Hamburg Township near Pinckney in Livingston County, Michigan — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Huron River
Photographed By Joel Seewald, July 9, 2022
1. Huron River Marker
The Potawatomi and Wyandot lived along the river Giwitatigweisibi, known today as the Huron River. They traveled the waterway in birchbark canoes as they caught fish, harvested wild rice or bartered with other tribes. Lightweight canoes were easy to manuever [sic] and carry while portaging between bodies of water.
French fur traders referred to the local natives as Wendats or Hurons. In the 1760s, Chief Kitchokema led a large Potawatomi village next to what is today called Strawberry Lake near Hamburg.
A Lost Ship and a Long Trek
In 1679, French explorer Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle, had the Griffon constructed in Niagra [sic]. It would be the first large ship to deliver supplies and collect furs from Great Lakes trading posts. When the Griffon did not arrive at Fort Miami (present day St. Joseph) in March 1680, La Salle decided to travel east to Lake Erie.
At the present-day city of Dexter, La Salle's men built a dugout canoe and paddled down the Huron River, but not for very long. He wrote: "The river made enormous bends, and we observed after five days of rowing we had made less progress than we usually made in one day's march." They eventually crossed Lake Erie by boat, arriving at Niagara on Easter Sunday, April 22, 1680. The Griffon
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Erected 2021 by Mike Levine Lakelands Trail, Michigan History Center, Michigan Department of Natural Resources.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Exploration • Native Americans • Waterways & Vessels. A significant historical month for this entry is March 1680.
Location. 42° 27.478′ N, 83° 49.859′ W. Marker is near Pinckney, Michigan, in Livingston County. It is in Hamburg Township. Marker is on the Mike Levine Lakelands Trail at the east bank of the Huron River and 0.6 miles west of Merrill Road. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Hamburg MI 48139, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. The Big Chill (approx. ¾ mile away); Chain of Lakes (approx. 0.9 miles away); Homesite of Edwin B. Winans (approx. one mile away); Trains Off Line (approx. 1.2 miles away); St. Stephen's (approx. 1.6 miles away); Trains to Hamburg (approx. 1.7 miles away); Travelers Stop (approx. 1.7 miles away); Hamburg (approx. 1.7 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Pinckney.
2. Huron River Marker
3. Huron River Marker
4. Huron River Marker
Hamburg Historical Society
5. Huron River Marker — Huron River Origins
The Huron River flows more than 125 miles from its headwaters at Big Lake, northwest of Pontiac, to its mouth at Lake Erie. Draining more than 900 square miles of land, its watershed is indicated on the map by the green tone surrounding the Huron River.
The river began during the ice age as a glacial stream flowing into the Mississippi River system. About 14,000 years ago, the Huron River made its final course change and began to drain into ancient Lake Maumee, the predecessor of Lake Erie. Today it is a popular tourist destination and supports over 90 species of fish.
The river began during the ice age as a glacial stream flowing into the Mississippi River system. About 14,000 years ago, the Huron River made its final course change and began to drain into ancient Lake Maumee, the predecessor of Lake Erie. Today it is a popular tourist destination and supports over 90 species of fish.
6. Huron River Marker — La Salle's Difficult Journey Across Michigan
March 25, 1680
Leave Fort Miami
Briars by the river
In two days and a half our clothes were all torn and our faces so covered with blood that we hardly knew each other.
Letter from La Salle, 1680
Potawatomi encounter
The Indians...being convinced that there must be larger numbers of us, since we had not concealed ourselves...fled without shooting an arrow.
March 28, 1680
LaSalle burns grass to cover trail
Slow going in swamps
[We] came into extensive fens whhich were flooded by the thaw and had to cross them in mud or water up to our waists.
Marshes and Swamps
Mascouten encounter
Either they were frightened by our position of advantage and our firearms, or believed there were more of us than there were, or else recognizing that we were Frenchmen, they did not wish to attack us.
April 3, 1680
Canoeing the Huron River
The river made enormous bends, and we observed after five days of rowing we had made less progress than we usually made in one day's march.
Abandon canoe and continue walking
Cross the Detroit River on a raft
Leave Fort Miami
Briars by the river
In two days and a half our clothes were all torn and our faces so covered with blood that we hardly knew each other.
Letter from La Salle, 1680
Potawatomi encounter
The Indians...being convinced that there must be larger numbers of us, since we had not concealed ourselves...fled without shooting an arrow.
March 28, 1680
LaSalle burns grass to cover trail
Slow going in swamps
[We] came into extensive fens whhich were flooded by the thaw and had to cross them in mud or water up to our waists.
Marshes and Swamps
Mascouten encounter
Either they were frightened by our position of advantage and our firearms, or believed there were more of us than there were, or else recognizing that we were Frenchmen, they did not wish to attack us.
April 3, 1680
Canoeing the Huron River
The river made enormous bends, and we observed after five days of rowing we had made less progress than we usually made in one day's march.
Abandon canoe and continue walking
Cross the Detroit River on a raft
Photographed By Joel Seewald, July 9, 2022
7. Huron River Marker
View of the marker, looking toward the northwest.
Credits. This page was last revised on February 7, 2023. It was originally submitted on July 12, 2022, by Joel Seewald of Madison Heights, Michigan. This page has been viewed 227 times since then and 41 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7. submitted on July 12, 2022, by Joel Seewald of Madison Heights, Michigan.
