Underground Railroad Memorial and River Walk

Installed in 2001, this 12-foot-high depiction of a slave family looking at last on Canada, the land of freedom for escaped slaves, was created by sculptor and former astronaut Ed Dwight. The statue honors Detroit, which was the final stop for thousands of escaped slaves before they were taken across the border to safety in Canada. Looking toward Windsor, Ontario, the memorial also honors Canada, where thousands settled after crossing the river (one such homestead has been preserved just outside Windsor). The monument was one of the first anchors of the 5.5-mile Detroit River Walk, which stretches from near Belle Isle at the river's start to the Ambassador Bridge. The hope is to extend the walkway to Detroit's neighboring downriver communities and eventually the entire length of the river to its confluence with Lake Erie.