Orchard Lake in Oakland County, Michigan — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Chief Pontiac
Photographed by Joel Seewald, September 5, 2020
1. Chief Pontiac Marker
Inscription.
Chief Pontiac. . A pleasant tradition, unsupported by history, says that Pontiac once lived on Apple Island here in Orchard Lake. This great Indian chief was born around 1720, probably in the Ottawa village on the Detroit River. A friend of the French, Pontiac was angered by the British rule which began in 1760, and plotted its overthrow. In 1763 he led the Indians of the area in an attack on Detroit while other tribes, who were inspired by him, rose against the British in the West and overwhelmed every for save Fort Pitt and Niagara. Pontiac's siege of Detroit failed. With it, this greatest of Indian uprisings also failed. In 1769 Pontiac was killed by another Indian in Illinois. He probably was buried in St. Louis, Missouri. The city of Pontiac was named in his honor.
A pleasant tradition, unsupported by history, says that Pontiac once lived on Apple Island here in Orchard Lake. This great Indian chief was born around 1720, probably in the Ottawa village on the Detroit River. A friend of the French, Pontiac was angered by the British rule which began in 1760, and plotted its overthrow. In 1763 he led the Indians of the area in an attack on Detroit while other tribes, who were inspired by him, rose against the British in the West and overwhelmed every for save Fort Pitt and Niagara. Pontiac's siege of Detroit failed. With it, this greatest of Indian uprisings also failed. In 1769 Pontiac was killed by another Indian in Illinois. He probably was buried in St. Louis, Missouri. The city of Pontiac was named in his honor.
Erected 1958 by Michigan Historical Commission. (Marker Number 177.)
Marker is in Orchard Lake, Michigan, in Oakland County. It can be reached from Orchard Lake Road 0.2 miles north of Pontiac Trail, on the left. Marker is in the Orchard Lake DNR Access Site, near the boat launch and can be seen from the parking area. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 4060 Orchard Lake Road, West Bloomfield MI 48323, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Southeast Michigan and in Greater Detroit. It is also in the American Midwest and on the Great Lakes. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Northwest Territory.
Also see . . . Chief Pontiac marker getting a makeover. Article in February 2, 2013 edition of The Oakland Press explaining that the marker was rehabilitated and was to be replaced in time for the 250th anniversary of Pontiac's Rebellion. (Submitted on September 6, 2020, by Joel Seewald of Madison Heights, Michigan.)
Credits. This page was last revised on September 6, 2020. It was originally submitted on September 6, 2020, by Joel Seewald of Madison Heights, Michigan. This page has been viewed 2,347 times since then and 183 times this year. Photos:1, 2. submitted on September 6, 2020, by Joel Seewald of Madison Heights, Michigan.
