Fletcher Site
National Register of Historic Places

Fletcher Site

Bay City, Bay County, Michigan
Listed
April 15, 1971
Type
Site
Period
Listed
Ref No.
71001018

About this property

The Fletcher Site, also designated 20BY28, is a Native American cemetery and archaeological site, located on the west bank of the Saginaw River in Bay City, Michigan. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1971. It is likely that occupation of the area around the Fletcher Site dates back to the Early Woodland period. However, trade goods found in the cemetery portion of the site date the burials to the mid-1700s. Manuscripts from this time indicate that the area around Saginaw Bay was inhabited at the time by Odawa and Ojibwe people. Maps indicate the presence of a village at the site of this burial ground, and trade goods found in the site date the cemetery to about this time period. There is no record of this village after 1765, and it seems likely that the settlement was disbanded around this time. The Fletcher Site was discovered in modern times during construction activities in 1967. Archaeologists from Michigan State University excavated the site in 1967, 1968, and 1970. The Fletcher Site is located on the outer bank at a bend in the Saginaw River only a few miles upstream from Saginaw Bay. The elevation of the site is only a few feet above that of Lake Huron. When occupied, the site was likely directly on the shore of the river. Remains of 93 individuals from 85 grave sites were recovered during archaeological excavations. At least two dozen other graves were completely destroyed. Graves were laid out in at least five rows, with bodies interred in wooden boxes apparently aligned with the direction of the rising sun. European trade goods, including beads, knives, and silver, were placed with the bodies.

Location

Bay City, Bay County, Michigan

Categories

PREHISTORICHISTORIC - ABORIGINAL
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

Unlimited access

Everything a full report reveals about Fletcher Site

This page lists Fletcher Site. A full Aubrey report for an address near it pulls together this listing alongside battlefield records, land patents, and every other historical record within a chosen radius:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
First month just $5.99, then $11.99 a month. Unlimited locations, cancel anytime.

Every location is different. Not every section appears for every place, only what the historical record actually holds turns up in a report.

Start your Fletcher Site report
Or see a real report first

Questions about this property

When was Fletcher Site listed on the National Register?

Fletcher Site was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on April 15, 1971.

What type of historic resource is Fletcher Site?

Fletcher Site is classified as a site in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Fletcher Site?

The period of significance for Fletcher Site is recorded as the listed era.

Can I research the history near Fletcher Site?

Yes. Aubrey Research reports search National Register listings, battlefield records, land patents, and other primary historical sources within any radius of a US address. A report for an address near Fletcher Site will include this listing and all other historical records in the area.

More in Bay County

Historic places, battles, and census history across Bay County.

Explore BayCounty ›

More historic places in Michigan

Browse all historic places in Michigan.

View Michiganhistoric sites ›

Conflict records

Explore 19,000+ military engagements across American history.

Browse US conflicts ›

Michigan history

Colonial settlement, territorial period, and statehood narrative.

Michiganhistory ›

Research the history near this site

An Aubrey US report for an address near Fletcher Site will include this listing alongside battlefield records and other historical sources within your chosen radius.

Research your locationView a free sample report