Located at the south end of Washington Boulevard near where it crosses Michigan Avenue, this marker…read morepoints out some of the history of the War of 1812 that passed through. The marker was erected in 2019 by the Michigan Historical Commission and the Michigan History Center. It is marker number S0242. On the front, it reads "On June 18, 1812, the United States Congress declared war on Great Britain. William Hull, Michigan's first territorial governor, was selected to lead the U.S. army at Detroit. He invaded Canada on July 12, but soon lost battles south of Detroit and withdrew. On August 16, 1812, the British attacked Fort Detroit. Hull surrendered. Britain governed the city under martial law until Oliver Hazard Perry gained control of the upper Great Lakes in September 1813. American forces returned to Detroit and launched a successful invasion of Canada. The citizens of Detroit lived in an uneasy peace until they learned, on February 20, 1815, of the December 24, 1814, signing of the Treaty of Ghent. On March 29 they celebrated the war's end with a "Grand Pacification Ball."" And on the reverse, "In reaction to Oliver Hazard Perry's Lake Erie victory, the British withdrew from Detroit on September 26, 1813, setting fire to the buildings within the fort and the Citadel. Three days later, United States troops returned to a city that lacked housing and food supplies. A disease, probably cholera, broke out among the soldiers. By December 1, 1813, an estimated 1,300 of them were ill. The medical supplies were soon depleted; conditions worsened. When coffins became unobtainable, many soldiers were buried in a common grave at this site. Some 700 may have died before the epidemic finally ran its course. This grave site was identified in 1987 during an archaeological survey for the People Mover that found four burials associated with the War of 1812." There is metered parking. The marker is in a linear park that takes up the center of the wide boulevard for a few blocks. It's a peaceful small oasis in the city. [Review 956 of 2025 - 441 in Michigan - 24511 overall]

This marker stands on the east side of Campus Martinus Park where it meets up with Michigan Avenue…read more When I saw it, it was a little back in the landscaping, and I had to pull back some of it to read it in its entirety. It points out the history of one of Michican infantry units from the Civil War. The front reads, "The Iron Brigade. The Iron Brigade became one of the most celebrated military units of the American Civil War (1861-1865). It was composed of five volunteer infantry regiments (2nd, 6th & 7th Wisconsin, 19th Indiana, and 24th Michigan) and Battery B, 4th U.S. Artillery. These men ranked among the most gallant and effective of the Union Army. Wearing distinctive black hats, they were easily recognized by friend and foe alike. U.S.-12 (Michigan/Woodward Ave.) is named the Iron Brigade Memorial Highway in their honor. "The Iron Brigade was given its nickname by General George B. McClellan as he witnessed them stand like "iron" against the enemy in Turner's Gap at the Battle of South Mountain, Maryland, September 14, 1862. They served in all major engagements of the Army of the Potomac. "Iron Brigade casualties ranked among the highest of the war. The 2nd Wisconsin suffered the greatest percentage loss of the entire Union Army, the 7th Wisconsin had more men killed in battle than any other Union regiment, and the 24th Michigan sustained the greatest numerical loss of all Union regiments involved at Gettysburg." The reverse reads, "Twenty-Fourth Michigan Volunteer Infantry Regiment. Events on Detroit's Campus Martius spurred the patriotic citizenry to raise a special regiment from this area and so the 24th Michigan Infantry mustered into U.S. service on August 15, 1862, numbering 1,030 men. The "24th" was also known as, "The Detroit and Wayne County Regiment," as enlistments totalled 428 from the city and 479 from the townships. Commanded by Colonel Henry A. Morrow (Recorder's Court Judge), these volunteer soldiers became part of the famous Iron Brigade and first distinguished themselves, under enemy fire, at the battle of Fredericksburg. Virginia. They fought at Chancellorsville and in three other engagements before Gettysburg -- where they entered the battle with 496 men. After the first day's fight, only 99 men remained with their flag. The sacrifice of the 24th Michigan and the Iron Brigade helped slow the Confederate advance upon Gettysburg and allowed Federal forces to gain a position for victory. "The 24th Michigan struggled through 14 more battles, including the siege of Petersburg, Virginia. On May 4, 1865 the "Detroit and Wayne County Regiment" served as funeral escort for President Abraham Lincoln in Springfield, Illinois. The 24th Michigan Infantry mustered out and disbanded at Detroit on June 30, 1865." The marker was erected in 1995 by Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War. [Review 697 of 2025 - 404 in Michigan - 24258 overall]

