Hiawatha Township in Manistique in Schoolcraft County, Michigan — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Bishop Baraga’s First Church

Photographed by J. J. Prats, August 4, 2024

1. Bishop Baraga’s First Church Marker

Inscription. Near this site, on May 15, 1832, the Rt. Rev. Frederic Baraga, then a young Catholic missionary to the Indians, established and blessed his first church. A small building of logs and bark, it was built with the willing help of the Indians, and dedicated “to the honor of God under the name and patronage of His Virginal Mother Mary.” Until his death in 1868 Father Baraga labored selflessly in an area from Minnesota to Sault Ste. Marie, from Grand Rapids to Eagle Harbor. World famous as a missionary, he became upper Michigan’s first Roman Catholic Bishop in 1853.

Erected 1958 by Michigan Historical Commission. (Marker Number 146.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Indigenous Peoples and Communities • Religion & Religious Structures. A significant historical date for this entry is May 15, 1832.

Location. 45° 59.671′ N, 86° 17.56′ W. Marker is in Manistique, Michigan, in Schoolcraft County. It is in Hiawatha Township. It is at the intersection of Birch Street and Arrowhead Road, on the left when traveling north on Birch Street. It is at Bishop Baraga’s Shrine at the Indian Lake. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 8188 Arrowhead Rd, Manistique MI 49854, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is on Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.

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 Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 5 miles of this marker

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, measured as the crow flies: Believe It or Not (approx. 3 miles away); Schoolcraft County Veterans Memorial (approx. 3½ miles away); Living Memorial to the Soldiers and Sailors (approx. 3½ miles away); Schoolcraft County World War Honor Roll (approx. 3½ miles away); The Manistique Lighthouse (approx. 3.9 miles away); Near-Shore Sawdust and Wood Chip Deposits (approx. 4 miles away); Manistique Boardwalk (approx. 4.3 miles away); a different marker also named Manistique Boardwalk (approx. 4.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Manistique.

Also see . . . About Bishop Frederic Baraga.

Venerable Bishop Frederic Baraga, first bishop of the Diocese of Marquette (from 1853 until 1868), was the first of many Slovenian missionaries to come to the United States to help build up the American Catholic Church. ...

Father Baraga arrived in the New World on December 31, 1830. For the next 37 years he traveled the length and breath of the Great Lakes area to minister to the Ottawa and Chippewa Indians. His first mission (Arbre Croche, 1833-1835) was established along the shore of Lake Michigan at present day Harbor Springs to Cross Village. Fr. Baraga labored two years at Grand River (1833-1835) presently known as Grand Rapids, before moving his mission to LaPointe (1835-1843) and L’Anse (1843-1853) on Lake Superior. During the summer months, Father Baraga traveled
Photographed by J. J. Prats, August 4, 2024

2. Bishop Baraga’s First Church Marker
on foot and by canoe. During the winter months, he traveled on snowshoes thus giving him the titles of “Apostle of the Lakelands” and “Snowshoe Priest.” He wrote long and frequent accounts of his missionary activities including a three-volume diary. He also wrote seven Slovenian prayer books and authored 20 Native American books, including his monumental “Grammar and Dictionary of the Chippewa Language,” still in use today. He was the first bishop to write a pastoral letter in both the English and Chippewa languages.

(Submitted on August 17, 2024.)

Replica of Bishop Baraga’s First Church image. Click for full size.

Photographed by J. J. Prats, August 4, 2024

3. Replica of Bishop Baraga’s First Church

Bishop Baraga's first Upper Peninsula mission, reconstructed on its original site on the east shore of Indian Lake.

Credits. This page was last revised on August 17, 2024. It was originally submitted on August 17, 2024, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio. This page has been viewed 509 times since then and 69 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on August 17, 2024, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio.