Plan Your Pilgrimage

On this Historical Tour you get to learn more about Father Baraga, the Ojibwe Natives, missionaries prior to Father Baraga in the region and the changes that developed in the region over time. These locations include Cathedrals, Museums, Monuments, Historical Sites and more....

Minnesota

Grand Portage National Monument

Coordinates: 170 Mile Creek Rd, Grand Portage, MN 55605

Link: https://www.nps.gov/grpo/index.htm

Museum in Grand Portage that teaches of the Ojibwe and fur trade histories.

Holy Rosary Catholic Church

Coordinates: 47.96630, -89.68245

Link: http://collections.mnhs.org/MNHistoryMagazine/articles/39/v39i08p301-310.pdf

Church in Grand Portage established by Father Baraga and Father Pierz. The link brings you to the history of this church in its entirety.

Father Baraga's Cross

Historical Marker - Father Baraga attempted to cross Lake Superior on a canoe and was miraculously saved at this location

Father Baraga's Cross

Address: 56 Baraga Cross Rd, Schroeder, MN 55613

Link: https://www.fatherbaraga.org/father-baragas-cross

Sandy Lake Memorial

Coordinates: 46.78738, -93.32025

Link: https://www.mnopedia.org/event/sandy-lake-tragedy

Monument - A memorial was created here to remember the location where the Sandy Lake Tragedy occurred which included many of the Ojibwe that Father Baraga knew and worked with

St. Louis County Historical Society Museum

Address: 506 W Michigan St, Duluth, MN 55802

Link: https://www.thehistorypeople.org/permanent-exhibits

Description: Museum - Displays both the immigrant and Ojibwe histories

Wisconsin

St. Josephs Catholic Church

Address: 266 Airport Rd, Bayfield, WI 54814

Link: https://catholicdos.org/st-joseph-lapointe-history

Description: Catholic Church - Originally built in 1838 with the help of Father Baraga. This was the main location where he worked with the Ojibway people.

La Pointe Indian Cemetery

Coordinates: 46.772109, -90.782285

Link: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/La_Pointe_Indian_Cemetery

Historical Marker - This is where Chief Buffalo (the primary chief that Father Baraga worked with) lay. It is also the gravesite of some of the fur traders in the region.

Madeline Island Historical Museum

Address: 226 Colonel Woods Ave, La Pointe, WI 54850

Link: https://madelineislandmuseum.wisconsinhistory.org/

Museum - See the histories of Madeline Island where Father Baraga primarily spent his mission with the Ojibway people

Father Baraga's First Church Marker

Coordinates: 46.772148, -90.781751

Link: https://www.wisconsinhistoricalmarkers.com/2018/06/site-of-first-catholic-church.html

Historic Marker - This is where Father Baraga built his first church at his primary mission on Madeline Island

Upper Peninsula (MI)

Pictured Rocks

Address: County Rd H-58, Michigan

Link: https://www.nps.gov/piro/planyourvisit/index.htm

State Park - Pictured Rocks is the landscape in which the poem "Song of Hiawatha" by Henry Longfellow was written

Astor House Indian Museum

Address: 562 Gratiot St, Copper Harbor, MI 49918

Link: http://www.minnetonkaresort.com/museum.php

Museum - Museum with Ojibway, settlers and shipwreck artifacts

John Jacob Astor Shipwreck

Coordinates: 47.472333, -87.864667

Link: http://www.michiganpreserves.org/keweenaw.htm

Historic Site - This is where the famous fur trading boat, the John Jacob Astor, wrecked in 1844. Father Baraga used this boat intermittantly to get from mission to mission.

Keweenaw Bay Historical Marker

Coordinates: 46.759433, -88.499883

Link: https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=76282

Historical Marker - Father Baraga and Father Rene Menard both set foot on this location.

St. Peters Cathedral

Address: 311 W Baraga Ave, Marquette, MI 49855

Link: https://stpetercathedral.org/about/history/

Catholic Church - This is where Father Baraga spent his last days in this location’

Holy Redeemer Church

Address: 507 South St, Eagle Harbor, MI 49950

Link: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holy_Redeemer_Church_(Eagle_Harbor,_Michigan)

Catholic Church - This is the oldest Catholic Church in the Upper Peninsula. It is built in 1852 under the direction of Father Baraga.

