This Park and Shrine is the Reservation the Potawatomie were forced to march to, from Indiana in 1838 to 1848. The march was called "The Trail of Death" due to the many deaths due to hardship and sickness.
In 10 years there were over 600 buried at the reservation; their names are accounted for on several crosses in the Park.
In 1841, Catholic sisters in the Society of the Sacred Heart established a school for Potawatomi girls at the mission. They were led by Rose Philippine Duchesne (1769-1852), who brought the first members of that order to North America in 1818 and was instrumental in the founding of a number of schools. At the age of 72, she was frail and she only stayed at the frontier Mission for one year.
There are nature trails and many memorials and signs telling the story of the Potawatomi, the Trail of Death and of St. Philippine. There is a picnic area and signs point out the foundations of several of the buildings which were part of the mission.
Stories & Comments
Share Your Story (* fields required)
