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Before I started this Michigan travel blog, an idea to travel the Underground Railroad in Michigan always intrigued me. I love history. I love exploring. And I love road trips. So this seemed like a great adventure! However I kept putting it off as other idea’s kept popping up. Plus I never had the time, until now, to find out what places still exist from this era.
Recently, my family and I traveled to Battle Creek and Marshall – two cities that each have different monuments and tributes to the Underground Railroad. After our visits, this fueled my interest in the topic further.
After researching into the other destinations connected to the Underground Railroad, my heart tells me to hold off on visiting some of the other places until my son is a little older. I think it’ll be a good experience for us to visit for the first time together. Another thing holding us back is COVID. Several historic homes and museums are closed.
Regardless of not being able to tour some of these sites, I put together this ‘resource bank’ of an article that details the remaining destinations along the Underground Railroad in Michigan. One thing I want to call out is how amazing some of the local historical societies are, especially in Cassopolis. This town’s historical society created a detailed self guided tour of all the known sites connected to the Underground Railroad. I’ve shared their link as well as other self guided tours below. Feel free to use this resource to explore some or all of the Underground Railroad in Michigan!
What is the Underground Railroad?
The Underground Railroad was a secretive, organized network to help escaped slaves reach Canada in order to receive freedom. Originally organized in the 1830’s, it existed until after the Civil War with the ratification of the 13th amendment. At the time, it was illegal to help any runaway slave escape or evade recapture.
Freedom seekers were led by “Conductors” between “Stations,” or safe houses until they reached Canada. There were several different routes or “lines” one took to reach Canada.
Map of the Underground Railroad in Michigan
Cassopolis & Vandalia
Cassopolis and Vandalia are two small towns in southwestern Michigan, not far from the Indiana border. These towns are some of the first stops in Michigan when freedom seekers traveled north from Indiana. Many of Michigan’s Underground Railroad stationmasters in southwestern Michigan were Quakers. Some of the notable stationmasters here were Stephen Bogue, William Jones, Ishmael Lee, and James E. Bonine.
From Cassopolis or Vandalia, seekers continued on to Schoolcraft led by “Conductors”. The Conductors operating between Cassopolis and Schoolcraft were Zachariah Shugart and Henry Shepherd. Over 1,500 people came through Cassopolis and Vandalia between the 1830’s until the end of slavery.
The Underground Railroad Society of Cass County put together a highly resourceful website with historic information and details on the role these two towns played during this era. They also created a self guided driving tour of the area with 19 stops to check out. With some historic homes & churches to tour, visiting these towns could easily be a day trip.
Another great resource worth checking out is this article from the Chicago Tribune. It details some of the historic sites in the self guided tour.
Schoolcraft
After Cassopolis or Vandalia, freedom seekers made their way northeast to Schoolcraft – about 30 miles away. Once there, they stayed with Kalamazoo’s first physician, Dr. Nathan M. Thomas and wife Pamela. In their over 20 years of participation, the Thomas’ helped over 1,000 people safely escape. Learn more about the Thomas’ here!
If you’re interested in touring the Thomas house, please write to the address below.
Schoolcraft Historical Society
613 East Cass Street,
Schoolcraft, MI 49087
Climax
The next stop along the Underground Railroad in Michigan is Climax. Dr. Thomas led the freedom seekers to Climax to meet up with Isaac Davis. His neighbor, Isaac Pierce then moved the freedom seekers onward to Battle Creek. Unfortunately there are no memorials or historic markers that remain in Climax.
Battle Creek
Next up is Battle Creek where seekers met Erastus and Sarah Hussey, another husband and wife team. This couple became involved with the Underground Railroad due to their Quaker connections. The Hussey’s lived at what is now the Kellogg Foundation’s parking ramp.
In August 1847, a raid led by around 40 slave owning Kentuckians occurred. Mr. Hussey led a group of locals to draw the Kentuckians out of town. After some time, the Kentuckians regrouped and surprised Battle Creek. All the fugitive slaves in Battle Creek at the time were captured.
