Every summer our family vacations in beautiful Northern Michigan. The area has a certain charm to it with its dense forests, peaceful beaches, lake breezes, fisheries, farm stands, and home-y small town atmosphere. Ever since I was a little girl, I loved standing on the beach, gazing out into the seemingly endless expanse of deep, glittering blue that is Lake Michigan. I would spend countless hours roaming the shore on the lookout for pretty stones tossed up by the waves.
One unique stone found exclusively in Northern Michigan is the Petoskey stone. When dry, the stone looks just like your average rock. But when immersed in water, it reveals an intricate pattern of circles that resemble little sunbursts. The stones are not always easy to identify at first glance, but once you know what you are looking for, spotting a Petoskey can be an exciting find!
A Bit of Geology — What you may not know about Petoskey stones
Petoskey stones are actually the fossilized remains of a 350-million-year-old coral from the Middle Devonian period in Michigan. During this time period, Michigan looked much different than it looks today. The state was closer to the equator and covered in warm, shallow, salt-water seas, ideal for marine life.
Each depression you see on a Petoskey stone was once inhabited by a polyp or living coral. The polyp had a sedentary lifestyle and used tentacles surrounding its mouth to capture and feed on plankton in the water. The Hexagonaria polyps of Petoskey stones lived in colonies and were so closely packed together that each took on a hexagonal shape—you can see these hexagonal outlines in the Petoskey fossils!
Petoskey stones can be found anywhere in Michigan from Traverse City to Alpena. However, most are found near Little Traverse Bay in Petoskey, Michigan. The stones are popularly used in jewelry and, depending on size and polish, a Petoskey can cost anywhere from $10- $100.
The Odawa Indian Legend of Petosegay
Petoskey stones also carry a rich, historical legacy. According to the Odawa legend…
In 1787, after spending the winter in what is now known as Chicago, an Odawa Indian Princess and her husband began traveling to their summer hunting grounds in Northern Michigan. The Princess’s husband was a French fur trader who had been welcomed by her tribe as an honorary Chief.
As the royal couple journeyed northward, they stopped and made camp on the banks of the Kalamazoo River. Here, the pregnant Princess gave birth to a son just before dawn. As the Chief held his newborn son in his arms, the sun began to rise in the sky, shining brilliantly on the face of the child.
The Chief named the boy Petosegay, which means “rays of the rising sun” or “sunbeams of promise.”
Petosegay grew up to be a skillful, intelligent, fair, and respected man. Many years later, a city began to form near Petosegay’s homeland, and it was agreed that the town should be called Petoskey, in honor of the beloved Petosegay.
The uniquely patterned Petoskey stones found along the shores of this city were also named for Petosegay. True to their namesake, the little circles of the stone resemble a sun with shining rays of light. It is said that this special stone not only carries the legacy of Petosegay, but also reminds us of the promise of tomorrow.
*To learn more about this Odawa Indian legend, check out Kathy-jo Wargin’s beautifully illustrated children’s book, The Legend of the Petoskey Stone.
Final Thoughts
After first learning about Petoskey stones from my great-great Aunt Eunice, I have always been captivated by their unique pattern. However, I think that knowing the science and history behind the stone gives it a much deeper meaning.
This beautiful stone is not only a reminder of our amazing Creator God—who gave life to tiny, intricate living coral animals and preserved their unique fossils for us to wonder at 350 million years later—but also a reminder of hope. Hope that comes from God, our Rock. And hope that comes with each sunrise, each beginning of a new day.
“Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning.” ~Lamentations 3:23
Elizabeth,
I too love Northern Michigan and love to search for Petosky stones. Thank you for sharing the history behind this beautiful stone. So amazing!
Thank you so much for your comment and for taking the time to read this post. I am glad you enjoyed learning more about Petoskey stones! 🙂