The Most Holy Name of Jesus - St. Kateri Tekakwitha Church

Address: 14808 Assinins Rd, Baraga, MI 49908

Link: https://www.marquette.edu/library/archives/NativeGuide/MI/M-32.pdf

Catholic Church - Location where Baraga established and diocesan priests administered Holy Name of Jesus Mission

Bishop Baraga Shrine and Giftshop

Coordinates: 46.74933, -88.47429

Link: http://baragashrine.org/

Monument - This is a shrine that is dedicated to Father Baraga. It stands at 35 feet tall.

Holy Mary Catholic Church

Address: 337 Maple St, Sault Ste. Marie, MI 49783

Link: https://www.holymarywebsite.org/

Catholic Church - First Cathedral of the Diocese of Marquette and Father Baraga's first cathedral. Only two cathedrals in the country are older.

Father Baraga's First Church - Indian Lake.jpg

Father Baraga's First Church Site - 1832

Coordinates: 45.99482, -86.29306

Link: http://www.michmarkers.com/default?page=S0146

Historical Marker & Monument - Site of Father Baraga's First Church in the Upper Peninsula, Michigan in 1832

Bishop Baraga's House

Address: 501 E Water St, Sault Ste. Marie, MI 49783

Link: https://www.saultstemarie.com/member-detail/bishop-baraga-house-and-historic-homes/

Historic Site - Father Baraga's Home in Sault Ste Marie, MI after he became bishop.

St. Francis de Sales Church

Address: 330 Oak St, Manistique, MI 49854

Link: https://stfrancisofmanistique.weconnect.com/About-the-Parish

Catholic Church - There are stained Glass windows with images of Father Baraga and native 'tipi' outside

St. Ignatius Loyola Church

Address: 305 Portage St, Houghton, MI 49931

Link: https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=97790

Catholic Church - Dedicated by Bishop Baraga in 1859

The Baraga Educational Center

Address: 615 S 4th St, Marquette, MI 49855

Link: https://www.dioceseofmarquette.org/BaragaEducationalCenter

Museum - Father Baraga's house as Bishop and some of his personal belongings

Holy Angels Roman Catholic Church

Coordinates: 46.52740, -84.15127

Link: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Church_of_Our_Saviour,_Friend_of_Children

Catholic Church - This is a church that Father Baraga helped build in 1856. He frequented the location in 1853.

Museum of Ojibwa Culture & Father Marquette's Gravesite

Address: 500 N State St, St Ignace, MI 49781

Link: https://stignace.com/attractions/museum-of-ojibwa-culture-gift-shop/

Museum - Site of Father Jacques Marquette first mission and grave nearby in 1677. It now serves as the museum of Ojibway Culture.

Father Marquette's National Memorial.jpg

Father Marquette National Memorial

Address: 592 Boulevard Dr., St. Ignace, MI 49781

Museum - Site of Father Jacques Marquette first mission and grave nearby in 1677. It now serves as the museum of Ojibway Culture.

Link: https://stignace.com/attractions/museum-of-ojibwa-culture-gift-shop/

Michigan

St. Francis Solanus Mission

Coordinates: Petoskey, MI

Link: https://www.michigan.org/property/st-francis-solanus-indian-mission-church

Catholic Church: This is one of the last churches that Father Baraga blessed which is still being maintained by the Ottawa Ojibway people

Holy Cross Catholic Church

Coordinates: 45.745140, -85.522249

Link: https://readtheplaque.com/plaque/holy-cross-catholic-church

The Holy Cross Catholic Church has a cross that honors where Father Baraga first landed on Beaver Island and the mission he established there.

Saint Anne's Catholic Church

Coordinates: 45.85026, -84.61144

Link: http://www.steanneschurch.org/history.htm

Catholic Church - Mackinac Island was a regular stopping place for Father Baraga during the years 1831-1832. There is a historical Museum located in the lower level of the church.

Cathedral of Saint Andrew

Address: 215 Sheldon Blvd SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49503

Link: https://cathedralofsaintandrew.org/about-us/cathedral-parish/cathedral-history

Catholic Cathedral - Father Baraga was bishop of Grand Rapids from 1853-1868. There is a statue outside the Cathedral in honor of him and his service.