River Raisin National Battlefield Park facts for kids
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River Raisin Battlefield Site (20MR227)
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 Location in Michigan
Location in the United States
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| Location | Monroe, Michigan |
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| Website | River Raisin National Battlefield Park |
| NRHP reference No. | 82000542 (original) 100003658 (increase) |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | December 10, 1982 |
| Boundary increase | April 17, 2019 |
| Designated NBP | March 30, 2009 |
The River Raisin National Battlefield Park protects the place where the Battle of Frenchtown happened. It is the only national battlefield that remembers a site from the War of 1812. This park became part of the United States National Park Service on March 30, 2009.
You can find the park in the city of Monroe, in Monroe County, Michigan. It was first named a Michigan Historic Site on February 18, 1956. Later, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places on December 10, 1982. The park officially opened on October 22, 2010.
What Happened Here?
The River Raisin area was the scene of a very tough battle called the Battle of Frenchtown. This battle was part of the War of 1812. It took place from January 18 to 23, 1813.
The first fight was a success for the American soldiers. They fought against the British Army and their Native American allies. But four days later, on January 22, the British and Native Americans attacked again. The American soldiers were not ready for this surprise attack. Many of them were new troops from Kentucky. They were caught off guard and could not escape.
During the battle, American General James Winchester reported that only 33 of his nearly 1,000 men got away. A total of 397 Americans were killed, and 547 were captured. This was the deadliest fight ever in Michigan. It was also the worst defeat for the Americans in the entire War of 1812.
The day after the main battle, on January 23, many wounded American prisoners were killed by Native Americans, mostly Potawatomi warriors. This sad event is known as the River Raisin Massacre. The prisoners who survived were forced to march towards Detroit. Those who could not keep up were killed along the way.
How the Park Grew
The River Raisin Battlefield Site became a Michigan Historic Site on February 18, 1956. The battle happened in and around the Frenchtown Settlement, which was on the north bank of the River Raisin. Today, this area is part of the city of Monroe. The fighting spread out for several miles around the current park area.
After the battles, the Frenchtown settlement was slowly left behind. The city of Monroe grew up about 1.5 miles west, on the other side of the River Raisin. The park today covers about 40 acres (16 hectares) of land.
The site was recognized across the country when it was added to the National Register of Historic Places on December 10, 1982. In July 1990, a Visitor Center opened at the site. This museum has some items found during digs that relate to the battle. Every January, the park holds a special event to remember all the soldiers who fought there. This includes the British and Native American soldiers.
Becoming a National Park
The River Raisin Battlefield Site was chosen to become part of the National Park System. This happened because of a law passed on March 30, 2009. This law provided the money needed to make the site a National Battlefield Park.
Senators Carl Levin and Debbie Stabenow from Michigan, along with Congressman John Dingell, helped make this happen. The River Raisin is only the fourth National Battlefield Park in the United States. It is the only one that remembers the War of 1812. It is also the fifth national park unit in Michigan. Other parks in Michigan include Isle Royale National Park and Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore.
The park is still being improved to meet the standards of the National Park Service. This includes getting more land, funding, and building things for visitors. Because the county had already been taking care of the battlefield, this process happened faster than usual. Some parts of the park still need to be restored to look like they did during the battle.
The park is expected to bring more visitors and help the local economy. In 2012, over 52,000 people visited the Battlefield. This number is expected to grow.
In 2010, a new nature trail connected the battlefield park to the nearby Sterling State Park. This trail is expected to bring more visitors to both parks. The park officially started operating as a national park unit on October 22, 2010.
In 2014, the park grew to include a piece of land with a historic corduroy road. This road was part of Hull's Trace, a military road that connected Fort Detroit to Ohio. This new area is managed by the National Park Service and other groups.
Historic Markers
