MARQUETTE, Mich. (WZMQ) – A Marquette historian turned up the heat tonight as he led a walking tour around the city, highlighting the sites of over 120 fires.
A large crowd followed Jim Koski through the streets of downtown Marquette making stops along the way. Koski explained the significance of the fires which helped to shape the layout of Marquette.
“Marquette was shaped by two things, it was shaped by railroads, and it was shaped by fire,” Koski explained.
The walking tour is made possible thanks to help from the Marquette Regional History Center. Attendees were encouraged to donate $5 for the tour, with proceeds going back to the MRHC.
“I hope people take away the fact that there hasn’t been a major fire that has destroyed anything in downtown Marquette in over 50 years now, and it’s because of those earlier fires that we have the safety that we have today,” commented Koski.
Koski says the lecture can not be found online yet, but plans are underway to make it accessible online.
