Historical Markers in
Wayne County, Michigan

19th U.S. Infantry A Ford Village Industry A House in a Tree A Military Reserve A Nankin Pioneer A Trail Garden A.J. Geer Store Aaron Greeley / St. Cosme Line Road Across the Water Alexander Blue House Alpha House American Academy of Pediatrics America's First Bessemer Steel Mill Amphibian Jeeps Anchor from the schooner "Oak Leaf" Angus Keith House Annapolis Park Armington & Sims Machine Shop Assumption Roman Catholic Church / Assumption Grotto Church Complex At The Height Of His Powers Bailey Temple Church Of God In Christ Baker House Bartlett Travis House Battle of Brownstown Battle of Monguagon Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church Biddle North of Eureka Birthplace of Ford Automobile Bishop's Residence Black Bottom Brewster Homes Bryant Branch Library Business Pioneers Cady Inn Canton Center School Canton Pioneer Home Canton Veterans Memorial Carriage House Central United Methodist Church Central Woodward Christian Church Chapman Abraham / Jewish Soldiers in the Civil War Chapoton House Charles A. Kandt House Charles G. Curtiss House Charles Lang Freer House / Merrill-Palmer Institute Cherry Hill Cemetery Cherry Hill Inn Cherry Hill School Cherry Hill United Methodist Church Cherry Hill Village Chessie Caboose 904151 Chicago Road Chief Tonquish Burial Site Chubb Cemetery Church of Annunciation City of Wayne Civil War /Spanish War /World War Clarenceville School District / Louis E. Schmidt Auditorium Coan Lake Colonel John Francis Hamtramck Comerica Incorporated Commandant's Quarters Compost Then and Now Conant Gardens Cooper School Cornelius G. Munger General Store Council Point / Pontiac's Council Council Point Park Count Casimir Pulaski Creating A Legend Daggett Farmhouse David Dunbar Buick / Buick Motor Company David Whitney Building David Whitney, Jr. Residence Dearborn City Hall Dearborn City Hall Complex / Orville L. Hubbard Dearborn Hills Golf Club Dearborn War Memorial Dedicated to Christopher Columbus Defer Elementary School Detroit Association of Women's Clubs Detroit Club Detroit Copper & Brass Detroit Cornice and Slate Building Detroit Edison Company Building Detroit Free Press Detroit July 1967 Detroit Plaindealer Detroit River Heritage Detroit Spanish American War Monument Detroit Urban League Detroit's Underground Railway Station Downer Cemetery Dr. Samuel Pierce Duffield Duane Doty School Eastern Liggett School / Detroit Waldorf School Ecorse Korean War Memorial Ecorse Vietnam Memorial Edison Homestead Edwin Denby Enlistment Eighteenth-Century Grist Mill Site Elijah McCoy Homesite Elmwood Cemetery Eloise Eureka Iron Works & Wyandotte Savings Bank Fair Lane Fannie Richards Homesite Farming in Canton Finney Barn Fire Tower Bell First Congregational Church First Congregational Church of Detroit First Fire Station First Jewish Religious Services First Michigan Colored Regiment First Presbyterian Church of Northville First Trenton High School First Unitarian Universalist Church Fitz's Caboose Flag Pole Ford and Dearborn Ford Building Ford Hunger March Ford Model A Ford Motor Company Ford Motor Company Lamp Factory Ford Negotiating Team Ford Piquette Plant Ford Rouge Plant Ford Rouge Plant Ford-MacNichol Home Fordson High School Ford's Fairways Ford's Model T Fort Lernoult Fort Pontchartrain Fort Street Bridge Fort Street Presbyterian Church Fort Wayne Fox Indian Massacre Fractional District No. 9 School Frederick Douglass - John Brown Meeting French Landing Dam and Powerhouse Friends Meeting House Friendship Baptist Church From Farmland to Great Estate From State Fair to Fair Lane/Peony Garden Gabriel Richard Geer School Gen. O. M. Poe Post No. 433 General Casimir Pulaski George A. Custer U.S. Army Reserve Center George DeBaptiste Homesite George Washington Masons Memorial Germantown / The Harmonie Club Giving Nature a Hand Glen Eden Cemetery Veterans Memorial Glimpses of Detroit's Riverfront History Goodell School Bell Grand Army of the Republic Grand Army of the Republic Building Greater Shiloh Baptist Church Grosse Pointe Academy Grosse Pointe Farms Sewage Pumping Station Grosse Pointe