Last updated: June 3, 2021
Place
Soldiers Monument
Shawna Mazur
Quick Facts
Location:
Corner of Elm Ave and Dixie Hwy, Monroe, MI. 48162
MANAGED BY:
City of Monroe, Michigan
Amenities
7 listed
Historical/Interpretive Information/Exhibits, Information, Large Print, Parking - Auto, Parking - Boat Trailer, Parking - Bus/RV, Scenic View/Photo Spot
In 1904, the first official monument commemorating the Battles of the River Raisin was established when a stone cairn was erected near this site by the Civic Improvement Society of the Women of Monroe.
Efforts for further preservation of the area were hampered by industrialization. In 1910, construction of the River Raisin Paper Company began on top of the battlefield and soon a major factory complex occupied the space, until it went out of business in the 1980s. Fortunately, much of the property on which the factory once stood retained its archaeological integrity and, by the early 1990s, efforts were again underway to ensure the site was preserved for future generations.
What is a Cairn? A cairn (pronounced like KERN) is a landmark or marker. In this case a stone tower that marks the core location of the Battles of the River Raisin. The 1904 Monument was originally located on the south side of E. Elm Avenue at a spot closer to the River Raisin. The cairn was relocated to its present site when the City of Monroe established the 1.9 acre Riviere Aux Raisins Park.
Efforts for further preservation of the area were hampered by industrialization. In 1910, construction of the River Raisin Paper Company began on top of the battlefield and soon a major factory complex occupied the space, until it went out of business in the 1980s. Fortunately, much of the property on which the factory once stood retained its archaeological integrity and, by the early 1990s, efforts were again underway to ensure the site was preserved for future generations.
What is a Cairn? A cairn (pronounced like KERN) is a landmark or marker. In this case a stone tower that marks the core location of the Battles of the River Raisin. The 1904 Monument was originally located on the south side of E. Elm Avenue at a spot closer to the River Raisin. The cairn was relocated to its present site when the City of Monroe established the 1.9 acre Riviere Aux Raisins Park.