River Raisin Battlefield Special Resource Study

Thank you for your interest in preserving the River Raisin Battlefield, the site of a significant series of battles during the War of 1812. The battles of the River Raisin were fought in January 1813 in what is today Monroe, Michigan as part of the conflict over the Old Northwest Territory. More than 400 Americans, British, Canadians, and Indians gave their lives in these battles. The National Park Service began studying the potential for including the River Raisin Battlefield in the National Park System in January 2008. In March 2009, the study was halted when legislation was passed by Congress and signed into law by President Obama to establish the River Raisin National Battlefield Park (click on the "documents" link to read the text of this law). This new law, a part of Public Law 111-11, did not establish the River Raisin National Battlefield Park as a unit of the National Park System immediately; rather, the Battlefield will be managed once land relating to the battles is acquired "of sufficient acreage to permit efficient administration." Because Public Law 111-11 is not specific with respect to which lands should comprise the Battlefield and be managed by the National Park Service, we concluded the Special Resource Study by issuing a boundary assessment to recommend which lands would be appropriate for initial inclusion in the battlefield. You can access this boundary assessment via the documents link on this website.

Once land is acquired and the River Raisin National Battlefield Park is established as a unit of the National Park System, we will begin to develop a General Management Plan (GMP) to provide fundamental direction for park management for the next 15-20 years. The Battlefield's GMP will build on the feedback we heard from the public during the Special Resource Study process and invite more specific ideas on how the park might be preserved for public enjoyment. We invite you to follow this planning process through this website. Again, thank you for your interest in preserving and interpreting the Battles of the River Raisin. Please stay in touch.

Contact Information

Ruth Heikkinen
Project Manager
NPS Midwest Regional Office
402-661-1846 or Ruth_Heikkinen@nps.gov