Farms Water Filtration Plant Grosse Pointe High School Grosse Pointe Shores Village Hall Gunsolly Carding Mill Gustave Mehlhose House Hamtramck Stadium Hamtramck Veteran's Memorial Hand Train Station Hanks Silk Mill Harnessing Nature's Energy Hartford Memorial Baptist Church Hazen S. Pingree Henry and Edsel Ford Henry Ford Birthplace Henry Ford House Henry Ford II Henry Ford Museum and Greenfield Village Henry Ford's Brother, William Ford, had this house built... Henry Ford's Honeymoon House Henry the Hatter Heritage Park Road System Highland Park Plant Hilberry Theatre Hirsch Blacksmith Shop Historical Shipyard Site Holy Family Church Home of Model T Hotel Arlington Hull's Trace Hunter House In Honor of Friendship Indian Village International Institute Of Detroit / International Institute Of Metropolitan Detroit Interurban Station J.M. Mead General Store James A. Bailey James H. Vhay House James Smith House Japanese Cherry Trees Jarvis Stone School Jefferson Avenue Presbyterian Church John Eberts House Johnson's Tavern Joseph H. Esterling House Joshua Simmons Joshua Simmons Farm Kelly's First Tilting Bessemer Steel Converter L. B. King and Company Building Lewis College of Business Lewis E. Maire Elementary School Lincoln Park Post Office Livonia Revolutionary War Veterans Louis Mehlhose House Mackenzie House Major General Alpheus Starkey Williams Making Moves Mansion House and Survey Tree March On Mariners' Church Martin Kundig Martin Luther King Jr. In Grosse Pointe Marx Home Marx Opera House Maybury Sanatorium Melody Brothers Building Merrill-Morris House Michigan Alkali Company Michigan Central Railroad Michigan Memorial Park Veterans Bowl Michigan Memorial Veterans Dedication Michigan Soldiers Trained at U.S. Arsenal During Civil War Michigan Wyandot and Monguagon / Battle of Monguagon Michigan's First Capitol/Capitol Union School Michigan's Oldest Jewish Cemetery Mies van der Rohe Townhouses Military Outpost Milkins Jewelers Mill Manager's House Mill Race Historical Village Miller Road Overpass Millpond Milwaukee Junction Model A Morris Homestead Motown Music Hall Nankin Millers House Nankin Mills Nankin Mills Nankin Township School District No. 3 Nature vs. Nurture Nature's Refrigeration Near this location... The Men's Annex Near this location...The Water Tower Near this location… The Administration Building Near this location… The Ambulant Building Near this location… The Children's Camp Near this location… The Children's Unit Near this location… The Doctor's Home Near this location… The Inn and Women's Dormitory Near this location… The Nurse's Home Near this location… The Powerhouse Near this location… The Sanatorium Entrance Near this location… The Vaughan Infirmary Neisner's Dime Store New Boston Veterans Memorial New School Church Newburg Methodist Church Newburgh Cemetery Newburgh Mill Nike Ajax Missile Base Noah Webster Home North Woodward Avenue Congregational Church Northville Valve Plant Northwest Airlines Flight 255 Norwayne Subdivision Nowland Cemetery Nowlin Cemetery / Nowlin Family Oak Grove Burying Ground Oakwood Cemetery Unknown Soldiers Memorial Old Rawsonville Village Old Van Buren Township Hall Old Wayne Cemetery Old Wayne Village Hall Omega Psi Phi On the River Orchestra Hall Orsel McGhee House Ossian Sweet House / Dr. Ossian Sweet Our Boys Who Served In The World War Out in the Orchard Outhouse Palmer Shed Paradise Valley Parker's Alley Pere Gabriel Richard Elementary School Perrinsville Perrinsville School Perry's Victory Peter Wetherill Stroh Pewabic Pottery / Mary Chase Perry Stratton Phoenix Mill Piccard Stratosphere Flight / William B. Stout School Planning for People Plymouth Plymouth Community Veterans Memorial Park Plymouth Railroads Plymouth Township / Charter Township Of Plymouth Pointe Mouillee Marsh Poletown and Eminent Domain Police Radio Dispatch Police Station Prelude To The Preservation Park Preserving Fair Lane — An Iconic American Estate Preserving Fair Lane — An Iconic American Estate Preserving Fair Lane — An Iconic American Estate R. P. McMurphy's Rails Through Grosse Ile Ransom Eli Olds Recording Movements Recreation Park