Sally is the ideal place to begin a Fort visit)

3. How to get to: restrooms (down the stairs, across porch, turn left), Tea Room (down the stairs and across Parade Ground), drinking fountains (down the stairs, across Parade Ground, near the top of the steps at main entrance, also in the bathrooms).

4. Know something about the buildings and areas, and also the directions to get to these areas, just in case: Fort Holmes, Officer’s Wooden Quarters, Officer’s Stone Quarters, Soldier’s Barracks, Scout Barracks, Post Schoolhouse, North Blockhouse, Commanding Officer’s House, Arch Rock, the Grand Hotel.

What you have to do:

1. Introduce yourself to the cashier. 2. Greet Visitors 3. Inform visitors of upcoming events in the Fort. 4. If no demonstration is taking place, invite visitors to begin their tour at the Commissary

Building to view the slide show. 5. Stamp pre-purchased tickets and count on the clicker how many tickets you stamped.

Assist the guest services representative with a change run when requested. You will need to go get change from the State Park Office.


Kids Quarters (FORT)

BASIC KNOWLEDGE: This guide duty post, located inside the Officer’s Stone Quarters in the Fort, consists of four rooms: one in which children can dress in soldier’s uniforms and other nineteenth century clothing. The other rooms include a giant fife, a half scale cannon that kids can “fire” a replica blockhouse, Morse code keys, and an interactive video. This is the oldest building in the Fort, although very little of the original structure remains. It is the only building from the original British occupation of 1780 that is still standing.

WHERE YOU ARE:

Inside this building, the Officer’s Stone Quarters.

WHAT YOU CAN SEE:

You will see different rooms with activities for kids. You will be inside.


YOUR POST:

You may stand anywhere in the four rooms, or in the hallway. If no one is inside, you can stand on the porch outside the building. This scout is standing on the inside of the porch.


1. Time and locations of rifle and cannon firings, demonstrations, guided tours, and Court Martials. You should keep a daily schedule with you at all times.

2. How to get to the restrooms, Tea Room, Avenue of Flags, Grand Hotel, downtown, Sutler’s store, Upper Gun Platform.

3. Know something about the buildings/areas that can be seen from your post: North Sally Port, Soldier’s Barracks, South Sally Port, Post Headquarters, Post Bathhouse, Commanding Officer’s House, Officer’s Stone Quarters, Post Hospital.

What you need to do:

1. Become involved- take pictures, help the children dress up in clothes, explain the hands on displays.

2. Keep the room neat: hang up the clothes, pick up litter, etc. 3. Make sure that nothing leaves the Kid’s Quarters (clothes, props, etc.) 4. At the end of ‘C’ Duty, make sure the room is in perfect order 5. If there is no one inside, you may want to step onto the front porch and inform parents with

children of the display inside. If tourists are inside, you must be inside as well. 6. Inform families of other kid-friendly things to see: Post Schoolhouse, Hospital, Bathhouse,

Cannon and rifle firings


Foot of the Ramp (FORT, located DOWNTOWN)

BASIC KNOWLEDGE: This is the most used entrance to Fort Mackinac. The thick limestone walls date from the original British construction in 1780. The fort is located 150 feet above Marquette Park and the harbor. The steep climb and the gun platforms discouraged enemy attacks on the fort.

WHERE YOU ARE:

You are literally at the bottom of the ramp, across from the ticket booth.

WHAT YOU SEE:

You have a nice view of Fort Street from the bottom of Fort Hill to the Visitor’s Center. Across from you is Trinity Church and the American Fur Company/Beaumont.

YOUR POST:

On the ramp, opposite the ticket booth next to the US Flag.



1. Be able to tell visitors the ticket prices and what they will be able to see in the Fort. Make sure you know what times the activities are taking place.

2. Know something about the buildings/areas you can see from your post: Fort Mackinac, Governor’s Mansion, Bark Chapel, Visitor’s Center, kiosk ticket booth, Marquette Park, McGulpin House, American Fur Company store/Beaumont memorial.

