Frankfort in Benzie County, Michigan — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Marquette's Death
On May 18, 1675, Father Jacques Marquette, the great Jesuit missionary and explorer, died and was buried by two French companions somewhere along the Lake Michigan shore of the lower peninsula. Marquette had been returning to his mission at St. Ignace which he had left in 1673 to go on an exploring trip to the Mississippi and the Illinois country. The exact location of Marquette's death has long been a subject of controversy. Evidence presented in the 1960's indicates that this site, near the natural outlet of the Betsie River, at the northeast corner of a hill which was here until 1900, is the Marquette death site and that the Betsie is the Rivière du Père Marquette of early French accounts and maps. Marquette's bones were reburied at St. Ignace in 1677.
Erected 1965 by Michigan Historical Commission. (Marker Number S0272.)
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Notable Events. In addition, it is included in the Michigan Historical Commission series list. A significant historical date for this entry is May 18, 1675.
Location. 44° 37.861′ N, 86° 14.63′ W. Marker is in Frankfort, Michigan, in Benzie County. Marker is on 2nd Street south of Father Marquette Circle, on the left when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: Cannon Park, Frankfort MI 49635, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 8 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. War Memorial (about 600 feet away, measured in a direct line); First Congregational Church (approx. 0.3 miles away); Gravestone at Point Betsie (approx. 4.2 miles away); Fog Signal Building (approx. 4.2 miles away); Oil House (approx. 4.2 miles away); Site of the First College Building (approx. 7.2 miles away); Benzonia College (approx. 7.2 miles away); Mills Community House (approx. 7.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Frankfort.
Also see . . .
1. Jacques Marquette. Biography website entry (Submitted on September 4, 2016, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)
2. Jacques Marquette, S.J. New Advent website entry (Submitted on September 4, 2016, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)
3. Jacques Marquette Statue in U.S. Capitol. Architect of the Capitol website entry (Submitted on September 4, 2016, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)
Credits. This page was last revised on January 17, 2022. It was originally submitted on September 4, 2016, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. This page has been viewed 857 times since then and 44 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on September 4, 2016, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.