St. Francis Solanus Mission Church

101 West Lake Street

The land the church stands on was sold by Amamwe, an Odawa, to Jean Baptiste Trotochaud and his Ojibwe wife, Sophia Anaquet. Later they donated nearly an acre of the land to the Catholic Church. Jean, under the guidance of Father Sifferath, built the mission church in 1859. In 1860 Bishop Frederic Baraga blessed and dedicated the mission for use by the natives and settlers. Mass was celebrated at least four times a year. The mission was restored in 1884. It was abandoned by 1896 and restored again in 1931, 1959, and from 2005-2008. It is thought to be the oldest standing building in Emmet County.