July 4th 1661

Historical marker location:

2181 Michigan Highway 69, Crystal Falls, Michigan

( Marker is on East Superior Avenue (State Highway 69) 5.9 miles east of South 5th Street, on the right when traveling east.)

Michigan played a key role in the Underground Railroad, a network of secret routes and safe houses used by slaves to escape to freedom in the 19th century. Detroit was an important hub for the movement, and Michigan was the first state in the Northwest Territory to outlaw slavery in 1837.