To prevent the freedom seekers from being sent back, stationmaster Stephen Bogue from Cassopolis arrested and charged the Kentuckians with destruction of property and breaking and entering. Both the Kentuckians and freedom seekers were jailed. But over the course of a couple weeks, the freedom seekers mysteriously disappeared as they awaited trail. Ultimately, the court ruled the fugitive slaves weren’t property in Michigan.
When visiting Battle Creek, pay homage to those who passed through the Underground Railroad here by visiting the Underground Railroad Monument. This bronze sculpture was built in 1993 by Ed Dwight. It is the largest monument dedicated to remembering the Underground Railroad. And it is centrally located in downtown Battle Creek’s Linear Park. On one side of the sculpture it shows Erastus Hussey and on the other side is Harriet Tubman.
Other suggested sites to visit include the Sojourner Truth Monument located in Monument Park and her mural facing southwest at the corner of Jackson and Capital Avenue. While Truth didn’t participate in the Underground Railroad, she was an abolitionist. Both her and the Hussey’s rest at the Oak Hill Cemetery.
Marshall
Following Battle Creek, freedom seekers went on to the nearby city of Marshall. One potential historic site to check out is the National House Inn Bed & Breakfast. Visit their website to see why they believe their B&B was a station on the Underground Railroad in Michigan.
While I couldn’t find the names of the Conductors from Marshall, I learned about the Crosswhite Case during a recent trip. Check out the details behind this story here (halfway down the article). In memory of the Crosswhite family, pay a visit to the Crosswhite Marker located on the corner of Lincoln and Michigan Avenue. During your time in Marshall, pay your respects to Adam Crosswhite at Oakridge Cemetery. The exact location is indicated on the map here.
Jackson
When looking into the Underground Railroad in the Jackson area, I discovered the research of local author Linda Hass. Hass not only wrote over three historic books on Jackson County, she also created this phenomenal website. This website is full of information on the local Conductors and Stationmasters in the area. She also created maps and presentations, and schedules bus tours of the local landmarks.
I highly recommend using this website if you’re planning to check out the Underground Railroad sites in Jackson. While I haven’t been to Jackson yet, this is the resource I intend to use when we go.
Ann Arbor & Ypsilanti
After Jackson, the freedom seekers made their way to Ann Arbor or Ypsilanti. Within Washtenaw County, there is a docent led bus tour that stops at some of the sites along the Underground Railroad. This Journey to Freedom Tour is led by the African American Cultural and Historical Museum of Washtenaw County. It costs $25 for adults and $10 for students and seniors. Tours are anticipated to resume in April 2022. The contact details to set up a tour are here. However, many of the sites in the tour are listed below.
Ann Arbor
First is the Wall Street Parking Structure. This unassuming parking garage contains plaques on its walls detailing Ann Arbor’s anti-slavery newspaper called The Signal of Liberty. This newspaper operated between 1841 and 1846 along Broadway Street. Founded by abolitionists Theodore Foster and the Rev. Guy Beckley, there are over 350 copies available via the Ann Arbor District Library. Check out the digital version here.
There are several private residencies that once were Stations. These are the Perry House at 1317 Pontiac Trail, a former integrated schoolhouse at 1202 Traver Road, and the Guy Beckley House at 1425 Pontiac Trail. This last house was the former home of outspoken abolitionist Rev Guy Beckley who founded The Signal of Liberty newspaper. Behind the house is Beckley Park which backs into the property.
Another property with a lot of Underground Railroad activity is the W.W. Harwood Farm. There’s an overwhelming amount of history behind this house which you can read about here. William and Polly Harwood and their free Black neighbors Asher and Catherine Aray hid freedom seekers on their property.
Ypsilanti
During the mid 1800’s, Stationmaster/Conductor’s Millie and George McCoy lived in a cabin on the Starkweather Farm at 1266 Huron River Drive in Ypsilanti. Millie and George were born into slavery but escaped to Canada. Later, in 1852, they returned to the US with their children and moved to Ypsilanti. There they became involved in the Underground Railroad. George frequently traveled to Detroit to trade cigar’s and hid freedom seekers among the goods. While the cabin no longer stands, the Starkweather farmhouse was recently restored.
