Mackinaw City in Emmet County, Michigan — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Michigan's First Jewish Settler
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, July 30, 2017
1. Michigan's First Jewish Settler Marker
Ezekiel Solomon, a native of Berlin, Germany, who had served with the British army, arrived at Michilimackinac in the summer of 1761. He is Michigans first known resident of the Jewish faith. Solomon was one of the most active Mackinac fur traders until his death about 1808. He was one of those who narrowly escaped death in the massacre of 1763. During the Revolutionary War, he and other hard-pressed traders pooled their resources to form a general store. In 1784 he was a member of a committee of eight formed to regulate the Mackinac area trade. Ezekiel Solomons business often took him to Montreal where he is believed to have been buried and where he was a member of Canadas first Jewish congregation, Shearith Israel.
Michigan Historical Commission Registered site No. 249
Erected by Jewish Historical Society of Michigan. (Marker Number 249.)
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Colonial Era • Industry & Commerce • Religion & Religious Structures • Settlements & Settlers • War, US Revolutionary. In addition, it is included in the Michigan Historical Commission
this page online
Location. 45° 47.267′ N, 84° 43.954′ W. Marker is in Mackinaw City, Michigan, in Emmet County. It can be reached from Interstate 75. Marker is located near northwest edge of Colonial Michilimackinac Fort parking lot, just west of the elevated I-75 approach to the Mackinac Bridge. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Mackinaw City MI 49701, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Northern Michigan Lower Peninsula, on the Straits of Mackinac, and in one of the Lake Michigan Shore counties. It is also in the American Midwest and on the Great Lakes. Globally, it is in North America, the Great North Woods, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Viceroyalty of New France and also the Northwest Territory.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Revolutionary Times (here, next to this marker); Mackinac State Historic Parks (a few steps from this marker); Crossroads of the Fur Trade (within shouting
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, July 30, 2017
2. Michigan's First Jewish Settler Marker (wide view)
Also see . . .
1. First Jewish Settler in Michigan Informational Historical Marker. Detroit 1701 website entry:
Descendents of Ezekiel Solomon apparently make efforts to highlight his accomplishments since he was one of the first non-French and, presumably, the first Jewish fur trader in the Northwest as well as the first Jewish resident of what is now Michigan. He was also a member of the first Jewish congregation founded in Canada. This was established in 1760 as the Shearith Israel Congregation but is also known as the Spanish and Portuguese Synagogue of Montreal. It is quite likely that he was one of the founding members of the Sephardic congregation. (Submitted on August 17, 2017, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)
2. Virtual Jewish World: Michigan, United States.
Photographed by J. J. Prats, August 2, 2024
3. Michigan's First Jewish Settler Marker
Marker is in the distance at the edge of the parking lot for the Colonial Michilimackinac Visitor's Center, which is under the bridge approach, with its entrance visible on here the right.
Michigan has been home to Jews since 1761, when the first Jewish settler, Ezekiel Solomon, came as a fur trader and supplier to the British troops in the strategic wilderness outpost at Fort Michilimackinac. (Submitted on August 17, 2017, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)
Additional keywords. Judaica
Credits. This page was last revised on November 12, 2024. It was originally submitted on August 17, 2017, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 1,070 times since then and 43 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on August 17, 2017, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. 3. submitted on August 26, 2024, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.
