Historical Marker
Facing the Fire
Historical marker location:
110 West Cross Street, Ypsilanti, Michigan
( Marker is at the intersection of West Cross Street (State Highway 17) and North Huron Street on West Cross Street.)
at the Michigan Firehouse Museum.
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.