History of Grand Junction:

The first people in this region, 400 years and more ago, were the Mound Builders, a highly developed people who produced copper cookware, etc., with great skill and also created the arrowheads and stone implements that we find today.

The Mound Dwellers, named after their earth works of various sizes all over this region, were believed it’s first dwellers. Where they came from or where they went is a matter of conjecture.

Many believe this civilization, melters of copper, makers of specialized stone tools, implements and arrowheads, migrated south, where they established the Kingdom of Mexico. In 1519, Cortes, the Spanish conqueror who invaded Mexico said the natives there were as advanced in arts and sciences as the Spanish, except they had no knowledge of gunpowder. That these implements and utensils were not the work of the Algonquins and (Potawatomies) is verified by them, the only Indian races known to the white man in this area. The story goes and this was verified later; that one of their chiefs while hunting (about 300 years ago) came upon a huge copper kettle partially buried in the forest and overgrown with roots. It’s size was such that a whole deer or bear could be cooked in it. The kettle was still like new as the spot in the center of the bottom still was shiny. The writing of an educated Indian, Chief Blackbird, also confirmed the story, adding from this and other relics, “the former inhabitants were further advanced in the arts and sciences than we.” The (Potawatomies) Indians dominated this area for many years. They had migrated to this area (including the largest part of South Western Michigan) from southern Wisconsin around 1740. The Indians did not believe (or were interested) in land ownership. While they lived on it, they protected it.