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Old Indian Trail (Michigan)

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An Old Indian Trail marker near Traverse City

The Old Indian Trail is a historic trail in the northwestern Lower Peninsula of Michigan, running for roughly 55 miles (89 km) between Cadillac and Traverse City. In use since as early as 600 BCE by the Hopewell civilization,[1] the Old Indian Trail began to be used regularly by the Anishinaabe in the 13th century, and was largely used until European settlement in the 1800s. Today, the trail no longer exists, but its location is marked by 33 white stone markers.[2]

Route

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The Old Indian Trail began along the shore of Lake Mitchell near Cadillac, and ran northwesterly past the modern-day communities of Boon and Meauwataka before reaching the Manistee River. Here, a massive log jam allowed for travelers to cross the river, continuing north past present-day Buckley, Hannah, and Chums Corner. The trail then descended northerly into Traverse City, where it ended at the shore of the West Arm of Grand Traverse Bay, a bay of Lake Michigan.[3][4]

Trail markers

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There are 33 markers along the Old Indian Trail. Each marker is a pentagonal white stone slab, painted with its corresponding number, and featuring a small plaque reading "OLD INDIAN TRAIL CADILLAC TO TRAVERSE CITY". A number of these markers are located along major roadways, while some are on private property.

In 1940, Cadillac residents Milo Petoskey Crosby and Jim Pontiac planted the first 14 markers, between Lake Mitchell and the Manistee River. In the 1960s, the next five markers were placed by local residents Ed Babcock and James Comp. In 1987, the final 14 markers, between Buckley and Traverse City, were placed by former chairman of the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians, Frank Ettawageshik.[5]

