River Raisin National Battlefield Park
Introduction
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Images
The Visitor Center features exhibits, dioramas, military artifacts, and other items.
Inside the visitor's center.
Backstory and Context
Text-to-speech Audio
The River Raisin Battlefield Site was listed as a Michigan Historic Site on February 18, 1956. However, it wasn't nationally recognized until it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in December of 1982 and didn't operate as a national park until October 2010. Inside the visitor center, you can find full-sized figures of the British, Native American and American soldiers who fought here. There is also a presentation of the Battles of River Raisin.
The park holds a memorial service every January to commemorate all the soldiers that fought in the Battle of Frenchtown during the War of 1812. This battle took place January 18-23, 1913 when American troops forced the British Army and Native Americans to leave the land. The British and Indian forces then came back in a surprise attack against the Americans to fight for their land. Of the 934 Americans that fought here, only 33 avoided death or capture.
This site also holds relics from the war that have been uncovered by archaeologists over the years. Certain parts of the park are restricted to public access and much of the area is undeveloped as a park because of its recent opening, but there is still plenty to do as well as learn here. There is free parking on the site and visitors are allowed to view the historical markers throughout the park.