This daytime tour will highlight areas of Detroit’s military history. The first stop will be River Raisin National Battlefield Park, the scene of two costly War of 1812 battles, as well as a settlement of French-descended farmers on the "long lot" or "ribbon farm" model. Extensive indoor exhibits and films cover what has been called the "60 year war for the Old Northwest" between Native, British, French, and American forces, as well as the War of 1812 and its aftermath, and will be supplemented by comments from the archaeologist who has been excavating the site since 2019, John Chenoweth. 

The tour will continue to Detroit’s Historic Fort Wayne. This site, now a city park, contains an original limestone “star fort” which was constructed in 1845. The significance of the Fort Wayne site predates military use, as Native American communities have utilized this space along the Detroit River for millennia. The site continues to serve as a place of importance for Potawatomi communities and other Native American groups. The site was also once a colonial trading site, a diplomatic meeting ground, a center of military logistics, a stop on the Underground Railroad, and a home to military troops and civilians.  

Our tour will conclude with a visit to the Gordon L. Grosscup Museum of Anthropology at Wayne State University in the campus’ historic Old Main Building to view an exhibit about the archaeology of forts across Michigan (including collections from Fort Michilimackinac, Fort St. Joseph, and Fort Lernoult).  

This tour is by motor coach and will leave from the Conference hotel, the Detroit Marriott at the Renaissance Center, promptly at 10:00 a.m., and will return to the hotel at approximately 5:00 p.m.  A sit-down lunch stop is included as part of the tour.  

Lunch Menu Choices (select one):

• Hammin’ Around the River – Spiral sliced ham, rosemary garlic aioli, spoked provolone cheese, spring mixed greens, and tomato on whole grain bread.
• Gobblin’ Up the Goodness – Smoked turkey, garlic aioli, pesto, cheddar cheese, spring mixed greens, and tomato on whole grain bread.
• Gouda Garden – Spring mixed greens, tomato, cucumber, whole grain mustard, pesto, and smoked gouda cheese on whole grain bread.
• Michigan Salad – Spring mixed greens, dried berries, dried apples, walnuts, salad blend cheese with raspberry walnut vinaigrette.
• ½ Michigan Salad + ½ Hammin’ Around the River
• ½ Michigan Salad + ½ Gobblin’ Up the Goodness
• ½ Michigan Salad + ½ Gouda Garden