Samuel de Champlain, Father of New France, made twenty-nine journeys to the New World, first joining a fur-trading expedition in 1603. By promising Henry IV additional expedition reports, Champlain gained passage on a second trip to a St. Croix Island settlement. Further exploration in 1609 landed Samuel Champlain on the Isle of La Motte, an island in today's state of Vermont. Celebrating Champlain arrival four centuries later, the Isle of La Motte raised a tribute to the sea captain, a granite statue by E. L. Weber.
   In 1666, a French built fort offered settlers protection from Native Americans. The fort, plus a 300 man contingent fell under Sieur de la Motte. A shrine was built there, and Jesuit priests lead services for the fort's troops. Over 200 hundred years had passed when the Roman Catholic Diocese of Burlington acquired the St. Anne site and constructed a replacement shrine. Today, the Shrine to St. Anne is one of the most popular stops on the island.
   One of a string of Hero Islands, Isle la Motte is surround by the beautiful waters of Lake Champlain. One of the island's first lighthouses was simply a lantern placed in a second story window. Today's Isle la Motte Lighthouse, built in 1880, belong to private owners. The Clark family, owners of the 25 foot cast tower, agreed to U.S. Coast Guard plans to relight the lighthouse, left in darkness for 70 years. The re-lighting ceremony attracted over 300 lighthouse fans on October 5, 2002. The beacon's orange paint has faded over time and is now affectionately called Nantucket red.

     Area Map