3. Know how to get to the Grand Hotel (Turkey Hill Road to the top, turn left and go down to the Grand Hotel), Arch Rock (down the Hill to Main Street, turn left and follow the water past Mission Point), and all downtown houses.


1. Introduce yourself to the cashier. 2. Greet visitors and offer to take pictures for them. 3. If they do not already have tickets, they may purchase them from the Guest Services

Representative in the ticket booth. Click them in. 4. If visitors already have tickets, stamp them and click them in 5. Have a map handy. Many people after leaving the fort will want to know how to get to other

places 6. Complete change runs for the GSR in the ticket booth. You will take a smallbag to the state park

office. 7. Advise visitors in wheelchairs that there are 30 steps at the top of the ramp and suggest that they

use the entrance at Avenue of Flags. Heavy rain/lightning Position: Beaumont Museum (unless otherwise directed)

You will go to A guide duty with the Fort group, and will leave C guide duty with the Fort group.


North Sally Port (FORT)

BASIC KNOWLEDGE: The North Sally Port is the original rear entrance to Fort Mackinac. It was built by the Americans shortly after they first garrisoned the Fort in 1796. The wall is designed to resist heavy artillery fire. The name Sally Port comes from a French term that means “burst forth suddenly.” The sally port is a gate or passageway in a fortified place for use of troops making a Sortie (sortie- a sudden issuing of troops from a defensive position against the enemy). On July 17, 1812 American troops marched through this gate to surrender to the British.

WHERE YOU ARE:

The boardwalk between the Bathhouse and Public Restrooms.

WHAT YOU SEE:

The Post Bathhouse!

YOUR POST:

Boardwalk between the Post Bathhouse and the public restrooms



1. Times and locations of rifle and cannon firings, guided tours, court martials and slide shows. There is some type of demonstration ever half hour.

2. How to get to the restrooms, elevator, tea room, downtown/village, grand hotel, avenue of flags, exit, Fort Holmes


1. Ask visitors not to climb up and down the hills. Climbers will wear trails in the hills which cause erosion. Ask visitors to use the stairway next to the bathhouse.

2. Open and close the gate for tour groups accompanied by a state park employee. 3. Only visitors with disabilities or strollers may exit via the North Sally Port. All other visitors

must use the Avenue of Flags, South Sally Port, or Tea Room Stairs. If a visitor is noticeably fatigued and asks to exit here, it is ok to let them.

4. Admit no one through the gate except: state park employees, tour groups, horse drawn drays or service vehicles, handicapped visitors who have a Fort Mackinac Ticket.

5. Heavy rain/lightning position: Post Bathhouse


Parade Ground (FORT) – Upper and Lower BASIC KNOWLEDGE: For 115 years the fort’s soldiers marched and drilled on the Parade Ground. Today, costumed interpreters recreate an 1885 court-martial and rifle firings on the Parade Ground. The Parade Ground is an excellent place to point out to visitors the fort’s three strategically placed blockhouses, and the Fort’s unique fire prevention system. The Officer’s Stone Quarters is considered to be the oldest building in the state of Michigan. It is the only building in the fort dating from the original British occupation of 1780.

** Note: If troop has enough girls, there will be Upper and Lower Parade Ground posts. Upper Parade will have the same job but will stand near the sign located on the boardwalk at the top of the stairs.

WHERE YOU ARE:

Upper: Top of the Hill

Lower: Bottom of the Hill between the trash can and soldier’s barracks

WHAT YOU SEE:

You will overlook the entire Parade Ground.


