Discover Fort St. Joseph
Nestled along the St. Joseph River, Fort St. Joseph was once a vital hub of colonial life, where French settlers, soldiers, fur traders, and Native American groups coexisted. The Fort St. Joseph Archaeological Project is dedicated to unearthing this rich past, bringing over 25 years of research to life through excavations, artifacts, and public programming. Whether you’re a student looking for hands-on experience or a history enthusiast eager to explore, our project offers immersive opportunities to connect with the past.
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Field School
Our WMU Archaeological Field School is at the heart of our project, offering WMU students unique experiential learning opportunities. Students gain hands-on experience in excavation, artifact analysis, and public outreach, acquiring valuable skills for careers in archaeology, anthropology, education, and public history.
The next WMU Archaeological Field School will take place in Summer II 2025. If you have questions about the program or application process, please reach out to us at coas-iias-fsj@wmich.edu.
See what our staff and students are working on by connecting with us.
Summer Camp Program
Sponsored by Western Michigan University and the City of Niles, our unique Fort St. Joseph Archaeology Summer Camp Program invites you to step into the shoes of an archaeologist and explore the fascinating history of Fort St. Joseph, an 18th-century mission, garrison, and trading post.
Campers will dive into hands-on learning at the Niles District Library, where they’ll explore archaeology and the fort's rich history. Then, they'll head into the field, joining WMU archaeologists and field school students to excavate the site and analyze artifacts, bringing history to life, one discovery at a time.
2025 Summer Camps:
July 14-18 for Students entering grades 6-8
July 21-25 for Students entering grades 9-12
July 28-August 1 for Lifelong Learners and Educators
July 29-August 1 for Experienced Learners (must have completed camp program in past 5 years)
Community Outreach
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Dig In More
Fort St. Joseph in Pictures
Learn about the lives of those residing at Fort St. Joseph through photographs documenting a selection of the more than 300,000 artifacts recovered from the site.
Michigan State Preservation Office
The Fort St. Joseph Archaeology Project was featured on the October 2023 Michigan Archaeology Poster by the Michigan State Historic Preservation Office, which was further expanded with a special webpage "Bringing Fort St. Joseph to Life."