My eye caught the historical marker before I noticed the structure. It's in downtown Detroit on a…read moreblock surrounded by parking lots and other buildings that could use some more attention, and the People Mover went past as I was admiring it. The marker reads, "Alexander Chapoton built this Queen Anne style townhouse in the early 1870s. Chapoton, a builder, was one of the contractors for the state capitol in Lansing. A descendant of one of Detroit's oldest families, he was a state legislator and a member of the Detroit Board of Public Works. He built this house at a time when Beaubien Street consisted mostly of Victorian row houses. The house, which features a unique Queen Anne living hall, became an art gallery and studio in the 1980s. The marker was erected in 1987 by the Bureau of History, Michigan Department of State. It is number L0808. [Review 685 of 2025 - 393 in Michigan - 24246 overall]

Unveiled in 1921, the fountain is a tribute to one of Michigan's most influential figures. Alger, a…read moreCivil War general, lumber baron, and railroad magnate, also served as Governor of Michigan, U.S. Senator, and Secretary of War under President McKinley. The monument is a collaboration between two artistic giants: Daniel Chester French, the sculptor behind the Lincoln Memorial's seated figure, and Henry Bacon, its architect. French created a seven-foot bronze allegorical figure representing the state of Michigan, with one hand raised in greeting and the other holding a sword and shield bearing the state crest. The granite pedestal features a bas-relief portrait of Alger surrounded by laurel, and lion heads serve as water spouts into the surrounding bowl. It was cast by the Gorham Manufacturing Company and installed two years later. Though the statue suffered vandalism in the 1970s--with its sword and plaque stolen--restoration efforts in 1997 replaced the missing elements, preserving this Beaux-Arts masterpiece as a lasting symbol of civic pride and artistic excellence. Wading in the fountain isn't allowed and on a hot day, it might have been fun. Still, a pretty fountain and a great tribute to a great man. Note that this is the fountain on the EAST side of Grand Circus. There is another fountain on the WEST side. [Review 966 of 2025 - 448 in Michigan - 24520 overall]

Located on the Riverfront between Hart Plaza and the actual Detroit River, this sculpture faces…read moreCanada. It commemorates the city's role as a major terminal in the Underground Railroad. Created by artist Ed Dwight and unveiled in 2001, the memorial features a dramatic bronze tableau of eight freedom seekers and conductor George DeBaptiste, pointing toward Canada. It symbolizes hope, resistance, and the perilous journey to liberation across the Detroit River. The 10-by-12-foot bronze sculpture also includes quilt square engravings referencing the myth of "freedom quilts" and a lantern motif etched into the base. The memorial honors the diverse coalition - African Americans, white allies, and Native Americans - who helped thousands escape slavery, and it marks Detroit's historic code name in the Underground Railroad: Midnight Created by Ed Dwight, a renowned sculptor known for memorializing African American history, it was unveiled on October 20, 2001 as part of Detroit's tricentennial celebration. On the Canadian side, Windsor hosts a companion sculpture called Tower of Freedom, also by Ed Dwight, reinforcing the shared legacy of resistance and refuge between the two cities. Maybe next time, I'll cross over and check it out. [Review 710 of 2025 - 415 in Michigan - 24270 overall]

The historical marker honoring "George" William Dolarson in Detroit is a quietly powerful tribute…read moreto one of the city's lesser-known but deeply courageous figures of the Underground Railroad. Located near the site of the former Finney Barn, the marker anchors a story that blends grit, moral conviction, and the quiet heroism of everyday resistance. It reads, "'George"'William Dolarson was born into slavery in Virginia in 1808. At age eighteen, he was sold three times. He lived in Natchez, Mississippi, until he self-e1nancipated and fled to Buffalo, New York, around 1834. There he was a sailor and encountered the Under-ground Railroad. He 1narried Maria Fletcher (1819-1891) in Canandaigua, New York, before coming to Detroit in 1836 and buying a farm. They briefly lived in Canada after the passage of the 1850 Fugitive Slave Act. Dolarson, working and staying on this site as the Capitol School's janitor from 1851 to 1854, aided freedo1n seekers brought here by abolitionists, such as Asher Array. He hid them in his home and in the Finney Barn before helping the1n cross into Canada. In 1854 he joined the California Gold Rush. Later, back in Detroit, the Dolarsons lived on Croghan Street, where he died on May 9, 1889." The marker's location in downtown Detroit adds another layer of resonance. It's not just a plaque--it's a portal into a time when the city was a critical junction for those seeking freedom in Canada. Dolarson's story, preserved here, reminds passersby that history isn't only made by generals and governors--it's shaped by janitors, farmers, and fugitives who dared to act. [Review 1007 of 2025 - 482 in Michigan - 24561 overall]