List of Old Indian Trail markers (south to north)
Number Marker name Coordinates
1 Lake Mitchell Marker 44°15′49.8″N 85°28′19.4″W / 44.263833°N 85.472056°W / 44.263833; -85.472056 (Lake Mitchell Marker)
2 Leaving the Lake Marker 44°16′09.3″N 85°29′04.4″W / 44.269250°N 85.484556°W / 44.269250; -85.484556 (Leaving the Lake Marker)
3 Boon Marker 44°16′52.2″N 85°29′30.1″W / 44.281167°N 85.491694°W / 44.281167; -85.491694 (Boon Marker)
4 Sweet Spot Marker 44°17′43.5″N 85°29′41.9″W / 44.295417°N 85.494972°W / 44.295417; -85.494972 (Sweet Spot Marker)
5 First Plow Marker 44°18′13.2″N 85°29′57.4″W / 44.303667°N 85.499278°W / 44.303667; -85.499278 (First Plow Marker)
6 Old Ash Marker 44°19′27.5″N 85°30′31.8″W / 44.324306°N 85.508833°W / 44.324306; -85.508833 (Old Ash Marker)
7 Circle Marker 44°19′36.3″N 85°30′49.3″W / 44.326750°N 85.513694°W / 44.326750; -85.513694 (Circle Marker)
8 Farm Marker 44°19′55.4″N 85°31′12.0″W / 44.332056°N 85.520000°W / 44.332056; -85.520000 (Farm Marker)
9 Meauwataka Marker 44°21′11.1″N 85°32′06.6″W / 44.353083°N 85.535167°W / 44.353083; -85.535167 (Meauwataka Marker)
10 Gentle Grade Marker 44°21′17.7″N 85°32′24.8″W / 44.354917°N 85.540222°W / 44.354917; -85.540222 (Gentle Grade Marker)
11 Restful Marker 44°22′01.1″N 85°33′37.7″W / 44.366972°N 85.560472°W / 44.366972; -85.560472 (Restful Marker)
12 Stagecoach Marker 44°24′36.3″N 85°35′57.0″W / 44.410083°N 85.599167°W / 44.410083; -85.599167 (Stagecoach Marker)
13 Freight Wagon Marker 44°25′28.8″N 85°35′55.7″W / 44.424667°N 85.598806°W / 44.424667; -85.598806 (Freight Wagon Marker)
14 Indian Crossing Marker South 44°27′02.9″N 85°38′03.8″W / 44.450806°N 85.634389°W / 44.450806; -85.634389 (Indian Crossing Marker South)
15 Indian Crossing Marker North 44°27′10.6″N 85°37′51.6″W / 44.452944°N 85.631000°W / 44.452944; -85.631000 (Indian Crossing Marker North)
16 Indian Camp Marker 44°27′40.0″N 85°38′25.0″W / 44.461111°N 85.640278°W / 44.461111; -85.640278 (Indian Camp Marker)
17 Buckley South Marker 44°29′15.1″N 85°39′25.2″W / 44.487528°N 85.657000°W / 44.487528; -85.657000 (Buckley South Marker)
18 Buckley Center Marker 44°30′16.0″N 85°39′24.2″W / 44.504444°N 85.656722°W / 44.504444; -85.656722 (Buckley Center Marker)
19 Buckley North Marker 44°30′44.4″N 85°39′22.6″W / 44.512333°N 85.656278°W / 44.512333; -85.656278 (Buckley North Marker)
20 Black Ash Marker 44°31′41.3″N 85°38′45.3″W / 44.528139°N 85.645917°W / 44.528139; -85.645917 (Black Ash Marker)
21 Mayfield Marker 44°33′20.2″N 85°38′07.4″W / 44.555611°N 85.635389°W / 44.555611; -85.635389 (Mayfield Marker)
22 Saint Mary Marker 44°35′06.0″N 85°38′07.3″W / 44.585000°N 85.635361°W / 44.585000; -85.635361 (Saint Mary Marker)
23 Mill Road Marker 44°37′16.4″N 85°38′07.4″W / 44.621222°N 85.635389°W / 44.621222; -85.635389 (Mill Road Marker)
24 Deer Marker 44°38′34.3″N 85°38′07.6″W / 44.642861°N 85.635444°W / 44.642861; -85.635444 (Deer Marker)
25 Vance Road Marker 44°39′27.4″N 85°39′20.1″W / 44.657611°N 85.655583°W / 44.657611; -85.655583 (Vance Road Marker)
26 Chums Corner Marker 44°40′18.8″N 85°39′45.1″W / 44.671889°N 85.662528°W / 44.671889; -85.662528 (Chums Corner Marker)
27 Rennie School Marker 44°41′11.5″N 85°39′20.8″W / 44.686528°N 85.655778°W / 44.686528; -85.655778 (Rennie School Marker)
28 Wemeck's Marker 44°43′02.1″N 85°38′41.1″W / 44.717250°N 85.644750°W / 44.717250; -85.644750 (Wemeck's Marker)
29 South Airport Marker 44°43′21.4″N 85°38′24.5″W / 44.722611°N 85.640139°W / 44.722611; -85.640139 (South Airport Marker)
30 Suburban Marker 44°43′50.3″N 85°38′08.6″W / 44.730639°N 85.635722°W / 44.730639; -85.635722 (Suburban Marker)
31 Cass Street Marker 44°44′52.6″N 85°37′15.6″W / 44.747944°N 85.621000°W / 44.747944; -85.621000 (Cass Street Marker)
32 Boardman River Marker 44°45′36.7″N 85°37′16.6″W / 44.760194°N 85.621278°W / 44.760194; -85.621278 (Boardman River Marker)
33 West Bay Marker 44°46′10.3″N 85°38′05.5″W / 44.769528°N 85.634861°W / 44.769528; -85.634861 (West Bay Marker)

References

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  1. ^ Ettawageshik, Frank (April 25, 2018). "Old Indian Trail - Cadillac to Traverse City". Cadillac, Michigan Area Visitors Bureau. Retrieved August 24, 2024.
  2. ^ "Old Indian Trail". Atlas Obscura. Retrieved August 24, 2024.
  3. ^ "Old Indian Trail Cadillac to Traverse City". Google My Maps. Retrieved August 24, 2024.
  4. ^ Restless Viking (May 14, 2023). 33 Mystery Markers in Northern Michigan - follow the trail from Cadillac to Traverse City. Retrieved August 24, 2024 – via YouTube.
  5. ^ Record-Eagle, LORAINE ANDERSON landerson@record-eagle comTraverse City (September 8, 2013). "Scout rescues Old Indian Trail markers from oblivion". Traverse City Record-Eagle. Retrieved August 24, 2024.