Petoskey Stone: How This Michigan Treasure Got Its Name

There are some things in life that, no matter how old you get or how many times you see them, still feel as cool as they did the very first time.

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For me, one of those things is Michigan's state stone: the Petoskey stone.

In elementary school, I remember going on a field trip to a museum, seeing them up close, and being able to hold them in my hand—looking at them with curiosity and wonder.

Still to this day, when I see one, I can't help but take a second to look it over and appreciate it.

While I knew that a Petoskey stone is an ancient fossil, I didn't know the story behind how it got its name.

Why Is the Petoskey Stone the State Stone of Michigan?

The Petosky stone got it's name after Chief Pet-O-Sega (also called Petosegay), an Ottawa chief whose name means “rays of dawn” or “sunbeams of promise”.

According to legend, Petosegay was a descendant of French nobleman and fur trader Antoine Carre and an Ottawa daughter of a chief.

Read More: 25 Things Michigan Is Known And Famous For

Building on his father's start and his place among the Ottawa, Petosegay became a wealthy fur trader who also acquired a lot of land in the region.

In the summer of 1873, a few years before the chief's death, settlers began to develop a village on his land along Little Traverse Bay.

Any guess on what the name is? If you guessed Petoskey, way to go!

In 1965 The Petoskey stone became Michigan’s official state stone.

Where Can You Find Petoskey Stones

If you're not the adventurous type, a simple search online will give you several different options.

For about $40 you can buy some from the Petoskey Stone Shop, or you can also find some for sale on eBay.

Now, if you don't want to spend that kind of money or just enjoy going on a fun adventure, you can find Petoskey stones mostly on the beaches and sand dunes around Petoskey, Michigan, and the northern Lower Peninsula.

People like to look for them along the shore, especially after big storms or when the ice melts in spring.

If you’re hunting for them, bring a water bottle to spray rocks and see if the pattern shows up.

Petoskey stones are just one of the many amazing things that Michigan is known for.