YOUR POST:

Parade ground next to stairway of the Soldier’s Barracks west end facing the hill (Upper: near the sign by the Fort Main flag pole on the boardwalk above)


1. Times and locations of rifle and cannon firings, guided tours, court-martials, and slide shows. 2. How to get to the tea room, food cart, avenue of flags exit, downtown, restrooms, state park office 3. Know something about the buildings that can be seen from your post: officer’s hill quarters, post

schoolhouse, soldier’s barracks, officer’s stone quarters, officer’s wood quarters, post hospital


1. Keep people from running/walking on the hill. Ask them politely to use the stairs 2. Keep people of the hill during rifle firing demonstrations. Do not allow people to cross the parade

ground when they are about to shoot the rifles. 3. Inform people that the best seating for demonstrations is on the porch of the soldier’s barracks 4. Meet and talk with the visitors 5. Be available to answer questions about the fort and the island 6. Assist in keeping the parade ground free of litter 7. Our troop’s first aid kit is kept underneath the stairs. The scout on C guide duty should take it

with her when she leaves.

Heavy rain/lightning position: porch of soldier’s barracks


South Sally Port (FORT)

BASIC KNOWLEDGE: The South Sally Port is the main entrance to Fort Mackinac. The thick limestone wall dates from the original British construction in 1780. The South Sally Port is 150 feet above Marquette Park and the harbor. The steep climb and the gun platforms above it have discouraged enemy attacks on the fort’s front.

WHERE YOU ARE:

In the Fort, on the other side of this entrance!

WHAT YOU SEE:

Most of the Parade Ground and North Sally Port.

YOUR POST:

At the top of the stairway on either side of the stairs



1. Times and locations of rifle firings, cannon firings, guided tours, court=martials, and slide shows. Keep a schedule of events with you at all times of reference.

2. How to get to: Grand Hotel, state park office, downtown, downtown houses and Mackinac Art Museum, avenue of flags exit, restrooms, tea room, food cart, drinking fountain, butterfly house, wings of Mackinac

3. Know something about the things you can see from your post: commissary, soldier’s barracks/sutler’s store, gun platforms, guardhouse, parade ground


1. Greet visitors and welcome them to the fort. Answer any questions they may have. 2. Inform visitors of the upcoming demonstration or slide show 3. If no demonstrations are taking place, encourage visitors to begin their tour by viewing the video

presentation in the Post Commissary. The slide show is played every 20 minutes. 4. Keep area free of litter and enforce the no smoking rule 5. Assist visitors with up the stairs with strollers when needed.

Heavy rain/lightning position: porch of the guardhouse/jail


Upper Gun Platform (FORT) BASIC KNOWLEDGE: Fort Mackinac’s main batteries (cannons) were located on the upper and lower gun platforms. Reproductions of ½ pound cannons and 6 pound cannons guard the harbor below. From this strategic spot it is easy to see why the British chose the high bluff above the natural harbor as a logical place to build Fort Mackinac.

WHERE YOU ARE:

In the Fort, near the top of the ramp.

WHAT YOU SEE:

You can see some of the Parade Ground and you can also see Marquette Park, McGulpin, Beaumont, and some of downtown.


YOUR POST:

You stand on the platform on the other side of the chain. Keep visitor’s outside of the chain.

Where you stand: Upper Gun Platform


1. Time and location of rifle and cannon firings, guided tours, court-martials and slide shows. There is a demonstration every half hour; make sure you keep an event schedule with you at all times.

2. Know the equipment on the gun platform 3. Know something about the buildings/areas that can be seen from your post: east blockhouse,

Bois-Blanc island (pronounced “bob-lo” or “bwa-blanc”), round island, village of Mackinac Island, Marquette Park, old hospitale/surgeon’s quarters- now the state park offices.

