Legends of the Petoskey Stone

This fascinating program introduces the audience to the legend behind one of Michigan’s most iconic natural treasures—the Petoskey Stone. Found primarily in the northern part of Michigan’s Lower Peninsula, the stone’s unique sunburst pattern is said to resemble “sunbeams of promise,” a meaning drawn from the Native American word Pet-O-Sega.

Audiences will learn the story of Chief Pet-O-Sega, a respected Ottawa leader named by his father at sunrise on the day he was born. His legacy lives on not only in the name of the beautiful fossilized stone, but also, in the town of Petoskey, named in his honor.

Through storytelling, cultural history, and natural science, this program connects Michigan’s geology with Indigenous heritage, inspiring Michiganders to appreciate both the land they live on and the stories it holds.