Message from the Executive Director

It’s Happening!

For those of you who live locally or don’t go to warmer places in the winter, you may have already noticed the ACTION at the Straits Cultural Center! Construction has begun! A fence surrounds the front of the building, two large dumpsters have been delivered, and a Serenus Johnson construction trailer is in place along with the all important porty-potty! So many dedicated volunteer hours have been invested in the future of the St. Ignace downtown cultural center; it will become the anchor at the south end of State Street. Thank you to all who have helped get us to this point.

There is still financial work to be done to finish the Center. We are working on a variety of funding sources and all are important – individual gifts, corporate gifts, grants, federal and state dollars, fundraising events, foundations and planned gifts. Each dollar is important, and we need $2 million more to complete the project. Your donation is an investment in your local economy.

According to “Museum Facts: At A Glance,” a document produced by the American Alliance of Museums for Museums Advocacy Day 2024, museums are vital to the US and local economy. Pre-pandemic statistics show museums support 726,000 American jobs and contribute $50 billion annually to the US economy. The economic activity of museums generated more than $12 billion in tax revenue. 76% of US travelers (leisure) participate in cultural or heritage activities and these travelers spend 60% more money on average than other leisure travelers. More people visit art museums, science centers, historic houses or sites, zoos, or aquariums than attend professional sporting events!

There are so many reasons to support your local Historical Society besides those listed above! I will share more in future issues, but we are proud that when the SCC opens, we will be a vital component of our local economy and quality of life.

Molly Paquin, Executive Director