Frankenmuth in Saginaw County, Michigan — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Chippewa Indian Memorial

Frankenmuth Historical Association

Photographed by Kevin W., June 6, 2024

1. Chippewa Indian Memorial Marker

Inscription. Frankenmuth's Founding
Frankenmuth was founded in 1845 for two purposes. The first was to be a Chippewa Indian mission. The other purpose was to be the first of four colonies in the Saginaw Valley composed of immigrants from the Franconian region of the Kingdom of Bavaria (Germany).

Rev. Wilhelm Loehe of Neuendettelsau, Bavaria, conceived the idea of these colonies and guided them. Rev. August Graemer was the leader of the Frankenmuth mission. He led the twelve colonists to Frankenmuth in 1845 and welcomed hundreds of their friends and relatives who came in succeeding years.

The Lutheran Church Missouri Synod took over the Indian mission work in 1848 and founded other missions. After Rev. Graemer left 1850, the Frankenmuth mission work was transferred to the Bethany Mission in St. Louis, Michigan.

Chippewa Indian Memorial Interpretation
A 1982 archaeological dig in Frankenmuth found that Indians have been in this area for 4,750 years. Not until the Frankenmuth Historical Association created this-memorial has the community tangibly recognized the true first inhabitants of what became Frankenmuth.

To understand

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the interpretation of this memorial, a brief clarification of the Indian philosophy of living prior to contact, and even after contact, with Europeans is in order.

European life is dominated by different values than Native American life. Europeans desire to acquire property and material goods, religion being more of fuss secondary. Native American life focuses on communal living with no concept of individual property ownership. Material goods for the most part belong to everyone. Religion is a dominant force. To the Indian, every bird tree, animal and stone possesses a spirit that is not to be violated outside of prescribed rules of conduct. As such, they cannot be owned by the people, just used.

Sun, Moon and Earth Berm
The sun is the Indians; "father." Therefore it is larger than the moon, their mother and night sun. The serpentine earth berm enclosure represents a burial mound. This is oriented on a line in an east-west direction. The sun and life begin in the east and end in the west, where the spirit at death begins its journey to its happy land. The earth/Indian monument, sun and moon are set on the first, second and fourth

Chippewa Indian Memorial image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Kevin W., June 6, 2024

2. Chippewa Indian Memorial

This marker is on the post in the left of this photo.

quadrants respectively. (The third quadrant is the symbolic space between the sun and moon). The number four relates to the four seasons, four winds and four directions. Since the number four is symbolic to the Indians, we have even made all of the Memorial's dimensions divisible by that number.

Directional Signs
The Thunderbirds, who are in charge of the four winds, are implanted on their proper rays, on the sun in the Chippewa language. The sun is the Commander-in-Chief of the Thunderbirds to the Chippewa. The sun is also designed to be a planter for berry plants to symbolize food or herb products used by the Chippewa.

Arrowhead
The arrowhead is shaped after that type specifically used in hunting. This avoids the use of a smaller shape which might suggest a warlike image.

Earth
The arrowhead is placed upon a circular pedestal, representing the earth, to symbolize the respect and close relationship the Indian shares with the earth.

Landscaping
The white pines around the Memorial provide an added background as do the wood chips on the walkway. Elevating the Memorial seeks to convey the feeling of a shrine or sanctuary.

Photographed by Kevin W., June 6, 2024

3. Chippewa Indian Memorial

Everything is chosen and arranged to create an attitude of respect for and acknowledgement of a culture that was present in the area when the Frankenmuth colonists met the Chippewa.

Chippewa Indian Memorial Committee
Wm Zehnder Jr., Chairman; Richard Hartwig, Secretary; Harold Eckert. Marvin Engel Raymond Engel, Carl R. Hansen, Edwin G. Loesel.
Advisors: Victor Miller, Executive Director, Saginaw Inter-Tribal Association; William LaBlanc, Executive Director, Michigan Indian Commission.

Sponsors
Equitable Lite Assurance Society of the United States
– John B. Carter, Chairman
– Coy Eklund Chairman emeritus
Mr. and Mrs. Ralph List, Frankenmuth

Design
Harold and Larry Eckert, Frankenmuth

Contractors
Landscape Architects
– John Grissim and Associates Farmington Hills
Earth and Indian Monument
– Boyd Bradford, Elberton, Georgia
– Hindman Monument Company Hindman, Kentucky
Sun and concrete work
– Pete Janson Masonry, Frankenmuth
Moon
– Dixie Cut Stone and Marble Company, Bridgeport
Landscaping
– Worley Landscaping

Special Thanks
Chippewa directional signs
– Larry Oughton Delta College
Monument installation

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– McNally Nimergood Company, Saginaw
Landscape plan
– Frankenmuth Bavarian Inn
Original idea for Chippewa Memorial
– Rev Herman Zehnder (1916-1979)
Interpretive Plaque
– Memtron Technologies
Plaque designed by Doug Aho

Dedicated May 30, 1983.

Erected 1983 by Frankenmuth Historical Association.

Topics. This historical marker and memorial is listed in these topic lists: Indigenous Peoples and Communities • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1845.

Location. 43° 19.837′ N, 83° 43.76′ W. Marker is in Frankenmuth, Michigan, in Saginaw County. It can be reached from East Tuscola Street, on the right. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 830 E Tuscola St, Frankenmuth MI 48734, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker and memorial is in Mid-Michigan.

It is also in the American Midwest.

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.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: A different marker also named Chippewa Indian Memorial (here, next to this marker); A Rich History, A Precious Resource (approx. 0.2 miles away); Marv Herzog Fest Platz (approx. 0.3 miles away); Star of the West Milling Company (approx. 0.4 miles away); Frankenmuth Agriculture (approx. half a mile away); Frankenmuth Veteran's Memorial (approx. half a mile away); Frankenmuth Education (approx. half a mile away); Safe in Our Father's Arms (approx. half a mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Frankenmuth.

Credits. This page was last revised on August 7, 2026. It was originally submitted on August 7, 2026, by Kevin W. of Stafford, Virginia. This page has been viewed 15 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on August 7, 2026, by Kevin W. of Stafford, Virginia.