4. Be able to give directions to the bathroom, elevator, sutler’s store and both fort exits


1. Keep visitors behind the rope while cannon firing demonstrations are going on 2. Keep ALL people off ALL walls and cliff. If you have any difficulties, contact the historic

interpreter on duty (solider) 3. Show visitors (point out) the downtown area and Straits of Mackinac. Know which end is the

Upper Peninsula, etc. 4. Pick up any aluminum foil that has scattered after the cannon firing demonstrations 5. Assist visitors by taking picture and helping lift strollers up the stairs, etc. 6. If it is raining or the wooden stairs are wet, stand toward the top of the stairway and encourage

visitors to sue caution- they can get very slippery 7. Strictly enforce the no smoking rule

Heavy rain/lightning position: Post Commissary


McGulpin House (DOWNTOWN) BASIC KNOWLEDGE: The McGulpin house is one of the oldest private residences in Michigan. Built in the late 1700s, the house is an excellent example of early French-Canadian architecture. Unlike “lincon log” style log cabins, the McGulpin house uses “dovetail” joints. (the logs are squared off or flattened on the sides and joined at the corners). The roof is a steep-pitched and has a large half-story attic. Cedar bark is used on the roof, which is typical of the French-Canadian style. Cedar was readily available and was effective at keeping out the rain. The McGulpin house was purchased by the Mackinac State Historic Parks in 1982 and moved from its original location behind St. Anne’s Catholic Church to its current location at the corner of Fort and Market streets. The building has been restored to its appearance in the 1820s when William McGulpin first bought the house. (See History section above to learn more about the McGulpins.)

WHERE YOU ARE:

On Fort Street, across from Marquette Park. Around the corner/across the street from Beaumont.

WHAT YOU SEE:

The Bark Chapel, Fort Mackinac, Marquette Park, the Art Museum, and part of downtown – Visitor’s Center.


YOUR POST:

Front porch/doorway. Stay near the entrance.

What you need to know: There is no interpreter working in this building, so you need to be very aware of the historical information in the above paragraph so you can answer all of the visitor’s questions.

1. Be able to identify some of the house’s architectural characteristics

2. Know when and where it was built and how long the McGulpins lived there 3. Be able to direct visitors to the locations of other historical buildings downtown. How to get to

the visitor’s center, kiosks, governor’s mansion, and Fort Mackinac


1. Honor scout should be positioned outside the door. As people near the doorway, ask if they have their tickets

2. If they have tickets, check the correct box on the back of the ticket an d use the clicker to keep track of how many people enter the building

3. If they don’t have tickets, direct them to kiosks in Marquette Park, where they can purchase tickets

4. Be prepared to answer questions and give directions to other locations 5. Record the number of visitors at the times designated on your clipboard 6. The building opens at 11am. The scout on ‘A’ guide duty will pick up trash in Marquette Park

until about 10:50.

Heavy rain/lightning position: just inside the doorway.


The Richard and Jane Manoogian Mackinac Art Museum at the Indian Dormitory (DOWNTOWN)

BASIC KNOWLEDGE: This is the Mackinac Island Historic Park’s newest exhibit which was opened to the public on July 14, 2010. It is housed in the Indian Dormitory, which was built in 1838 to house Native Americans who came to confer with the Indian agent (see above History section). It was later transformed into a school for Native American children. There is an elevator in the back of the building for people unable to use the steps. Photographs, decorative arts, paintings, and drawings are included in the museum.

WHERE YOU ARE:

Near the harbor… on Main Street.

WHAT YOU SEE:

The bridge, Round Island, the Arnold Ferry docks.

YOUR POST:

At the bottom of the steps to the entrance



1. Be able to inform visitors of the ticket price. Tickets can be purchased inside the building. It is a separate admission from the downtown buildings and Fort Mackinac.

2. How to get to the other downtown houses and the visitor’s center 3. Have a general idea of what is inside. Photographs, decorative arts, paintings, and drawings make

up the extent of the museum. 4. How to get to The Butterfly House, Fort Mackinac, and other nearby points of interest.


1. Introduce yourself to the Interpreter and GSR. 2. Greet visitors as they come to the entrance. 3. Inform visitors that tickets can be purchased inside the building. The building is open until

6:00pm but the last ticket will be sold at 5:30. Please inform visitors of this if they arrive after 5:30.

