Sacred Rock (Presque Isle County) facts for kids
The Sacred Rock is a very large boulder found on the shore of Lake Huron in Northern Lower Michigan. This huge rock is about 20 feet long, 8 feet wide, and 6 feet high. It is located about 6 miles north of Rogers City, Michigan, close to P.H. Hoeft State Park. You can find it in front of private homes. The easiest way to visit is to turn east off U.S. 23 onto State Park Road. Park where the road ends at the lake, then walk about half a mile north along the beach. The rock is usually partly buried in the sand. However, when the lake water is very high, the rock can be partly or even fully underwater.
The Sacred Rock's Past
Many years ago, Native American tribes lived in the area of Presque Isle County. They traveled around, hunting and fishing. The Sacred Rock was very important to them. It sits between the Ocqueoc River and Swan River. This made it a key boundary marker for different tribes. It was also used as a special altar for animal sacrifices.
Scientists believe the rock was left behind by the last glaciers that formed the Great Lakes. It probably came all the way from the Lake Superior region in Canada. Today, the Sacred Rock is a recognized tourist spot. It is also listed as a historic and archaeological site by the Northeast Michigan Regional Planning Commission.
Amazing Stories About the Rock
People have told stories about the Sacred Rock for a long time. Frederick Denny Larke wrote one of these stories in 1909. He said:
"The story of the Sacred Rock goes like this: Many ages ago, the rock's spot was the border between the hunting grounds of two Native American tribes. One chief was very aggressive and often went into the other tribe's land. This caused a lot of trouble and fighting. Finally, the chiefs met while one was trespassing. A big argument started. It looked like another bloody war would begin between the tribes. But Kitchie Manitou, the Great Spirit, who was up near Lake Superior, became very angry with both of them. He grabbed the Sacred Rock and threw it down. It crushed both chiefs under its huge weight. The rock was so heavy that the banks above the beach have been sliding and shaking ever since. Because of this, the Rock became a sacred object for the Native American people."
Other stories say that when it rains, you can see the blood of the dead Indian chiefs on the rock.
