Originally built in the 1740s, the powder magazine was one of Michilimackinac’s most important buildings. French builders constructed the magazine partially underground in an attempt to minimize damage to the surrounding community in the event of an explosion. Capable of storing tons of gunpowder, the magazine was privately owned during the French period. The British took control of the magazine and made several improvements, including the addition of a plank floor, after they arrived in 1761. Since the underground structure was impossible to move to Mackinac Island, British troops purposefully burned the empty magazine in 1781.
Archaeologists excavated the magazine in 1974-75. They discovered that during the fire, the earth-covered roof had collapsed, smothering the flames and preserving large portions of the wooden structure of the magazine.
Today, the Powder Magazine is the most preserved ruins at Michilimackinac. It is located down a flight of stairs from the South Southeast Rowhouse. An accessible version of this exhibit is available inside the South Southeast Rowhouse.
