Where Father Marquette's Remains Rest
This past summer, while researching some novels, I had the privilege of staying in St. Ignace, Michigan, which is not far from where I grew up. Situated in the Eastern Upper Peninsula of Michigan, St. Ignace sits partially on Lake Michigan and also Lake Huron, with a beautiful bay in downtown. Michiganders know it as the place they first arrive (unless they've made a stop on Mackinac Island) in the Upper Peninsula. The Mackinac Bridge spans the gorgeous water here between the Lower and Upper Peninsulas.
Situated in downtown St. Ignace, is the Museum of Ojibawa Culture. This is a great place to visit when you are in the U.P. I am ashamed to admit that I did not know that this famed priest's remains are at this location, with a lovely monument to the Jesuit priest.
The St. Ignace Mission, established by Father Marquette in 1671, ministered to the Native Americans in the area. This is a beautiful area on the shores of Lake Huron and Father Marquette requested that when he died, he wished for his remains to be returned to area. I can't say I blame him. When Father Marquette died, at a relatively young age only 37 years old, he was quite a ways from St. Ignace. His body was buried but later disinterred and brought back to the place he requested to be buried.
If you get a chance, on your next visit to Michigan's beautiful Upper Peninsula, stop by the Museum of Ojibwa Culture and also visit Father Marquette's burial site, adjacent to the left of the structure in a beautiful little park.
Question: Do you visit burial sites other than for immediate family? What has been the most touching site you've ever visited?
We do visit other cemeteries. One of the more famous ones we have visited has been the Hollywood cemetery in Richmond. As you know, it has a couple of presidents buried in it. We do have a personal connection to the cemetery. My husband’s great great great grandfather from a past war is buried there. They recently recognized/found his grave and put up a marker there.
ReplyDeleteVery interesting Carrie. I have not visited burial sites that do not have family members there.
ReplyDeleteBlessings, Tina