River Raisin National Battlefield Park
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The River Raisin National Battlefield Park preserves the site of the Battle of Frenchtown as the only national battlefield marking a site of the War of 1812. It was established as the 393rd unit of the United States National Park Service under Title VII of the Omnibus Public Land Management Act, which was signed into law on March 30, 2009. The park is located in the city of Monroe in Monroe County, Michigan. It was designated as a Michigan Historic Site on February 18, 1956 and was added to the National Register of Historic Places on December 10, 1982. The house at 1403 East Elm Avenue was added to the National Register listing in 2019. It officially began operation as a national park unit on October 22, 2010.
River Raisin National Battlefield Park
The former River Raisin Battlefield Visitor Center
Much of the landscape within the site has not been restored to battlefield-era conditions.
Public access to certain parts of the park is currently prohibited.
Battle of Frenchtown
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The Battles of Frenchtown, also known as the Battle of the River Raisin and the River Raisin Massacre, were a series of conflicts in Michigan Territory that took place from January 18–23, 1813, during the War of 1812. It was fought between the United States of America and a joint force of British and Native Americans near the River Raisin in Frenchtown.
General Winchester's Headquarters on the River Raisin during the Battles of Frenchtown in 1813
A historic marker indicates where Lt Col William Lewis and his troops crossed the frozen River Raisin on January 18.
Maj Gen William Harrison (pictured) told Brig Gen James Winchester to hold his ground following the first battle. Harrison and his troops did not arrive in time to participate in the battle.
Tecumseh commanded native forces that fought in the battle, although he was not present at the time of the battle or massacre.