The Petoskey Center is named after the state rock of Michigan. It is a fossilized remain of ancient coral which existed 350 million years ago during the Devonian period. The fossils have an intricate hexagonal design which is best seen when wet or polished. 

 "According to legend, a descendant of French nobility named Antoine Carre visited what is now the Petoskey area and became a fur trader with the John Jacob Astor Fur Company. In time, he met and married an Ottawa (or Odawa) Indian princess. Carre became known to the Indians as Neaatooshing. He was eventually adopted by the tribe and made chief.
 
In the spring of 1787, after having spent the winter near what is now Chicago, Chief Neaatooshing and his royal family started home. On the way, the party camped on the banks of the Kalamazoo River. During the night, a son was born.... As the sun rose, its rays fell on the face of the new baby. Seeing the sunshine on his son's face, the Chief proclaimed, "His name shall be Petosegay. He shall become an important person. " (Source: https://project.geo.msu.edu/geogmich/petoskystone.html)

Petoskey has been translated in multiple ways including   "where the light shines through the clouds," "rising sun," "rays of dawn," or "sunbeams of promise."

​We hope patients and their families can find the Petoskey Stone image as a source of hope as they make their way through the treatment process.

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