Featured image above: The Opera House and & City Hall as it stood in 1903.
The historic Cheboygan Opera House, the Jewel of the North, is run by the Cheboygan Area Arts Council, a 501(c)(3) charity, and is supported in part by the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs and the National Endowment for the Arts.
History of the Opera House
The Opera House, originally constructed in 1877, played an important role in the history of the colorful lumbering era in Northern Michigan. Twice ravaged by fires and rebuilt in 1888 and 1903, the facility now harmoniously houses its original combination of City Hall, Police Department, Fire Department and the 582 seat Opera House. In 1984, after having been closed for some twenty years, the elegantly restored Opera House re-opened its doors to the public once more. Managed by the Cheboygan Area Arts Council, with the support of The Michigan Arts and Culture Council, this acoustically superb, Victorian theater has become the focal point for entertainment and the performing arts in the Straits of Mackinaw area and beyond.
Click here to read more about our history…
Mission Statement
The mission of the Cheboygan Area Arts Council is to promote and encourage cultural and educational activities within the Straits Area of Northern Michigan, and to provide services that stimulate and encourage participation and appreciation of the arts within all segments of the community; and to showcase the historic Cheboygan Opera House.
A.D.A. Accessibility Plan
Cheboygan Area Arts Council Accessibility Plan
2019 Annual Report
Strategic Plan
Link to Guidestar
Cheboygan Area Arts Council on Guidestar