Monuments, sites and markers

Monroe County resident are proud of their history and their commitment to the country. Evidence of that can be found at the numerous historical sites and war monuments that dot the area.

Blue Star Memorial

Honors servicemen and women. Wilson Memorial Park, Wabash St., Milan.

Ford Heritage Trail

Two locations in Milan: Old Grist Mill, 15 Neckel Ct., and Milan Village Industrial Mill, 147 Wabash St. The Ford Heritage Trail which includes points of interest in automotive history. Call Milan Area Chamber of Commerce, 439-7932, for information on the local sites.

Korean War Memorial

N. Custer Rd. west of Telegraph Rd. along the River Raisin in Monroe. Built in 1990, the memorial pays tribute to the 27 Monroe County residents who served and died in the Korean War.

Martha Barker Country Store

3815 N. Custer Rd. at Raisinville Rd., Monroe, 240-7780. General store circa 1910-20 decorated with items from old general stores in Monroe County and some sale items such as penny candies and small souvenir items. Building is open only for special events. Group tours by appointment. The Listening Post features sound recordings about the River Raisin, Navarre-Anderson Trading Post, life in early Monroe and the Papermill School. Free.

Milan Hack House Museum

775 County St., Milan. 14-room home, considered the grandest house in the area when it was built. Open 1-4 p.m. Fridays, May-November. Listed on National Register of Historic Places. Open for tours during special events.

Monroe County Historical Museum

126 S. Monroe St., Monroe, 240-7780. Displays include highlights of early Monroe, Gen. George Armstrong Custer, Indian lore and other special topics. Open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesdays through Saturdays; guided tours by appointment. Archives open by appointment. Admission fee may apply. Closed Martin Luther King Day, Easter Sunday, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas, New Year’s Eve, New Year’s Day.

Monroe County Labor History Museum

41 W. Front St., Monroe, in the Philip Murray Building. Exhibits feature Michigan labor history from 1800 to the present. Open 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Mondays through Fridays, and on Saturdays and Sundays by appointment only. For information, monroelabor.org or contact Bill Conner at 693-0446

Monroe County Vietnam Veterans Museum

Heck Park, 1095 N. Dixie Hwy., just west of I-75, Monroe, 240-7780. Walk of freedom and memorial dedicated to veterans who served in Southeast Asia. Displays provided by Monroe County veterans.

Navarre-Anderson Trading Post

N. Custer Rd. east of Raisinville Rd., Monroe, 240-7780. Trading post building is believed to be the oldest wooden structure in Michigan. Open only for special events. Group tours by appointment. Free.

Old Mill Museum

242 Toledo St. off M-50, Dundee, 529-8596. 1850s Greek Revival gristmill  houses artifacts from Dundee and surrounding areas, also Native American displays. Listed on National Register of Historic Places. Open noon-4 p.m. Fridays through Mondays. Gift shop. Call for private tours or room rentals.

River Raisin National Battlefield Park Visitor Center

1403 E. Elm Ave., Monroe, 243-7136. Interpretive center offers displays that explain local battle sites. Pets are allowed in the park and on the hiking trails, but must be kept on a leash at all times. Use of metal detectors or hunting for relics is forbidden. The National Park Service, which recently took over the site, will announce its visitor schedule later this year. nps.gov.

Sawyer Homestead  

320 E. Front St., Monroe, 242-0168. Available for rentals, tours by appointment.
 

Statue of General George A. Custer

N. Monroe St. and W. Elm Ave., Monroe. Designed by sculptor Edward Potter and dedicated by President Taft in 1910.

War on Terror Monument

Veterans Park, 1671 N. Custer Rd. west of N. Telegraph Rd. along the River Raisin in Monroe. Honors those who have been killed during fighting after Sept. 11, 2001. A monument honoring local troops who served in Operations Desert Shield and Storm also sits on this site.

World Wars Monument

Veterans Park, 1671 N. Custer Rd., west of N. Telegraph Rd. along the River Raisin in Monroe. Built in 1998, the names of 56 World War I and 221 World War II servicemen killed in action are engraved on six granite slabs.

82nd Airborne Division Monument

Dedicated to paratroopers who have served and are serving with the only active paratroopers’ unit. Michigan Welcome Center, I-75, LaSalle Township.