Mount Pleasant Indian Industrial Boarding School, Native American school
Mount Pleasant Indian Industrial Boarding School is a historic site in Michigan now managed by the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe. The grounds contain surviving school buildings, a cemetery, and a traditional lodge used for gatherings and cultural events.
The school opened in 1893 as part of the United States government effort to assimilate Native American children through boarding school education. A fire destroyed the main building in 1899, and it was rebuilt with a time capsule. The school closed in 1934 and the property was transferred to the State of Michigan.
The site was a place where tribal traditions were actively suppressed and erased. Today, tribal members and community groups gather there for cultural events and healing ceremonies to honor the history and remember those who attended.
The site was returned to the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe in 2010 and is now open to visitors interested in learning about its history. Archaeologists continue fieldwork there to uncover and preserve evidence from its past.
A time capsule was buried by students and staff in 1899 after a fire destroyed the main building and was later rediscovered, offering direct insight into daily life at the school. This physical artifact preserves personal memories and experiences from that era.
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