Jacques Marquette

Whose bones are here, we think we know.
There is some disagreement though.
But it is still worth stopping here
If you have a chance, it's worth a go.

Father Marquette, 1637-1675, was a French Jesuit priest who founded the towns of Sault Ste. Marie and St. Ignace in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. He befriended Native Americans (whom we used to call Indians) and learned their languages.

He famously discovered, and mapped a portion of, the Mississippi River with explorer Louis Joliet. Statues of him abound and his name is well-known throughout Michigan, Wisconsin, and Illinois for his explorations. The Marquette name is applied to streets, towns, and a university.

The town of St. Ignace claims to have his bones buried here beneath what once was his chapel. His first burial site was located where he died on his way back to St. Ignace. But the bones were allegedly dug up and reburied here. Most sources believe Marquette's remains do in fact lie here but other sites claim to hold the true bones.

R.I.P. Father Marquette, wherever you are.

Burial Site This statue is facing the site.

P.S. The body of water behind the statue is Lake Huron and the land you can see is Mackinac Island.