Marquette

Marquette is a port city in Michigan's Upper Peninsula along Lake Superior with commercial districts, residential neighborhoods, and a park system. The waterfront promenade connects public green spaces with boat marinas and sand beaches for swimmers and kayakers.

Iron ore deposits near Teal Lake were discovered in the 1840s and transformed the settlement into a shipping port. By the late nineteenth century millions of tons of ore left the docks each year bound for steel mills on the southern Great Lakes.

Families walk along shore paths in the evening hours after dinner while locals use the waterfront routes for jogging and dog walking. The name comes from Jacques Marquette, a seventeenth-century Jesuit missionary who explored the region.

Visitors can walk along lake trails or stroll through commercial streets near the harbor where local restaurants and shops are open. Winter brings ice fishing and skiing options nearby while summer works best for water sports.

A lighthouse from 1866 stands at the end of a long breakwater that pedestrians and photographers can reach during calm lake conditions. The red sandstone structure served as a navigation aid for cargo ships and still operates today.

Location: Marquette County

Inception: 1849

Elevation above the sea: 203 m

Website: https://marquettemi.gov

GPS coordinates: 46.54361,-87.39556

Latest update: December 12, 2025 21:08