page_title: Mission Point (Mackinac Island)
section_title: Mission Point Theater (1955)
hierarchical_section_title: Mission Point (Mackinac Island) / Mission Point development / Mission Point Theater (1955)
caption_attribution_description: English: The first modern building at Mission Point, in 1955 the Theater is situated between Mission House (left) and Faren Cottage (right).
context_page_description: Mission Point is located on the southeast side of Mackinac Island, Michigan. It is approximately 21 acres in size between Robinson's Folly and the jetty terminating near Franks Street. The Island has a history of documented European development beginning with French Jesuit missionaries landing at the point in 1634, less than two decades after the Pilgrims landed at Plymouth Rock on the East Coast of North America.
  Since that time, development at Mission Point has included a Mission House, summer house, several summer Victorian cottages, conference center for an international group, theater, film studio, college campus, and vacation resort. Mission Point looks out toward Round Island over the Straits of Mackinac, the principal waterway between Lake Michigan and Lake Huron. In the early 21st century, Mission Point has been developed as Mission Point Resort, a full-service facility including guest lodging, three restaurants, putting greens, a museum, and a theater.
context_section_description: Groundbreaking ceremonies at Mission Point were held by the MRA in October 1954, when 150-year-old Norway pine logs were cut and brought in from nearby Bois Blanc Island. Island resident Charles Francis was foreman of the construction crew. The logs were towed across the stormy waters of Lake Huron and floated onto the Mission Point shore before the straits froze for the winter. They were trimmed into 60-foot roof trusses for the Mission Point Theater. In addition, 45 tons of native stone were brought in by boat for building and fireplace construction. Other construction materials were stockpiled on the island. During the winter, supplies were carried across the ice by motor sled or horse-drawn sleigh, or flown to the island by four-seater plane and transported on a horse-drawn carriage to Mission Point. The work provided year-round employment for island residents and MRA volunteers. Initially a sturdy old barn (the Curry Barn) located between the Theater and Faren Cottage was attached to the east side of the Theater. The completed 14,696 ft²  Mission Point Theater seated 575 and was dedicated on June 4, 1955. In 1959, when plans were made to build a studio, the barn was put on wheels and relocated to the west side of the Theater. It was attached to the side of the stage and fly gallery, and integrated into the structure of the completed Theater.
  In 1965 MRA deeded the theater to Mackinac College, an institution legally independent of MRA and chartered by the Michigan Board of Education.  Professors and students at the college used the theater for drama and music classes and performances.
  When Mackinac College closed in 1970, TV evangelist Rex Humbard purchased the building. He incorporated it into his new, nondenominational Bible college. Subsequently, he began using the theater and other buildings as a vacation resort.
  In 1977 Humbard sold the property. The theater was part of the newly named Mackinac Hotel and Conference Center. In late 1987 the theater was sold to John Shufelt, and in 2014 to Dennert O. and Suzanne Ware. It is now used as the Center for the Arts at Mission Point Resort and operated by the Mackinac Arts Council. It screens mainstream movies from May through October, showing films every evening.
caption: The Mission Point Theater, designed by William Woollett of Los Angeles, and situated between Mission House (left) and Faren Cottage (right), opened in 1955.
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