The Cross in the Woods

Just off the highway in Indian River stands one of Michigan’s most-visited landmarks: the Cross in the Woods, a Catholic shrine built around an enormous crucifix. The cross itself is fifty-five feet tall, carved from a single giant redwood, and it carries a bronze figure of Christ that weighs about seven tons — the work of well-known Michigan sculptor Marshall Fredericks. It’s often called the largest crucifix in the world, and it’s certainly among the largest anywhere.

The shrine is more than the cross. The grounds include outdoor and indoor chapels, smaller statues and prayer gardens set among the pines, and even a museum of dolls dressed in the habits of religious orders. It draws a few hundred thousand visitors a year, many of them stopping on their way to or from the Straits, and it has been a designated national shrine since 2006.

Whether you come to pray or simply to see it, it’s a peaceful, beautifully kept place — and a genuine point of pride for the Indian River area. The grounds are open year-round during daylight hours. Learn more at crossinthewoods.com.