The Ambassador Bridge was completed and opened in 1929. It is the longest international suspension bridge in the world and handles ¼ of commercial trade between Canada and the United States.
African American civil engineer, Cornelius Langston Henderson, broke racial barriers in his field to work on two historic projects in Windsor during the 1920s. He was born in Detroit and spent his career working for the Canadian Bridge Company. As a structural steel engineer, he helped to design and oversee the installation of the steel trusses and cables on the Ambassador Bridge. Henderson was also involved in similar engineering work for the Detroit Windsor Tunnel.

Images Courtesy of: Museum Windsor & Windsor Public Library. Information Provided by: Amherstburg Freedom Museum.

The Amherstburg Freedom Museum is a curated archive that preserves and shares Amherstburg’s stories of the Underground Railroad, and the compassion and solidarity it took to make this network possible. It is entirely appropriate, and even necessary, that the Museum was established in Amherstburg. Amherstburg meant freedom, as the Canadian destination for many Freedom Seekers escaping enslavement in the United States. The Museum is uniquely situated to resource a profound history, steeped in its surroundings, to further extend public knowledge and enjoyment.

This site includes a stop on the Underground Railroad, the Nazrey A.M.E. Church & the Taylor Log Cabin, home of a Freedom Seeker.

Information Provided by: Amherstburg Freedom Museum.

The Canadian Aviation Museum occupies the original hangar of #7 Elementary Flying Training School built in 1940 as part of the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan. Be sure to ask about guided tours.
Pilot Officer Tarrance Freeman is believed to be the first Black Canadian navigator in the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF), commissioned on July 9, 1943. Freeman, the son of William Freeman of Windsor, attended Patterson Collegiate and the Windsor Vocational School. He left his position at the post office to join the RCAF, and attended flight training in London, Ontario.

Images courtesy of: Canadian Aviation Museum & C.L. Menard at City of Windsor Cultural Affairs Archive. Information Provided by: Canadian Aviation Museum & Amherstburg Freedom Museum.

This museum hosts a fine collection of original, fully-restored vehicles from the 19th and 20th centuries, as well as a heritage village, with 20 buildings ranging from the 700s-1920s.

Elijah McCoy was born in Colchester Township on May 2, 1844. At an early age, Elijah showed a mechanical interest. His parents saved enough money to send Elijah to Edinburgh, Scotland, to study mechanical engineering. He became a prolific inventor, and filed his first patent in 1872 for the oil-drip cup. This allowed locomotives to operate uninterrupted as the oil drip cup dispensed a controlled amount of lubricant into the engine, preventing it from overheating. McCoy obtained 57 patents for his inventions, including multiple lubrication devices, food processing systems, a portable ironing board, a lawn sprinkler, and new designs for automobile tires.

This one-room brick schoolhouse built in 1881 is representative of the region’s unique social history as a racially integrated school, in contrast to nearby segregated schools.
Upper Canada's 1850 Common School Act permitted racially separate schools at the request of twelve or more resident heads of families. Not every school was segregated, but this law gave white citizens the power to exclude African Canadian children from attending the same schools as white children. As a result, Black residents had to request a separate school so that their children would receive some form of education; so many children of African descent were forced to attend segregated schools.

Over 100 years later, Leonard Braithwaite, the first Black Canadian elected to a provincial legislature, assisted with the closure of the last segregated school in the province, S.S. #11, in 1965. In 1964, he delivered his first speech to the Ontario Legislature and spoke out against the Separate Schools Act. Shortly after, on March 12th, the education minister Bill Davis introduced a bill that repealed the 114-year-old law and amended the Act. The additional hard work of activists and parents led to the closure of S.S. #11 near Harrow.

Image Courtesy of: Heritage Colchester. Information Provided by: Amherstburg Freedom Museum.

In 2001, the Detroit River became the first river to receive both Canadian and American heritage river status. Situated in the heart of the Great Lakes Basin, the Detroit River connects Lake St. Clair with Lake Erie.
From the early 19th century until the American Civil War, settlements along the Detroit and Niagara Rivers were important terminals of the Underground Railroad. White and black abolitionists formed a heroic network dedicated to helping free and enslaved African Americans find freedom from oppression. By 1861, some 30,000 Freedom Seekers resided in what is now Ontario, after secretly travelling north from slave states like Kentucky and Virginia. Some returned south after the outbreak of the Civil War, but many remained, helping to forge the modern Canadian identity.

Images Courtesy of: Museum Windsor, Windsor Public Library. Information from: Canadian Heritage Rivers System & the Amherstburg Freedom Museum.

