St. Ignace Mission
Historic church in Michigan. Built 1671. Added to the National Register in 1966, and a National Historic Landmark.
What it is
The St. Ignace Mission is located in a municipal park known as Marquette Mission Park. It was the site of a mission established by Jesuit priest, Father Jacques Marquette, and the site of his grave in 1677. A second mission was established at a different site in 1837, and the chapel was moved here in 1954. The second mission chapel is the oldest Catholic church in Michigan and Wisconsin. The St. Ignace Mission was designated a Michigan State Historic Site in 1956, and was declared a U.S. National Historic Landmarks in 1960, one of the earliest sites recognized. The mission chapel serves as the Museum of Ojibwa Culture.
Text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
The record
| Property type | Site |
| Address | State and Marquette Sts., Marquette Park, St. Ignace, MI |
| County | Mackinac County |
| Listed | Oct 15, 1966 |
| Listed for | Religion, Social history |
| Level of significance | National |
| Reference number | 66000398 |
| Built | 1671 · more from the 1670s |
| Type of place | Christian mission, mission station, museum |
| Designations | National Historic Landmark |
| Contributing resources | 2 sites |
The nomination form, the document that argues why this place matters, is in the National Archives: Read the nomination ↗
Visiting
| Address | State and Marquette Sts., Marquette Park, St. Ignace, MI |
| Coordinates | 45.8716° N, 84.7440° W · Directions ↗ |
| Nearest national park unit | Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore · 89 miles · on Park Atlas |
| Federal campgrounds nearby | Carp River Campground 11 miles · Lake Michigan At St. Ignace 13 miles · Brevoort Lake Campground 14 miles |
Explore
Map
Nearby in Mackinac County
Michigan travel guides
We earn a small commission if you buy through these links. It does not change what we list.
Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
When was St. Ignace Mission listed on the National Register?
Oct 15, 1966. It is also a National Historic Landmark, the higher of the two designations.
Source: National Park Service
When was St. Ignace Mission built?
1671.
Source: Wikidata
Can I visit St. Ignace Mission?
Yes. St. Ignace Mission is recorded as open to the public.
Source: Wikidata
Where is St. Ignace Mission?
State and Marquette Sts., Marquette Park, St. Ignace, Mackinac County, Michigan. The nearest national park unit is Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, 89 miles away.
What does the St. Ignace Mission listing include?
The listing counts 2 contributing resources. Those are 2 sites. A contributing resource is a part of the listed property that carries its historic significance.
Source: National Park Service
Where is the nomination form for St. Ignace Mission?
The National Archives holds the nomination form, the document that made the case for listing.
Source: National Archives
Are there campgrounds near St. Ignace Mission?
Three federal campgrounds are within reach. The closest is Carp River Campground, 11 miles away. Lake Michigan At St. Ignace is 13 miles away, and Brevoort Lake Campground is 14 miles away.
Source: Campsite Atlas
Is there cell service at St. Ignace Mission?
FCC coverage maps show Verizon 5G, AT&T 5G, and T-Mobile 5G at the listed point. Coverage indoors and behind old masonry is another matter.
Source: FCC Broadband Map
Sources
Location, type and contributing counts come from the National Park Service's National Register spatial data. Listing dates come from the National Register office's spreadsheet where it carries the listing. Construction date, architect, style, photograph and encyclopedia link come from Wikidata and Wikimedia Commons, matched on reference number 66000398. Nothing here is transcribed by hand. The nomination form and photographs ↗ at NPGallery are the original nomination as filed with the National Park Service, and the form is often the best description of the place. The description under "What it is" is the opening of the Wikipedia article, CC BY-SA.