Niles has potential as 'major heritage tourist destination'

Fort Mackinac doesn't have anything on Fort St. Joseph in Niles when it comes to potential as a "major heritage tourist destination," Western Michigan University archaeologist Dr. Michael Nassaney said Wednesday night at The Museum at Southwestern Michigan College.

"This is a project that isn't of interest only to people in Niles and southwest Michigan," the anthropology professor said. "In fact, it's gaining national and international recognition among scholars. This site is real.

"I was recently asked to speak about the site in Nova Scotia at the French Colonial Historical Society's annual meeting. People throughout the country, throughout the world now, are very much interested in what we're doing at Fort St. Joseph," which represents one of the oldest settlements in lower Michigan.