St. Ignace Information & Overview
Saint Ignace, usually written as St. Ignace, is a city at the southern tip of Michigan's Upper Peninsula. Located at the northern end of the Mackinac Bridge, St. Ignace is often referred to as the "Gateway to the Upper Peninsula" where the waters of Lake Huron and Lake Michigan come together. The Mackinac Bridge connects the Lower and Upper Peninsulas of Michigan, not to Mackinac Island, which is a popular misconception. The view from St. Ignace makes Mackinac Island's historic name "The Great Turtle" apparent, as it most resembles a turtle from this vantage point.
History
St. Ignace is the 2nd oldest city in Michigan founded by Europeans. Before French contact, various cultures of Native Americans had inhabited the area for thousands of years. The village is noted at the final resting place of French explorer and priest Jacques Marquette who founded the St. Ignace Mission on this site in 1671. Father Marquette named the village for St. Ignatius of Loyola, founder of the Jesuit religious order. The Jesuit's worked actively as missionaries sharing not only Catholicism, but French culture across North America.
The Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians today owns and operates the popular Kewadin Casino in St. Ignace.
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St. Ignace Area Information:
- St. Ignace Area Accommodations & Lodging
- St. Ignace Area Attractions & Activities
- St. Ignace Area History
- St. Ignace Area Restaurants
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