Antoine de la Mothe Cadillac departed Montréal on 5 June 1701 with a convoy of 75 canoes. He sailed down the Saint Lawrence River and on 23 July camped 16 miles South of present day Detroit on what is now Grosse Ile. The next day he sailed back up river and arrived at the site that would become Detroit. He planted the flag of France, taking possesion in the name of King Louis XIV. On this site he built Fort Pontchartrain du Detroit.

On 24 July 2001 the French Canadian Heritage Society of Michigan erected a placque in memory of the 300th anniversary of the founding of Detroit.

 

 

The Photos were taken by FCHSM member Loraine DiCerbo and is used courtesy the Franch Canadian Historical Society of Michigan.

The placque is located on West Jefferson Avenue near Woodward Avenue in Hart Plaza. There is also a statue depicting the landing of Antoine de Lamothe Cadillac nearby.

Jack's 6th great-grandfather, Pierre Richard was in the convoy.