Father Marquette National Memorial

Father Marquette National Memorial pays tribute to the life and work of Jacques Marquette, French priest and explorer. The memorial is located in Straits State Park near St. Ignace, Michigan, where he founded a Jesuit mission in 1671 and was buried in 1678. The associated Father Marquette Museum building was destroyed in a fire on March 9, 2000.

Related Topics:
Jacques Marquette - French - Straits State Park - St. Ignace, Michigan - Jesuit - 1671 - 1678 - March 9 - 2000

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Marquette arrived in New France in 1666. Marquette established Michigan's earliest European settlements at Sault Ste. Marie and St. Ignace near Mackinac Island in 1668 and 1671. He lived among the Great Lakes Indians from 1666 to his death in 1675. During these nine years, Father Marquette mastered several native languages and joined Louis Jolliet in his expedition to explore and map a navigable route to the Pacific Ocean, which resulted in the French discovery of the Mississippi River.

Related Topics:
New France - 1666 - Michigan - Sault Ste. Marie - Mackinac Island - Great Lakes - Indians - Louis Jolliet - Pacific Ocean - Mississippi River

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The Marquette and Joliet expeditons explored the Fox River, the Mississippi River as far as Arkansas, the Illinois River, and the Chicago River. They did not procede to the mouth of the Mississippi due to hostility of the natives and fear of confronting Spanish colonials.

Related Topics:
Fox River - Arkansas - Illinois River - Chicago River - Spanish

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In October 1674, Marquette and two companions set out on a missionary expection. By the end of the year, he was inflicted with dysentary. He died while attempting to return to St. Ignace near Ludington, Michigan.

Related Topics:
Dysentary - Ludington, Michigan

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