Father Jacques Marquette, a French Jesuit missionary, established Michigan's earliest European settlements at Sault Ste. Marie and St. Ignace in 1668 and 1671 respectively. He lived among the Great Lakes Native Americans from 1666 to his death in 1675. During these nine years, Father Marquette mastered several native languages and helped Louis Jolliet map the Mississippi River.

Today, Father Marquette is recognized as one of the great explorers of the North American continent. On a rise overlooking the Straits of Mackinac, the Father Marquette National Memorial tells the story of that 17th-century missionary-explorer and the meeting of French and Native American cultures deep in the North American wilderness.

The Father Marquette Museum building was destroyed in a fire on March 9, 2000. Current attractions include the National Memorial (see photo), an outdoor interpretive trail, picnicking and a panoramic view of the Mackinac Bridge.

Father Marquette National Memorial is located in Straits State Park and is interpreted in cooperation with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources.

Go to:

• Father Marquette National Memorial visitor information
• Father Marquette National Memorial area information

For more information about Father Jacques Marquette, Michigan History magazine's Father Marquette's Journal offers the Jesuit's account of his 1673 to 1675 exploration of the Mississippi River.

Updated 03/11/2008

Michigan Historical Center, Department of History, Arts and Libraries
Use and Reproduction Information [PDF]
Contact us with your question or comment about this page.