View Ancient Rock Carvings At This Historic Michigan State Park
The 7 Wonders of the World have long captivated people around the world, with these incredible structures built from 100 years to centuries ago still standing to this day. But before humans built towering projects, one of the original signs of progress was rock carvings known as petroglyphs.
While the Petroglyph Point Trail in the Mesa Verde National Park is arguably the most popular one of these, if you live in Michigan, it turns out you don't have to travel that far to witness one of these ancient wonders with your own eyes. Pay a visit to one of Michigan's historic sites, the Sanilac Petroglyphs.
The Sanilac Petroglyphs in Michigan's Thumb
A series of massive forest fires between 1871 and 1881, known as the Great Thumb Fires, decimated the land in Cass City and killed 400 people. However, there was a silver lining: the flames uncovered Michigan's largest known collection of early Native American teachings carved into stone, carvings that have been exposed to the elements for hundreds of years.
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As a result, these drawings have begun to wither away and have been subject to theft and vandalism over the year. These rock carvings include an eagle, a turtle, a hunter, a bird, and more, and are estimated to be between 300 and 1,400 years old.
Sanilac Petroglyphs Historic Site In Cass City
To preserve the historic carvings, the Sanilac Petroglyphs Historic Site was established in 1971 and is unique in that it is co-owned by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, Parks and Recreation Division; the Michigan History Center; and the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe of Michigan.
Together, these three organizations have built an enclosure over and around the glyphs to preserve them for years to come. If you'd like to visit the site, note that it is open Wednesday - Sunday, Memorial - Labor Day from 10 am to 5 pm.
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