4. Some visitors may need to access the elevator, which is located up on the ramp to the side of the building.

5. This building opens at 10:00am. The scout on ‘A’ guide duty will assemble for duty with the Fort detail at 9:40am (not with the other downtown houses).

6. Before starting your duty, look through the building.

Heavy rain/lightning Position: on the porch at the top of the stairs.


Biddle House/Benjamin Blacksmith Shop (DOWNTOWN) BASIC KNOWLEDGE: Built in 178-, this is probably the oldest house on the Island. Only the Foundation is original. It represents an upper middle class home and shows daily life in the 1880s. (See the History section above for information on the Biddle family).

WHERE YOU ARE:

On Market Street, past the Post Office.

YOUR POST:

Front porch next to the doorway. Stay outside the building.

WHAT YOU SEE:

Cindy’s Riding Stable


\What you need to know:

1. Know about the Biddle family. See the above history section and do some independent research. 2. Be able to describe the building

a. When was it built? b. Why was it built? c. What was it used for? d. Who built it?

3. The blacksmith shop is in the backyard of the Biddle House. Visitors will visit the house first and then can go to the Blacksmith Shop.

4. Know how to get to the bathrooms (Post Office and turn right, or the Visitor’s Center), Med Center, Grand Hotel, Beaumont Memorial, Indian Dormitory, McGulpin House, Kiosks, and Visitor’s Center. Check out the map in your Guidebook, or make your own map.


1. The honor scout should be positioned just outside the front door. As people near the doorway, ask them if they have their tickets.

2. If they have their tickets, check off the proper box on the back of the ticket and click them in. 3. If they do not have tickets, direct them to the kiosks in Marquette Park where they can purchase

them. 4. At designated times, you will be asked to record the number of visitors on your clipboard. This is

a number that appears on the clicker. 5. Do not allow visitors to enter through the exit. 6. The building opens at 11am. The scout on ‘A’ guide duty will pick up trash in Marquette Park

until about 10:50.


American Fur Company Store and Beaumont Museum (DOWNTOWN)

BASIC KNOWLEDGE: The building is on the corner of Market and Fort Streets. John Jacob Astor located the headquarters of the American Fur Company on Mackinac Island. While in the store, Alexis St. Martin was shot in the stomach (1822). Because St. Martin’s wound never completely healed, medical history was made by Dr. Willaim Beaumont. He conducted experiments on St. Martin and discovered the process of human digestion.

WHERE YOU ARE:

The Corner of Fort Street and Market Street.

WHAT YOU SEE:

The McGulpin House

Down Market Street

Marquette Park/The Bark Chapel

YOUR POST:

Outside the doorway. Stay outside the building.


What you need to know: find out as much as you can from the interpreter working inside.

1. Be able to tell the story of Dr. Beaumont’s work with Alexis St. Martin and the significance of Dr. Beaumont’s experiment. Read the above history section and do research on your own to prepare).

2. Know the history of the American Fur Company. 3. Be able to direct visitors to the other historical buildings. 4. Bathrooms: Visitor’s Center down Fort Street, the white building on the corner. 5. Water Fountain: in the Visitor’s Center, or by the kiosks in Marquette Park.

Inside the house, the interpreter will tell them about the building. After people look around inside, they will exit by the front door.


1. Introduce yourself to the Interpreter at the beginning of your shift. 2. On your first day, take a few minutes to look inside your building so that if visitors ask you

questions you know what is inside. 3. The honor scout should be positioned just outside the front door. As people near the doorway, ask

them if they have their tickets. 4. If they have their tickets, check off the proper box on the back of the ticket and click them in. 5. If they do not have tickets, direct them to the kiosks in Marquette Park where they can purchase

them. 6. The building opens at 11:00am. The Scout on ‘A’ guide duty will pick up trash in Marquette Park

until about 10:50.

Heavy Rain/Lightning Position: inside the doorway.

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