River Raisin National Battlefield Landscape: Cultural Landscapes Inventory, River Raisin National Battlefield Park
Regions 3, 4, & 5 Cultural Landscapes Program. 2021. River Raisin National Battlefield Landscape: Cultural Landscapes Inventory, River Raisin National Battlefield Park. Cultural Landscapes Inventory Report. 976134. U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service. NPS Midwest Regional Office, Omaha, Nebraska / CRIS-CL Database
Inventory Unit Description: River Raisin National Battlefield Park covers roughly 74.74 acres of NPS owned land in Monroe, Michigan. The park is part of an approximately 230 acre National Register Listed Archaeological District of National Significance. The site is part of the January 1813, War of 1812 battlefield in what was known as Frenchtown (now Monroe) and is significant under National Register Criterion A, for its association with "events that have made a significant contribution to broad patterns of our history" and D, because "it has and is likely to yield further information important to history." The battles of the River Raisin are notable for the killing and ransom of unprotected U.S. prisoners that galvanized citizens and the resulting rallying cry, “Remember the Raisin,” which spurred the United States in successfully retaking the Northwest Territories. The event and those that followed also resulted in the forced relocation, removal, and assimilation of American Indians. Located 40 miles south of Detroit and 20 miles north of Toledo, the park is in close proximity to the western shores of Lake Erie. This strategic location played a significant role in the historic events and battles that took place along the banks of the River Raisin. Primary features of the landscape that are extant include Hull Trace (Road), the River Raisin waterway, and topography. Archeological remains, although important to the history, are not documented in any detail as part of the CL inventory to avoid any potential disclosure of location. The visitor center provides orientation to the battlefield site using displays about the War of 1812, and interactive exhibits. Historic markers, a short walking trail, and a picnic shelter representing a historic barn structure from the time of the battle are present in the landscape. River Raisin Battlefield Park is the parent landscape, with 10 units that are each likely to be a component landscape.
- Type
- Published Report
- Authors
- Regions 3, 4, & 5 Cultural Landscapes Program
- Date of Issue
- 2021-09-15
- Publisher
- U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service
- Units
- MWR , RIRA
- Keywords
- American Indian, archeology, battlefield, City of Monroe, Frenchtown, Hull's Corduroy Road, Michigan, Military, Native American, partnership, Port of Monroe, Remember the Raisin, River Raisin National Battlefield Park Foundation, Shaping the Political Landscape, Tecumseh’s Confederation, topography, trace road, War of 1812, waterway