Sign Text for Michigan Landmark #S98 :
This fort was built by the French near here within a decade after Marquette had established his mission in 1671. Its name was that of the family of Frontenac, the French governor for North America. Until Detroit was founded in 1701, this was the most important French post west of Montreal. The fort’s commandant had charge of all other French forts in the West. Also known as Fort Michilimackinac, it was the first of three forts which were to bear this name in the Straits area.
More about the Fort de Buade:
But why was this fort set up, you ask? Well, the budding French village of St. Ignace was not just spiritual retreat; there were plenty of secular politics at work! First, the neighboring Huron and Illiniwek killed Annanhac, chief of the Seneca, who would later side with France’s European colonial rivals, the English! When the Nine Years’ War broke out between England and France in 1688, St. Ignace, strategically placed between Lakes Huron and Michigan, was vulnerable! Thus, a fort!
From 1690 until 1701, Fort de Buade was a trading hub for furs and a place for distributing weapons and soldiers all across the Great Lakes region! From here, Huron chief Kondiaronk led a devastating attack against the Seneca and later took part in the Great Peace of Montreal, which ended the war. At the head of the fort, though, was Antoine de la Mothe, sieur de Cadillac, who made a fortune in bribes and set up a thriving liquor trade at the fort, bringing him into conflict with the Jesuits and earning him time in the Bastille when he returned to France. Ultimately, Commandant Cadillac withdrew the garrison from St. Ignace in 1701 for a more southerly port that came to be known as Detroit! When most of the town left with him, the wooden fort fell to disrepair, and while it is marked with a sign today, the original fort has not been rediscovered yet!
How Can I #HelpTheHelpers?
- Volunteer with the Michigan History Center!
- Submit an application to the Marker Repair and Replacement Fund!
- Be a responsible visitor! Please respect the signs and pathways, and treat all structures and artifacts with respect. They’ve endured a lot to survive into the present. They’ll need our help to make it into the future!
How Do I Get There?
396 N State St
St Ignace, MI 49781
(Take Me There!)
When Should I Visit?
Whenever the mood strikes you!