• Monday-What'sUP October 4 - 02:48 pm

I can only imagine what it must be like for a first time visitor to the area, when they come around Keweenaw Bay between L'Anse and Baraga and see the Bishop Baraga statue up on the bluff there. If you live around there and pass that spot on a regular basis, you probably don't even notice him up there anymore. But when Cindy Freeman was going by, she made a spur-of-the-moment decision to stop there that day.

Cindy said she's taken photos there before, but that day, the lighting was just right when they stopped there. Add in the beautiful colors in the trees, especially the gorgeous red right by the statue, along with the brilliant blue sky, dotted with clouds and you have the perfect picture.

If you've never stopped there to see this sculpture in person or it's been awhile since you have, then make sure you allow some extra time when next you travel through Baraga/L'Anse, so you can check it out for yourself. The statue seems to grow the closer you get to it. It's larger than life when he's gazing down upon you.

great place to sit and just reflect and think and meditate.

Very nice pix...and yes, it is a perfect day. I've stayed at the Baraga Lakeside Inn at least a dozen times, but have never stopped their...my bad.

Beautiful spot. Been there many times but still
love it.

Up on the North Shore here in MN, there's the
Cross River. It's named for Bishop Baraga who
left Brule, WI. in a canoe to head to Grand
Marais, MN. There was some sort of outbreak
there or something like that. Anyway, they
landed in MN at the Cross River and there's a
cross down by the lake pointing out where he
landed. At least I think this is how it went.
If anybody knows any differently, please
enlighten us. It's a great story. How brave to
try to cross that lake in a canoe. He was so
lucky to have lived.

I love that spot also. It's another place to sit
and reflect on what a great man he was.

Beautiful photos, Cindy!
Am curious ~ is there a significant purpose in the design or shape of the base on which the statue stands?

PHENOMENAL! I've not been up there, and I really want
to get up there. Mark Krueger of Northern Landscapes
dot com, was hired to redo the grounds of the Bishop
Baraga....and the man knows what he's doing...I CAN'T
WAIT to see what he's done!!

GREAT pics!

Just a bit of info on the design:

Five nine-and-a-half foot teepees, each representing an Indian mission started by Baraga, hold massive curved wood beams that meet at a stainless steel cloud twenty-five feet above the ground.

JBuck, Thanks for answering that question. I was trying to look it up when I saw your post. I found this site that has tons of information about Bishop Baraga if anyone is interested in finding out more about him.

http://www.dioceseofmarquette.org/bishopbaragaassociation/baragapilgrimage

Wow, that is interesting, I had no idea that it was that large!
Thank you, Jbuck and Cindy.

He was called the Snowshoe Priest. See how he is
holding his snowshoes. I stopped here one time and
it is impressive. Also I have pictures of the
cross that was erected on the north shore. He was
crossing the lake in a canoe with some native
Americans and a storm swiftly came up and they
barely made it to shore in Minn. He was so
thankful to be alive that he erected a wooden
cross there. It deteriated through the years and a
club erected a granite cross there. My picture of
it hangs on my bedroom wall.

Beautiful photos, and a fine tribute to Bishop Baraga.

Yes, Sarah! I have pictures of that cross, also.
It's a great place to go...beautiful there. We
stayed there for quite some time.