Detroit, Michigan

Church, History

The First Congregational Church of Detroit has a rich history and remarkable story of the Underground Railroad. During the operation of the Underground Railroad in Detroit, the basement of the First Congregational Church of Detroit that was once located at Fort & Wayne Streets, was used to hide refugees en route to boats at the foot of Wayne Street (now Washington Boulevard), smuggling them across to Windsor. With this strong heritage the Congregation of the church had a vision with a mission to capture and sustain the national legacy of the Underground Railroad for researchers, educators, non-profit organizations and their constituencies. From this vision and mission the Friends of First Underground Railroad Living Museum was born.