NPS Website; Local Website
WHAT IS IT?
A memorial to the life and memory of French explorer and Jesuit priest Father Jacques Marquette.
BEAUTY (2/10)
The Memorial consists of an octagon shaped roof supported by brick walls. If it were not for the Memorial’s spire that rises about 15 feet from the roof, the open-air building would most resemble a golf course lightning shelter.
The interpretive trail walks the visitor along a paved path through a non-descript park surrounded by coniferous trees. Nearby the Site, however, is the rough and rugged Straits of Mackinac. The dramatic Ivory and Green towers of the Mackinac Bridge peek above the Park’s tree-lined exterior. The Great Lakes panorama exists not as a part of the Father Marquette NMEM.
HISTORICAL INTEREST (4/10)
Father Marquette founded the second European settlement in Michigan here at St. Ignace. Marquette was the first to map the Mississippi River. It would have been nice to learn more of French settlement in the Americas but sadly, the Father Marquette and New France Discovery Museum burned down in March of 2000. No plans seem to be afoot to rebuild. The better understanding of the French explorations and colonies here in the region that the Museum would have provided may have led to a higher score.
Within yards of the Site exists a Mackinac Bridge Museum that is well-marked, well visited and provides a clearer view of the Straits. Father Marquette and the history of New France are dwarfed by the colossal engineering achievement that is the 5-mile long Big Mac.
CROWDS (5/10)
The Site was closed and there was no one there except us. We do not think our visit would have been affected in any way by more people.
EASE OF USE/ACCESS (2/5)
It is a good thing that knew that the Father Marquette NMEM existed within the Straits State Park because no signs pointed our way to the Site. We initially drove into the wrong section of the Park but subsequently righted ourselves with a small State Park map.
The Father Marquette area of the State Park was closed for the season while the eastern portion of the Park was closed for construction. We drove around the closed parts without any trouble and saw no Park employees at work. Because the entirety of the National Memorial is outdoors our visit was not hindered because of the Site’s supposed closure.
CONCESSIONS/BOOKSTORE (1/5)
There is no bookstore.
COSTS (3/5)We believe the Father Marquette portion of the State Park is free. We did not pay and we did not see any places for money collection but maybe the tollbooth is well disguised. Again, the Site was technically not open. We read that the Straits State Park costs $4 per vehicle so be forewarned.
RANGER/GUIDE TO TOURIST RATIO (1/5)
There was nobody at the Site except us.
TOURS/CLASSES (4/10)
There is an outdoor interpretive trail that tersely and effectively explains the life and travels of Father Marquette.
FUN (3/10)
Father Marquette was an interesting man, the trail is educational and the walk is nice. Most of our fun derived from sneaking into a Park that was closed.
WOULD WE RECOMMEND? (3/10)
If the Site is free and you are traveling to the Upper Peninsula, why not? It will only take a few minutes and you will learn something about the region. If the Park costs $4 then skip it.
TOTAL 28/80
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