Welcome to the Encyclopedia of French Cultural Heritage in North America! As you browse the site, you will learn about the heritage of French-speaking North America, as well as about its history and diversity. Get to know the people who preserve and cherish it, discover the places where it finds expression and become familiar with the trends that have shaped and influenced its evolution throughout history.
Article Summary
By Thierry, Éric
Father Marquette Monument in Laon: Commemorating an North American Historical Figure on French soil
Born in Laon, Northern France, in 1637, the Jesuit priest Jacques Marquette discovered the Mississippi River in 1673, as he explored the region alongside Louis Jolliet, the Quebec-born noble, merchant and explorer. Father Marquette died near the present-day city of Ludington, Michigan, in 1675. When his bones were discovered in 1877, he became a renowned historical figure in the United States, but remained largely unrecognized in France. The story of the monument built in 1937 in Marquette's hometown to honour this North American historical figure illustrates just how whimsical the ...
The English version of the Encyclopedia of French Cultural Heritage in North America is online since December 15th, 2009. It features an ever growing number of articles, documents and resources on the heritage of French-speaking North America.
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