Sault Ste. Marie in Chippewa County, Michigan — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

St. Mary's Church

Photographed By J.T. Lambrou, January 3, 2023

1. St. Mary's Church Marker

Inscription. On this site in 1668 was built the first permanent wooden structure in what is now the state of Michigan. This was St. Mary's Church erected by the French Jesuit fathers Jacques Marquette and Louis Nicholas to minister to the Ojibwe community. The church, the city and the river rapids were all named "Sainte Marie du Sault" by Father Marquette in honor of the blessed Virgin Mary.

A century later, the French fort stood here, and sometime later old Fort Brady followed by the federal building and now the city hall of Sault Sainte Marie.

The present St. Mary's Church on Portage Avenue is the fifth building to house St. Mary's parish which is the third oldest Catholic congregation in the United States of America. It was also the first site of what is now the diocese of Marquette established by the saintly "snowshoe priest" bishop Frederic Baraga in 1857.

Sault Sainte Marie is the first non native American settlement in what has become the present state of Michigan.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Churches & Religion • Forts and Castles • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1668.

Location. 46° 30.013′ N, 84° 20.556′ W. Marker is in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, in Chippewa County. Marker is at the intersection

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of East Water Street and Bingham Avenue, on the right when traveling east on East Water Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 225 East Portage Avenue, Sault Sainte Marie MI 49783, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Fort Brady (within shouting distance of this marker); Statue of St. Mary (within shouting distance of this marker); A Sampler of Vessels That Have Passed This Spot (within shouting distance of this marker); Fort Brady 1850 (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); a different marker also named Fort Brady (about 300 feet away); Old Fort Brady (about 300 feet away); Ancient Anishinaabek Burial Ground (about 300 feet away); The King's Grant (about 500 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Sault Ste. Marie.

Photographed By J.T. Lambrou, January 3, 2023

2. St. Mary's Church Marker

St. Mary's Church image. Click for full size.

Photographed By J.T. Lambrou, January 3, 2023

3. St. Mary's Church

Holy Name of Mary Pro-Cathedral was built in 1881 and is located just one block southeast of the marker.

Credits. This page was last revised on January 19, 2023. It was originally submitted on January 16, 2023, by J.T. Lambrou of New Boston, Michigan. This page has been viewed 84 times since then and 12 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on January 18, 2023, by J.T. Lambrou of New Boston, Michigan. • J. Makali Bruton was the editor who published this page.