Fort Miami

Fort Miami was a French fortification on the banks of the St. Joseph River with earthen walls arranged in a triangular pattern. Deep ditches surrounding the structure formed a defensive system to protect against attack.

René Robert Cavelier founded Fort Miami in November 1679 as a mission and trading post, marking the first European settlement in Michigan. The site later developed into a trading center under different operators.

The trading post served as a meeting place where French, Miami, and Potawatomi peoples exchanged goods and ideas on equal footing. This interaction shaped daily life at the river mouth and created bonds between distinct communities.

The location at the river mouth provided direct access to Lake Michigan and allowed control of water transportation routes. Visitors should know that the terrain was historically shaped by river bends that shifted over the years.

After the fort's decline, William Burnett established a trading post on the same ground and married Kaukema, daughter of a Potawatomi chief. This union showed how personal relationships shaped the European and native trade networks.

Location: Michigan

GPS coordinates: 42.11090,-86.48230

Latest update: December 11, 2025 18:06