Northern Michigan and the Petoskey area is well known for its Petoskey Stones, Grandpa Shorter's carries a wide selection for you to choose from. From polished slabs and stones to jewelry made locally, there will be something for everyone.
What exactly is a Petoskey Stone? The Michigan State Stone since 1965, this stone is actually a fossilized coral dating 350 - 400 million years ago, when a salt water sea covered Michigan. The coral's official name is Hexagonaria, because of its six-sided shape. This coral colony was home to many salt water organisms and animals.
Over time, silt and mud settled to the bottom of this sea, and covered the coral. The coral petrified, and the silt and mud filled in the holes. Petoskey Stones are pieces of this petrified coral. The glaciers pushed the fossilized corals into many areas in Northern Lower Michigan. But because the stones are found more abundantly around Petoskey, these fossilized pieces of coral were given the name Petoskey Stone.