Fort Malden stood guard during the War of 1812. Here, Major General Isaac Brock met with Shawnee War Chief Tecumseh to launch a successful attack on Detroit, leading to the surrender of the entire territory of Michigan.
The tradition of military service by Black Canadians goes back long before Confederation. Among the battles in which Black Canadians fought is the Upper Canada Rebellion of 1837-1838, an important piece of history for Fort Malden and Canadian history as a whole. But why would Black Canadians choose to fight, despite the racism they experienced in Canada? Following the abolition of slavery in Canada in 1834, once Freedom Seekers touched Canadian soil, they were free and British citizens. Black Canadians were not only grateful for their Emancipation from enslavement, but they also felt indebted for the opportunity to build a new life in Canada as free persons. Military service was a respectable symbol of British loyalty that aided them in altering some (not all) negative perceptions about the Black community. Damaging stereotypes followed Freedom Seekers to Canada, which negatively impacted the community’s reputation and resulted in hateful acts of racism. The more their loyalty, through military service, was put on display, the harder it was for the opposition to question their rights as British/Canadian citizens. Military service also instilled a sense of self-respect that elevated them beyond the negative ideas that were forced upon them under enslavement. Fighting in the Upper Canada Rebellion allowed for Black men to contribute to the progress and safety of their new home, but also helped create a positive (self-) image among Black residents.

Images & Information Courtesy of: Fort Malden National Historic Site, Marsh Historical Collection & Amherstburg Freedom Museum.

In 1846 John Freeman Walls, a fugitive slave from North Carolina, built a log cabin on land purchased from the Refugee Home Society. This organization was founded by the abolitionist Henry Bibb, publisher of Voice of The Fugitive, and the famous Josiah Henson. The cabin subsequently served as a terminal of the Underground Railroad and the first meeting place of the Puce Baptist Church. Although many former slaves returned to the United States following the American Civil War, Walls and his family chose to remain in Canada. The story of their struggles forms the basis of the book "The Road That Led to Somewhere" by Dr. Bryan Walls.


Images Courtesy of: Anna Walls and the John Freeman Walls Historic Site. Information provided by: Amherstburg Freedom Museum.

The property containing the Josiah Henson Museum of African-Canadian History is part of 81 hectares (200 acres) of land purchased in 1841 to establish the Dawn Settlement – a refuge for many freedom seekers who escaped to Canada from the United States. The Josiah Henson Interpretive Centre, located on the site, houses a collection of 19th-century artifacts and rare books pertinent to the abolitionist era, as well as displays highlighting Reverend Josiah Henson’s life.
Born enslaved, Josiah Henson and his family escaped to Upper Canada in 1830. Henson raised international awareness of Canada as a haven for refugees from slavery. In his role as a “conductor” on the Underground Railroad, he rescued 118 enslaved people. It is believed that Henson was Harriet Beecher Stowe's model for the lead character in her novel Uncle Tom's Cabin (1852).

This Military Museum features the early history of Kingsville and Veterans who served in the Boer War, WWI, WWII and Afghanistan. Come and see the many unique artifacts that are on display.
The largest Black unit in the history of Canada was the No. 2 Construction Battalion, formed on July 5, 1916. While its headquarters were based in Nova Scotia, a detachment operated in Windsor, Ontario for soldiers recruited in Ontario and western Canada. The battalion was one of only a few units that was allowed to recruit across the country.
In 1917, No. 2 Construction Battalion sailed for England with 19 officers and 595 men. They played an essential role in the lumber operations of the Canadian Forestry Corps in Jura and Alençon. The men of No. 2 Construction Battalion showed the dedication of Black communities across Canada towards their country.

Images Provided by: Kingsville Military Museum.

Marble Village was a settlement established in the 1800's by a white Anderdon resident, Rowland Windfield, who was opposed to slavery. The settlement was inhabited by freedom seekers, who were encouraged to settle there. Many worked as farmers, but a significant number also worked at the local stone quarries or sawmill. This was the approximate site of the school, which was in operation until 1917. Please respect private property.

Images & Information Courtesy of: Amherstburg Freedom Museum

This statue honours the legacy of the pioneering abolitionist, teacher, and author Mary Ann Shadd Cary, who, in 1994, was designated a Person of National Historic Significance in Canada. She came to Windsor in 1850 where she worked as a teacher. She became the first Black woman in North America to publish a weekly newspaper when she established "The Provincial Freeman", which championed abolitionism. She was also an activist for numerous causes including the abolition of slavery, temperance, women's rights, and education.
Mary Ann Shadd Cary later decided to return to the United States, where she became a recruitment agent for the Union Army during the Civil War. She earned a law degree at Howard University, making her one of the first Black women to complete a law degree in 1883, becoming a civil rights lawyer. She also became the first Black woman to vote in a national election.

Images Courtesy of: Christopher Lawrence Menard. Information Provided by: University of Windsor & Amherstburg Freedom Museum.

This historic neighbourhood emerged during the mid-nineteenth century as African American freedom seekers and free people of colour crossed the Detroit River in search of refuge from enslavement and oppression. After the conclusion of the American Civil War brought the Underground Railroad era to an end, Windsor’s Black population continued to increase as families and individuals of African descent from rural areas of Southwestern Ontario moved into the Corridor to seek employment. For more information, visit the McDougall Corridor Tour.
Ella Louise Jackson was born on December 2, 1922. As a child, she attended the Mercer Street School, here in the McDougal Street Corridor. In 1944, she became the first Black woman from Windsor to join the Canadian Women’s Army Corps.

Images Courtesy of: Museum Windsor. Information from: McDougal Street Corridor Tour.

