Fort de Buade

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.