About this property
The Gros Cap Cemetery, once known as the Western Cemetery, is a cemetery located southeast of Gros Cap, Michigan on US 2. It is one of the oldest cemeteries in the United States to be continuously used, and a portion is contained in the Gros Cap Archaeological District. It was designated a Michigan State Historic Site in 1970 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1971. In the late 17th century, a group of Ottawa Indians settled in the area around West Moran Bay. The village had, at one time, 1500 people living in it. The Gros Cap Cemetery was originally adjacent to the tribal village and was used as their burial ground. As more European settlers moved into the area, the Ottawa population decreased due to further emigration or intermarriage with the arriving settlers. However, the cemetery continued to be used by French, English, and eventually American settlers. In 1889, the cemetery was placed under the jurisdiction of Moran Township, at which time the size of the cemetery was reduced and some of the remains reburied within the smaller remaining area. Later, the cemetery was increased in size to the north and east. The original cemetery covered a wide area; however, the current Gros Cap Cemetery is a plot of land measuring 375 by 600 feet (114 by 183 m), surrounded by a chain link fence. The cemetery contains the graves of both Indians and Europeans, with wooden crosses, 19th century headstones, and modern tombstones. "Gros Cap Cemetery, Oldest Cemetery in Continuous Use, Unearthing the History Connecting Michiganders". FOX 17 West Michigan News. Grand Rapids, Michigan: WXMI-TV. October 5, 2020. Nerm, Craig F.; Cleland, Charles E. (March 1974). "The Gros Cap Cemetery Site, St. Ignace, Michigan: A Reconsideration of the Greenlees Collection". Michigan Archaeologist. Vol. 20. pp. 1–58. Quimby, George (December 1963). "The Gros Cap Cemetery Site in Mackinac County, Michigan". Michigan Archaeologist. Vol. 9. pp. 50–57. Quimby, George Irving (1966). Indian Culture and European Trade Goods: The Archaeology of the Historic Period in the Western Great Lakes Region. University of Wisconsin Press. pp. 125–134. ISBN 0299040747. Media related to Gros Cap Cemetery at Wikimedia Commons
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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.
Everything a full report reveals about Gros Cap Cemetery
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Questions about this property
When was Gros Cap Cemetery listed on the National Register?
Gros Cap Cemetery was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on April 15, 1971.
What type of historic resource is Gros Cap Cemetery?
Gros Cap Cemetery is classified as a site in the National Register of Historic Places.
What is the period of significance for Gros Cap Cemetery?
The period of significance for Gros Cap Cemetery is recorded as the listed era.
Can I research the history near Gros Cap Cemetery?
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 Gros Cap Cemetery will include this listing and all other historical records in the area.
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