Built in 1798 for Scottish fur trader Alexander Duff, and later sold to Jaques Baby, the Duff-Baby House is one of the oldest documented homes in Southwestern Ontario.
In 1830, Charles Baby hired a young black man from Kentucky named Andrew who had escaped slavery in Kentucky via the Underground Railroad. The Baby family hired him mainly as a cook, but he was trained as a stone and brick mason. After 6 months, a southern plantation owner came to the Duff-Baby Mansion in pursuit of Andrew. The Babys were offered $200 for Andrew to be returned, but they refused. One Sunday, five men crossed the river from Detroit to capture Andrew. Luckily, Charles Baby was at home. A fight ensued, and townspeople helped to send the Americans back across the river. Knowing the area was no longer safe, Andrew left for York (now Toronto), but maintained a friendship with the Baby family for years.

Information from: 'A Mansion on the Detroit Frontier' by Les Amis Duff-Baby.

Today this area is mostly farmland, but the New Canaan settlement began around the 1820s with numerous individuals coming from the U.S. escaping slavery via the Underground. The American Missionary Association School was also located in New Canaan before closing in 1859.
Delos Rogest Davis was born in 1846 in Maryland. In 1850, his family escaped to Canada by way of the Underground Railroad, and settled in Colchester Township. He worked as a teacher, and studied law in Windsor and in 1873, he became a notary public. After years of struggle, on November 15, 1886, Davis became the third Black Canadian ever called to the Bar of Ontario, and specialized in criminal and municipal law. In 1910, after 23 years of practice, Davis was the first Black person in the British Empire to be appointed King’s Counsel. He was laid to rest in the New Canaan Cemetery.
Access to the cemetery from County Road 12 is via a 22-foot right-of-way.

Images Courtesy of: Kingsville-Gosfield Heritage Archives. Information provided by: Stephanie L. Pouget - Papak, (OCT, BA Hons, BEd, MA) & The Park House Museum

Paterson Park is home to a set of murals honouring Black historical figures, including:
C. Parker, "Uncle Al", a member of the Windsor Police Department for 28 years. In 1953, he became Canada's first African-Canadian detective. Detective Parker was awarded the Ontario Medal for Good Citizenship and The Order of Canada. Visit his statue at Alton C. Parker Park on Brodhead Street, Windsor.
Elijah McCoy, born in Colchester Township in 1844. As an inventor, he developed a “lubricating cup” for steam engines that did not require the train to stop. The “lubricating cup” was met with enormous success and orders for it came in from railroad companies all over the country. McCoy held at least 45 patents for his inventions, including lubrication devices, food processing systems, a portable ironing board, a lawn sprinkler, and new designs for automobile tires.

Visit the murals to find out more.

The Puce River Community owed its existence largely to the Refugee Home Society, an abolitionist organization led by Henry and Mary Bibb, that offered support to Freedom Seekers by providing opportunities for land ownership and self-sufficiency. Beginning in 1852, families purchased 25-acre farms in Sandwich and Maidstone Townships from the Society, which also set aside a portion of lands for the construction of schools and churches. Forged in freedom, this thriving farm community produced descendants who live across North America.
Information provided by the Amherstburg Freedom Museum.

The Sandwich First Baptist Church, a National Historic Site, is Canada's oldest active black church. The focal point for many anti-slavery activities, they received, sheltered, and assisted new Canadians arriving on the Underground Railroad.
Bounty hunters were often employed to track and return freedom seekers to the South. When a bounty hunter was seen in the area of the Sandwich First Baptist Church a bell was rung. Every person who heard the ringing of the bell would ring another bell to warn all of those who had escaped from the South to hide in a designated spot in the church. The pastor would lock the door, and when all the freedom seekers were hidden away, he would instruct his church to start singing "There’s a Stranger at the Door" and the church doors would be opened. Unable to find whoever they were looking for; the bounty hunter would leave empty handed.

Images Courtesy of: Museum Windsor. Information Provided by: Sandwich Walking Tour & the Amherstburg Freedom Museum.

The Tower of Freedom Underground Railroad Monument is one half of the International Underground Railroad Memorial created by sculptor Ed Dwight. This half honours the flight of freedom seekers from the U.S. crossing into Canada by depicting their arrival and overwhelming emotion when encountering freedom. The half of the Monument located in Hart Plaza, Detroit, depicts the Gateway to Freedom and features a bronze sculpture of six Underground Railroad travellers awaiting transport to Canada.

The Underground Railroad was a network of routes, places, and people that helped enslaved people in the American South escape to free states in the North and Canada. It was not an actual railroad and it did not run underground, but it transported large numbers of people through homes, barns, churches, and businesses. “Conductors” guided the freedom seeker “passengers” to safe-house “stations”. It is estimated that between 1810 and 1850, the Underground Railroad helped to guide 100,000 enslaved people to freedom.

The monolith is twenty-two feet in height and is visible from its sister monument in Hart Plaza, Detroit, MI. The names of local people and places of significance to the Underground Railroad movement appear on the monument along with a bronze Canadian flag and the flame of freedom.
Information sourced from education.nationalgeographic.org