Redford Cemetery Redford Township District No. 5 School Redford Township School District No. 9 Retired Ford Worker Reves-Wilhelm Cemetery Rhythm of Radio River Rouge Persian Gulf Veterans Memorial River Rouge Shipbuilding River Rouge Veterans Memorial River Rouge War Memorial Riverview Veterans Memorial Roadside Development Roadside Refreshment Robert Pauli Scherer Rock Garden Masterpiece Romulus Memorial Cemetery Romulus Memorial Cemetery Veterans Memorial Rose of Aberlone Rouge River History Rouge River Water Quality Improvements Russell A. Alger House "The Moorings" S.S. Edmund Fitzgerald S.S. Edmund Fitzgerald S.S. Edmund Fitzgerald S.S. William Clay Ford / U.S.S. Yantic Sacred Heart Parish Saint Alphonsus Parish / Saint Alphonsus Catholic Church Complex Saint Florian Church / Saint Florian Historic District Saint Francis Hospital Saint Paul Catholic Church / Saint Paul Rectory and Parish House Saint Paul Catholic School and Convent Samuel Tobyne - 1827 Sandhill Cemetery Scarab Club Second Baptist Church Second Baptist Church Underground Railroad Site Sheldon's Corners Shipbuilding Shipbuilding Traditions Shrine Circus Sir John Bennett Jewelry Shop Smith Creek Depot Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Soldiers, Sailors, and Marines Southgate Veterans Memorial Spanish American War Memorial Spirit of Detroit SS. Peter and Paul Church St. Albertus Church St. Anne Church/St. Anne Chapel St. Anthony Church St. Hyacinth Catholic Church St. James Episcopal Chapel St. John's Episcopal Church St. John's Presbyterian Church St. Josaphat Roman Catholic Church Complex St. Joseph's Parish St. Joseph's Retreat St. Mary's Church St. Mary's Rectory St. Mary's School St. Matthew's Episcopal Church State Police Post State Savings Bank Statue of Abraham Lincoln Ste. Anne Church / Gabriel Richard Stearns Telephone Steps to Success Studebaker in Detroit Sutherland House Sweetest Heart of Mary Catholic Church Taking Flight Tau Beta Community House Taylor Heritage School Taylor Iraqi and Enduring Freedom Memorial Taylor Methodist Episcopal Church Cemetery Taylor Township Cemetery Temple No. 1 / Masjid Wali Muhammad Territorial Road The Allen Park VA Medical Center The Battle of Bloody Run The Black Presence in Detroit The Bungalow The Bur Oak and the Vegetable Garden The Cadillac Convoy / Le Convoi de Cadillac The Carver Lab The Conner Building The Cranson-Hinbern House The Dearborn Inn / Colonial Homes and Adjacent Buildings The Detroit Free Press The Detroit Medical College The Detroit News The Detroit River / Recovery The Detroit United Railway Waiting Room The Dodge Brothers / Dodge Main The End of the Line The First Capitol Building in Michigan The First Mile of Concrete Highway The First Theater in Michigan The Ford Airport / Ford Tri-Motor The Ford Hunger March The Ford Hunger March The Ford Rotunda The Freedom Tree The Gateway to Freedom The Gazebo The Greenwald Herkimer House The Grosse Pointe Memorial Church The Harmonie Club The Historic Cady Barn The Hunger March The Iron Brigade / The Twenty-Fourth Michigan Volunteer Infantry Regiment The Kingsley House The Landing of Cadillac / Le débarquement de Cadillac The Livingstone Channel The Log Cabin The Neighborhood The Newburg Church The Newburg School The Nine Lives of 3225 Biddle Avenue The Old Burial Ground The Path of the Setting Sun The Penniman Buildings The Players The Plymouth Plank Road The Plymouth United Savings Bank The Richard Gardner House The Rucker-Stanton House The Salvation Army The Schaefer Building The Sell/Schonsheck House The Shaw House The Ten Eyck Tavern The Triangular Corner The War of 1812 in Detroit / War of 1812 Grave Site The Wilcox House The Wyandot Indians Theater District This Bell House Thomas Drug Store Thomas Edison’s Menlo Park Office and Library Thompson Home Times of Change Town Hall Trinity Lutheran Church Two Tracks in Town Tyrus Raymond Cobb 1886-1961 U. S. Arsenal - - - Armory U.S. Arsenal 1833 - 1875 U.S. Arsenal 1839-1875 Powder Magazine U.S. Arsenal Officers' - Surgeons' Quarters and Barracks 1833 - 1875 U.S. Arsenal-Sutler's Shop U.S. Topographical Engineers UAW Local 