Lewis Cass Lowers the Last Foreign Flag in Michigan

On June 16, 1820 Territorial Governor Lewis Cass lowered a British flag flying over Sault Ste. Marie. It was the last foreign flag to assert sovereignty over any part of Michigan. This bold act wasn’t just a symbolic gesture—it was part of a much larger and significant expedition that helped shape Michigan’s future.

In 1820, Michigan Territory was still a rugged, sparsely mapped frontier. To assert U.S. control and gather valuable information, the Secretary of War, John C. Calhoun, authorized Governor Lewis Cass to lead an ambitious scientific and political expedition across the region. On May 24 of that year, Cass and a diverse group—soldiers, scientists, Native American guides, and hardy voyageurs—departed Detroit in large canoes to explore the vast western territory.

Exploring the Michigan Territory

Their goals were far-reaching: survey the geography, document plant and animal life, learn about Native tribes and their allegiances, find valuable minerals, and—no small task—search for the source of the Mississippi River. Along the way, they aimed to identify strategic locations for future military forts, including one at Sault Ste. Marie.

British Influence is Over

When the expedition reached Sault Ste. Marie in mid-June, Cass held a council with local Ojibwa leaders to request permission to establish an Indian agency. Many of the Ojibwa still favored the British, and tensions flared when one of their chiefs—known as “The Count”—raised a British flag near the American camp. Cass responded with dramatic authority, tearing down the flag and stomping it into the ground. The act sent a clear message: British influence was over. Following the confrontation, the Ojibwa ceded 16 square miles of land along the St. Mary’s River, paving the way for the establishment of Fort Brady two years later.

The expedition pressed on, continuing around Lake Superior and into the dense wilderness. Along the Ontonagon River, they encountered the now-famous copper rock—a massive, naturally occurring deposit that hinted at Michigan’s future mining wealth. They also split into two groups near the western end of Lake Superior in their pursuit of the Mississippi’s source. Despite hardships like illness, swampy terrain, and supply delays, they reached as far as what is now Cass Lake in Minnesota before turning back.

The Lewis Cass Expedition of 1820 wasn’t just a journey into uncharted territory—it was a mission that solidified U.S. sovereignty, expanded scientific knowledge, and laid the groundwork for Michigan’s development. And on this day, when Lewis Cass trampled that British flag into the earth, it marked the beginning of a new era. There would not be any more foreign flags flying over Michigan.

So the next time you stroll through Sault Ste. Marie or visit Cass Lake, remember the expedition that helped put Michigan on the map—literally.

Marisa Fancy along with her husband and four children dreamt of moving “Up North”. They had vacationed for years in northern Michigan and in 1995 they finally made the move.

The family was always out exploring, but with 4 kids there was some limitations on what they could do. Marisa discovered the amazing network of trails in Northern Michigan after Steve died and she would walk for miles. The trails provided her with peace, comfort and solitude at a difficult time in her life. Later, after meeting Guy who would become her second husband, she learned to golf and found another passion she could enjoy in beautiful Northern Michigan.

Marisa has been the family historian, writer, and poet for as long as she can remember. She has always loved to write and has now found a creative outlet for it other than family. You can read her articles in Adventures in Northern Michigan, Northern Michigan History and Golf Up North.