International Memorial to the Underground Railroad — Attraction in Detroit

When I saw these statues I thought it was showing the American Dream but when I read in depth it was not that. Until Emancipation, Detroit and the Detroit River community served as the gateway to freedom for thousands of African American people escaping enslavement. Detroit was one of the largest terminals of the Underground Railroad, a network of abolitionists aiding enslaved people seeking freedom. Why was Detroit so important to the Underground Railroad? Detroit was a pivotal part of the Underground Railroad, an informal network of safe houses and people willing to help runaway enslaved people. They adapted the language of the railroads to keep it secret. 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. The Underground Railroad was an early 1800s to 1865 secret network of financial, spiritual, and material aid for formerly enslaved people on their path from plantations in the American South to freedom in Canada. Freedom seekers generally made their way on foot, often at night, from one town to the next.

The next time you visit this place just think through the whole scenario of dark ages and you will understand the importance of...

A sculpture on the Detroit side bank of the Detroit River.

The Gateway to Freedom International Memorial to the Underground Railroad Ed Dwight – Sculptor Dedicated October 20, 2001 With companion work “Tower of Freedom” in the Civic Esplanade Windsor, Ontario, Canada A project of Detroit 300 and the International Underground Railroad Monument Collaborative.

Until Emancipation, Detroit and the Detroit River community served as the gateway to freedom for thousands of African American people escaping enslavement. Detroit was one of the largest terminals of the Underground Railroad, a network of abolitionists aiding enslaved people seeking freedom. Detroit’s Underground Railroad code name was Midnight.

At first, Michigan was a destination for freedom seekers, but Canada became a safer sanctuary after slavery was abolished there in 1834. With the passage of the Fugitive Slave Act in 1850, many runaways left their homes in Detroit and crossed the river to Canada to remain free. Some returned after Emancipation in 1863.

The successful operation of Detroit’s Underground Railroad was due to the effort and cooperation of diverse groups of people, including people of African descent, Whites, and North American Indians. This legacy of Freedom is a vital part of Detroit and...

Located on the Riverfront between Hart Plaza and the actual Detroit River, this sculpture faces Canada. It commemorates the city’s role as a major terminal in the Underground Railroad. Created by artist Ed Dwight and unveiled in 2001, the memorial features a dramatic bronze tableau of eight freedom seekers and conductor George DeBaptiste, pointing toward Canada. It symbolizes hope, resistance, and the perilous journey to liberation across the Detroit River.

The 10-by-12-foot bronze sculpture also includes quilt square engravings referencing the myth of "freedom quilts" and a lantern motif etched into the base. The memorial honors the diverse coalition - African Americans, white allies, and Native Americans - who helped thousands escape slavery, and it marks Detroit’s historic code name in the Underground Railroad: Midnight

Created by Ed Dwight, a renowned sculptor known for memorializing African American history, it was unveiled on October 20, 2001 as part of Detroit’s tricentennial celebration. On the Canadian side, Windsor hosts a companion sculpture called Tower of Freedom, also by Ed Dwight, reinforcing the shared legacy of resistance and refuge between the two cities. Maybe next time, I'll cross over and...