600 United Auto Workers United Sound Systems Recording Studios University of Michigania Vernor's Ginger Ale Veterans Memorial Veterans' Memorial Building Veteran's Peace Memorial VFW Post 1136 Memorial Voigt-Kreit House / Voigt on Public Education Wagstaff-Duddleston Home Wallaceville School War of 1812 Cannons War of 1812 Memorial Wardwell House Wash Oak School Water-Powered Mill Wayne Industries Wayne State University Weavers Cottage West Canfield Historic District West Mound Church Westward Welcome WGPR-TV Wilson Barn Women Workers Women's City Club of Detroit Woodmere Cemetery Woodmere Cemetery Iraqi Freedom Memorial Woodward Avenue Cultural Heritage Tour Wright Cycle Shop Wyandott Totem Pole Wyandotte Purple Heart Memorial Wyandotte Vietnam Memorial Wyandotte World War I Memorial Wyandotte World War II Memorial Wyoming Avenue Yerkes House Zion Lutheran Church "Learning by Doing"
The first European settlement in Michigan was founded by French explorer Antoine de la Mothe Cadillac in 1701. He established the settlement of Fort Pontchartrain du Détroit (later known as Detroit), which became an important trading post and military stronghold for the French and later the British.
Wayne County, Michigan has a rich historical background that dates back to the early Native American tribes who inhabited the region. The area was later explored by French settlers in the 17th century, with Antoine de la Mothe Cadillac founding the City of Detroit in 1701. The region remained under French control until it was ceded to the British Empire in 1763. Wayne County was established in 1796 and was named after General Anthony Wayne, a Revolutionary War hero.

During the 19th century, Wayne County experienced rapid growth and development, largely driven by the manufacturing industry. Detroit, the county seat, became known as the "Motor City" due to the rise of the automobile industry. The city became a hub for automotive manufacturing and attracted industrialists such as Henry Ford, who revolutionized the production process with the assembly line.

Wayne County played a significant role in the Civil Rights Movement, particularly during the 1960s. The city of Detroit witnessed numerous protests and demonstrations advocating for racial equality and an end to discrimination. The infamous 1967 Detroit Riots, sparked by racial tensions and socioeconomic issues, resulted in widespread civil unrest and significant damage to the city.

In recent years, Wayne County has faced challenges related to economic decline and urban decay. The region has made efforts to revitalize urban areas, attract investment, and diversify its economy. Today, Wayne County remains a prominent part of Michigan's economy, driven by industries such as automotive manufacturing, healthcare, and technology. The county is also home to various cultural attractions and institutions, including the Detroit Institute of Arts and the Henry Ford Museum.

This timeline provides a concise overview of the key events in the history of Wayne County, Michigan.

  • 1796 - Wayne County is established as part of the Northwest Territory
  • 1805 - Detroit, the county seat, is incorporated as a town
  • 1815 - The War of 1812 ends, and Wayne County experiences rapid growth
  • 1827 - Wayne County's boundaries are redefined
  • 1854 - Detroit is incorporated as a city
  • 1861-1865 - Wayne County residents contribute to the Union effort during the Civil War
  • 1920s - Wayne County's population booms due to industrialization and the growth of the automotive industry
  • 1930s - Wayne County suffers from the Great Depression, but the automotive industry eventually recovers
  • 1940s-1950s - Wayne County experiences post-war economic growth and suburbanization
  • 1967 - The Detroit riot leads to civil unrest and significant changes in the city
  • 1973 - Construction of the Renaissance Center, a major landmark in downtown Detroit, begins
  • 1990s - Wayne County faces economic challenges, including the decline of the automotive industry
  • 2008-2014 - Wayne County suffers from the Great Recession, with high unemployment rates and a housing crisis