Explore historic sites commemorating Black history in Michigan

The legacies of influential Black Americans have not always been acknowledged, so it's not uncommon that modern-day residents may overlook the historic sites of their own cities.

While some historical Black figures in the U.S. are more well-known than others, there are in fact thousands of people dating back generations to 17th-century slavery who left traces of their visions and impacts all across the country. Whether prominent figures such as Robert Abbott, who founded one of the largest African American newspapers in the country, or more under-the-radar originators such as Obrey Wendell Hamlet, who cultivated unique vacation experiences in the Rocky Mountains, one thing's for certain: There is far more uncharted Black history in this country than charted.

Stacker identified historic sites commemorating Black history across 47 states, using the National Register of Historic Places. North Dakota, Vermont, Hawaii, and Wyoming did not have Black historic sites listed on the registry. While some states, especially in the South, are home to many sites central to the civil rights movement, Stacker listed the total sites in every state and the names of three historic sites where available. You can visit the full registry of 232 historic sites and explore the Civil Rights Trail to learn about additional locations across the U.S.

Read on to explore and learn about the historic sites celebrating Black history in your state, or read the national story here.

Michigan by the numbers

- Sites commemorating Black history: 23 (3 with state significance, 4 with national significance)
- Idlewild Historic District (Boundary Increase) (Yates)
- Dunbar Hospital (Detroit)
- Ossian H. Sweet House (Detroit)

Throughout the first half of the 20th century, the Idlewild Historic District, a Black resort town in Yates Township, was once a booming town drawing in crowds. The unincorporated community, nicknamed "the Black Eden," was created by white investors during a time when Black people weren't allowed in predominantly white vacation spaces. By the 1960s, Idlewild saw a decline but in recent years there have been revitalization efforts such as including the Idlewild Historic & Cultural Center in 2003.

Continue reading to see which sites commemorate Black history in other states in your area.

Illinois

- Sites commemorating Black history: 18 (1 with state significance, 8 with national significance)
- Lovejoy, Owen, Homestead (Princeton)
- Robert S. Abbott House (Chicago)
- Oscar Stanton De Priest House (Chicago)

Built in 1838 in Princeton, Illinois, the Owen Lovejoy Homesstead was the home of the congressman, attorney, and abolitionist Owen Lovejoy. The home was a former station of the Underground Railroad and consists of a secret compartment that hid enslaved people who escaped.

Indiana

- Sites commemorating Black history: 37 (7 with state significance, 1 with national significance)
- Walker, Madame C. J., Building (Indianapolis)
- Alexander Taylor Rankin House (Fort Wayne)
- Eleutherian College (Lancaster)

A Black woman entrepreneur, activist, and philanthropist, Madam C.J. Walker is recognized widely as the first self-made female millionaire in the U.S. due to the achievements of her cosmetology empire. Walker created specialized hair care products for Black women after experiencing a scalp ailment that resulted in her own hair loss. The Madame C.J. Walker Building, located at 617 Indiana Ave. in Indianapolis, was built in 1927 and provides guided tours to this day.