Mackinaw City in Cheboygan County, Michigan — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Chief Wawatam

Mackinaw City Historical Pathway

Photographed By J.T. Lambrou, January 2, 2023

1. Chief Wawatam Marker

Inscription.
Chief Wawatam was revered for his bravery and fidelity
Chief Wawatam, an Ojibway Indian living at the Straits of Mackinac, treated the British fur trader Alexander Henry as a brother. During the Indian attack on Fort Michilimackinac in 1763, Wawatam protected his friend, hiding him a limestone cave on Mackinac Island. After spending a night, Henry woke with horror to discover that he had slept on a bed of human bones. Today, his resting place is known as Skull Cave. This statue of Wawatam was carved by local craftsman Jerry Prior from a 100-year-old piece of local white pine.

A railroad ferry was named after him
As faithful as its namesake, the coal-powered railroad ferry, Chief Wawatam, plied the waters of the Straits of Mackinac carrying railroad cars between Michigan's two peninsulas for more than seventy years.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Native Americans • Railroads & Streetcars • War, French and Indian • Waterways & Vessels. A significant historical year for this entry is 1763.

Location. 45° 47.016′ N, 84° 43.421′ W. Marker is in Mackinaw City, Michigan, in Cheboygan County. Marker is at the intersection of North Huron Avenue and East Jamet Street, on the right when traveling north on

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North Huron Avenue. The marker stands in Wawatam Park. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 300 N Huron Ave, Mackinaw City MI 49701, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. A different marker also named Chief Wawatam (here, next to this marker); Mackinaw Boat - Mackinaw Coat (within shouting distance of this marker); Lake Level Research on the Great Lakes (within shouting distance of this marker); John L. (Jack) Staffan • Chief Wawatam (within shouting distance of this marker); A Bridge for Mackinac (within shouting distance of this marker); Historic Timeline (within shouting distance of this marker); Our weather (within shouting distance of this marker); Mackinac and the Water Highway (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Mackinaw City.

Also see . . .
1. Wawatam. Excerpt:

Wawatam was likely born near the Odawa Middle Village, Anamiewatigoing, now Cross Village. He is known through his rescue of and friendship with British fur trader Alexander Henry the elder from the Ojibwas following the capture of Fort Michilimackinac in June 1763 during Pontiac's Rebellion. Wawatam, the leader and patriarch of an extended family of Odawa, rescued Henry after he had initially become an Ojibwe possession as a spoil of war, and soon
Photographed By J.T. Lambrou, January 2, 2023

2. Wawatam Park
The marker is in the background in line with the second W in the sign.
there after, again came to Henry's rescue by hiding him in a Cave on nearby Mackinac Island.

(Submitted on January 18, 2023, by J.T. Lambrou of New Boston, Michigan.)

2. SS Chief Wawatam. Excerpt:

Chief Wawatam (nicknamed the Chief) was a coal-fired steel ship that was based, for most of its 1911–1984 working life, in St. Ignace, Michigan. The vessel was named after a distinguished Ojibwa chief of the 1760s. In initial revenue service, the Chief Wawatam served as a train ferry, passenger ferry and icebreaker that operated year-round at the Straits of Mackinac between St. Ignace and Mackinaw City, Michigan. During the winter months, it sometimes took many hours to cross the five-mile-wide Straits, and Chief Wawatam was fitted with complete passenger hospitality spaces.

(Submitted on January 18, 2023, by J.T. Lambrou of New Boston, Michigan.)

Chief Wawatam Sculpture image. Click for full size.

Photographed By J.T. Lambrou, January 2, 2023

3. Chief Wawatam Sculpture

Photographed By J.T. Lambrou, January 2, 2023

4. Chief Wawatam Sculpture

SS Chief Wawatam image. Click for full size.

V.O. Hammon, Chicago [public domain], circa 1923

5. SS Chief Wawatam

Credits. This page was last revised on January 26, 2023. It was originally submitted on January 18, 2023, by J.T. Lambrou of New Boston, Michigan. This page has been viewed 165 times since then and 41 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on January 18, 2023, by J.T. Lambrou of New Boston, Michigan. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.