This is a small park at a busy intersection, nevertheless, is it a very powerful place to visit…read more  There are plenty of places to eat within walking distance.  Parking is available at the MGM Grand and other nearby locations including on the street within walking distance.  It has been planted with trees that surround this imposing statue of our Revolutionary War Hero General Thaddeus Kosciuszko. This cast statue is the work of the Warsaw-bornItalian-Polish sculptor, Leonard Marconi. It was cast in 1889 for the groundsof the Wawel Castle in Krakow. To honor Detroit on the bicentennial of the United States, the city of Krakow had the statue cast and then donated it tothe city. Sculptor: Leonard Marconi Date of original casting: 1889 Date of the establishment of this copy: 1978 Materials: Granite and bronze Andrzej Tadeusz Bonawentura Kościuszko (Andrew Thaddeus Bonaventure Kosciuszko was a Polish-Lithuanian military engineer, statesman, and military leader who became a national hero in Poland, Lithuania, Belarus, and the United States. He fought in the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth's struggles against Russia and Prussia, and on the U.S. side in the American Revolutionary War. As Supreme Commander of the Polish National Armed Forces, he led the 1794 Kościuszko Uprising.

On a hot summer afternoon, it was awesome to see this fountain running and being a great…read moreentertainment for kids in the Sun. Horace Elgin Dodge (1868-1920) was a pioneering American industrialist and co-founder of the Dodge Brothers Company, whose mechanical ingenuity helped shape the early automotive industry. Alongside his brother John, Horace built a legacy of innovation and craftsmanship that propelled Dodge into becoming one of the largest automakers in the U.S. by the early 20th century. The Horace E. Dodge and Son Memorial Fountain, located at the heart of Detroit's Hart Plaza, was designed by renowned sculptor Isamu Noguchi and completed in 1978. The fountain's futuristic stainless-steel ring structure and powerful water jets were meant to symbolize Detroit's industrial strength and innovation, honoring the Dodge family's legacy in the automotive industry. It's an impressive and quite unique fountain. Don't miss it when you're in Hart Plaza! This isn't the first Noguchi artwork I've experienced. The Pylon is nearby and I've also seen the Red Cube in Helmsley Plaza New York and the Bolt of Lightning in Philadelphia. [Review 709 of 2025 - 414 in Michigan - 24269 overall]

For his automobile industry contributions, a fountain in his name, and his son, was built known as…read morethe Horace E. Dodge and Son Memorial Fountain. The memorial fountain is one of the must visits for me whenever I visit the city of Detroit for mostly the Detroit Free Press Marathon. I always anticipate finishing up at Huntington Place for the health and fitness expo just so I can see the memorial fountain along with the nearby Monument to Joe Louis, Spirit of Detroit, and Hart Plaza which is where the memorial fountain sits. For me, a visit to the city of Detroit is never complete without visiting Hart Plaza! As for Hart Plaza, it is named in honor of the late Senator Philip A. Hart, a Democratic Senator who is known as the "Conscience of the Senate" for his work on civil rights and the environment. On a nice day, as was my latest visit, there were several activities going on like individuals riding segways around the memorial fountain, and people touring and enjoying the sights within the immediate area. From May to October, depending on the weather you can catch a glimpse of the memorial fountain activated. Along with the memorial fountain, there are a few commemorative statues and monuments in this area which are the Antoine de la Mothe Cadillac Statue, Pylon, Transcending, and the Gateway to Freedom International Memorial to the Underground Railroad. And along with that you also get a glimpse of Windsor, Ontario Canada from a distance. Being that I visit during the time of the Detroit Free Press Marathon, I always park at Huntington Place, which is typically my go-to for parking due to the event. If you have interest in other parking options, there are plentiful of them which also may be cheaper than Huntington Place, but keep in mind that you may have a longer walk. If you are planning to visit downtown Detroit, I recommend including the Horace E Dodge and Son Memorial Fountain to your tour, especially if it is during the summer months because you are likely to see it activated. ~Blessings~ Thomas G