Marquette Historic Walking Tour
So every weeknight here I try and get out to do something (anything!) outside. Since it gets dark around 7:30 or so, I can’t adventure too far, so I’ve been finding ways to keep busy right in Marquette. And there’s so much to do here… so it’s been really easy this entire month. I could do a million more things. I haven’t even scratched the surface. But on a weeknight after work, I headed out to do a downtown historic walking tour! One of my favorite things to do while visiting places is to a) scour Google maps for anything remotely cool in the area and b) read through their travel guide religiously. Thankfully Travel Marquette has an awesome one… and it inspired this little trek around the city! Plus, I love history and learning about towns — especially smaller towns with unique stories. So this night was right up my alley!
My first stop was to the Father Jacques Marquette Statue! I parked in a little lot right near this park, and then walked the entire loop around the city. Jacques Marquette is a big deal in Michigan! Father Jacques Marquette was among the leading French explorers in the New World. In 1666, he was sent to Quebec, and he traveled throughout New France, mostly in what today is the northern United States and southern Canada, spending time with various Indian tribes. He assisted as a missionary in Sault Ste. Marie and founded his own mission in St. Ignace (there’s also a memorial there for him). This statue was dedicated in 1897! The park was redesigned in 2018 to include stone benches and perennial gardens. Although small, this park is beautifully kept with wonderful landscaping!
After that, I moseyed into the heart of downtown Marquette. My first stop was to see the Savings Bank Building. It was built in 1892 as a 21st birthday gift for Peter Kaufman from his father, Louis Kaufman. The base of the building is Jacobsville sandstone and the upper level is brick, and the most charming part about it is the Gothic clock tower and Romanesque sandstone carvings. Definitely a staple of the Marquette “skyline” as you’re heading down the hill on Front Street into downtown. Second up was the First National Bank Building. A major fire destroyed the original building in 1924, but it was rebuilt in 1926. The building is Roman Corinthian in architecture… I know nothing about architecture, hahaha, but it’s an amazing building.
It felt so wonderfully autumn this day… but the humidity that was happening this week did a total number to my hair. I had to snap pictures as soon as I stepped outside the car, otherwise POOF, hahaha. But yeah, as for outfits, it’s all about layers here. I just bought this cozy pink sweater from a local shop called Revival — definitely recommend if you’re in Marquette and want to do a little shopping! They had their grand reopening a couple of weeks ago, and everything is so cute. I also wear these Madewell sneakers non-stop, especially when I’m doing a lot of walking in the area. They’re so comfy!
Next up is the Saint Peter Cathedral. It’s just such a massive, beautiful church. It was first built in 1864, and then destroyed by fire in 1879, and again in 1935. Each time, it was rebuilt. The current structure is made with Marquette brownstone. I really want to go inside someday because I’ve only seen pictures… and it just looks absolutely beautiful. The vaulted ceiling rises to 67 feet. And the tomb of Bishop Baraga, known as the “Snowshoe Priest” is located here. And I was most excited to check out the Marquette County Courthouse! There’s just so many interesting things about this courthouse… first is the architecture itself; an example of neoclassical revival architecture. And it’s the location of many well-known trials including a suit where President Theodore Roosevelt won against an Ishpeming newspaper for slander and was awarded six cents, “the price of a good newspaper”. AND another case tried here inspired the movie Anatomy of a Murder, and in 1959, it was the setting of the motion picture based on the novel about the trial. (I’ll chat more about this movie in my post about Big Bay!)
So that’s my roundup of the historic walking tour… but there’s even more to see including the Peter White National Library (I’ve walked past it several times and it’s gorgeous), the First Presbyterian Church, the First United Methodist Church and Saint Paul’s Episcopal Church. And the houses along E. Ridge and E. Arch Streets are part of the Marquette historic homes district too. You can grab a walking brochure at the Marquette Regional History Center. Definitely worth a walk if you’re in the area and like learning about local history! I need to do more of this in Grand Rapids. I love my hometown’s (Muskegon) history so much — I’ve toured several of the historic homes and know a lot about the area, but not so much GR (yet)! But now I have a little bit more knowledge under my belt with Marquette! And I got some steps in and got to experience some beautiful autumn colors. Win, win, win!
Outfit details:
Madewell Skinny Jeans in Mackey Wash
Revival Sweater (via Nordstrom)
Madewell Fishtail Anorak (similar)
Madewell The Transport Tote
Arch Earrings (similar)
Madewell Sidewalk Low-Top Sneakers