Detroit
The last stop along the Underground Railroad in Michigan before freedom seekers made it to Canada was Detroit. Over 50,000 people traveled through Detroit, or “midnight” as it was referred to in the mid 1800s. As such, there are many “stations” and historic sites to check out in Detroit. So within this section, I separated actual sites along the Underground Railroad from the museum and sculptures erected since abolition.
Sites Along the Underground Railroad in Detroit
The current and historic places listed below are all former sites along the Underground Railroad in Detroit:
- Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church: This church’s old locations are around Fort Street and Beaubien Blvd & on Lafayette Street. It was founded in 1839 and organized by Black Detroiters. Both of its early locations were stops along the Underground Railroad.
- Second Baptist Church: This is the oldest Black American Church in the Midwest. The Second Baptist Church was founded in 1836. For over 5,000 people, it also was the last Station in the United States.
- Original Site of Mariner’s Church: It’s original location is currently Hart Plaza. Back in the 1950’s, a bricked up tunnel was found in the basement of the Mariner’s Church as it was being lifted and moved to its current location. Former slaves hid in the tunnel until night when rowboats picked them up and took across the river to Canada.
- George deBaptiste House: George deBaptiste, a freeborn Black American, contributed to the Underground Railroad in Kentucky, Indiana, and Michigan. In 1846, he and his family moved to Detroit. Once settled, he became a successful businessman owning and operating a barbershop, bakery, and steamship. This ship, the T. Whitney, ferried freedom seekers across the river to Canada. He also helped create two secret societies that managed the Underground Railroad in Detroit.
- Finney Barn Site: In the 1850’s, Finney owned a stable at this location where many escaped people hid. At the same time, he operated a hotel and bar a block away where many slave catchers went to complain about not finding the people they were after. He used this intelligence to help keep the people safe.
Museums, Monuments and More
Also be sure to visit the below exhibits to gain a deeper understanding of how important Detroit was in the quest for freedom:
- Gateway to Freedom Marker: There are two Gateway to Freedom sculptures. One is in Detroit depicting George deBaptiste with a group of freedom seekers pointing across the Detroit River. The sculpture contains a map of the Underground Railroad etched into stone beneath it as well as the names of some of the known Conductors. The second sculpture is in Windsor, Canada and shows a group of freed slaves celebrating their emancipation.
- Doorway to Freedom exhibit at the Detroit Historical Museum: Within the Detroit Historical Museum, there is a permanent exhibit dedicated to preserving the memory of the Underground Railroad. There is an experiential trail and stories on families that remained in Detroit. Currently the Detroit Historical Museum is open Thursday to Sunday, and costs $10 for adults and $6 for children.
- Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History: The Wright Museum houses permanent and rotating exhibits dedicated “to exploring and celebrating the rich cultural legacy of African Americans.” Open daily except Monday, the Wright Museum charges $25 for adults, $19 for children, and is free for children under 3.
- The Henry Ford Museum: The With Liberty & Justice for All Exhibit at the Henry Ford displays artifacts and discusses people from the antislavery and civil rights era’s.
- Elmwood Cemetery: Founded in 1846, Elmwood is the oldest integrated cemetery in the Midwest. Here, over a dozen Underground Railroad figures are buried including George deBaptiste.
Tours
Finally, to take a guided tour of some of the sites, check out the below programs:
- Underground Railroad Living Museum Flight to Freedom Tour at First Congregational Church
- Underground Railroad Walking Tour by City Tour Detroit
Other Locations
Finally, other noted stop’s along the Underground Railroad are indicated on the Google map above.
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Have you visited any of the above places before? What was your experience like?
After my families brief time checking out the Underground Railroad Sculpture and Crosswhite grave, I’m excited to visit more of these places in the future. In my opinion, learning about history is so meaningful when you can get closer to it by visiting a place where something big happened, check out a monument or sculpture, or interact with artifacts in a museum. Let me know your thoughts!
from Michigan with Love,
Jackie
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