Under the abandoned paper-mill buildings in northeastern Monroe, Michigan lies an historic jewel that has just begun to sparkle for the residents of the community, the State of Michigan, the Great Lakes region, and the entire country. Two facets of this jewelwhich is listed on both the Michigan and National Historic Registers and soon to be included in the National Park System-are the locations of the Battle of the River Raisin in the War of 1812 and the 1780s community of Frenchtown, the original settlement of Monroe.

The Frenchtown Settlement/River Raisin Battlefield site is considered by local and state experts to be one of the most important historic and archeological sites in Michigan. The City of Monroe, the State of Michigan, and the previous property owner, Homrich Incorporated, took advantage of an unprecedented opportunity to preserve history and turn this former industrial brownfield into a state and federal focal point for sustainable historic preservation, education, recreation, and tourism.

Successful completion of the brownfield-redevelopment plan for the site provides tourists, history buffs, archeologists, and historians an opportunity to increase their knowledge and understanding of early settlement of the region and the Battle of the River Raisin.

A study examining the potential economic impact and benefits related to the development of a visitors' center at the River Raisin battlefield site was conducted prior to the National Battlefield Park designation. One of the areas studied-increased dollar flowdemonstrated the potential for substantial increases in job creation, visitor spending, personal income, and sales related to historic tourism and interpretation of the battlefield site.

Results of that study are summarized below:

• Estimated visits: 40,022 annually;
• Total annual visitor spending: $4.48 million;
• Total annual direct sales in region (multiplier effect of visitor spending): $4,354,000;
• Jobs created (full & part-time): 110;
• Personal income from jobs created: $1,747,000;
• Increased tax revenue on spending: $259,000 annually;
• Increased tax revenue on income: $47,000 annually;
• Increased hotel tax revenue: $10,000 to $20,000 annually;

For years, abandoned paper-mill buildings constituted a serious and imminent threat to public safety and welfare at the site. Children, teenagers, or others often illegally occupied the buildings as a place to play or conduct illegal activities. The City of Monroe and Soil and Materials Engineers, Inc. (SME) of Plymouth, Michigan, spent over seven years securing $3.2 million to pay for the environmental and demolition activities necessary to allow transfer of the East Mill historic parcel for preservation and interpretive redevelopment. The grant monies were used to demolish remaining buildings, remove PCB transformers and underground storage tanks, and address residual environmental issues, mitigating the threat to human health and safety. SME worked with archaeologists from the National Park Service, State of Michigan and Heidelberg University to develop environmental assessment and demolition strategies that would protect buried historic artifacts and resources.

Today, the River Raisin battlefield site is controlled by the Monroe County Historical Society, Monroe County and Port of Monroe. This presents the City of Monroe, State of Michigan, and National Park Service with a rare opportunity to make possible a variety of sustainable, public benefits:

• Historic preservation: Few War of 1812 battlefields, especially of the importance of the River Raisin site, have been preserved and even fewer reclaimed. Preservation of the site will allow archaeologists to expand knowledge of the early settlers of Michigan and the Battle of the River Raisin. Successful redevelopment of the site as an interpretive center will expand educational and interpretive programs and attract more visitors to the site, Monroe, and Michigan.
• Historic tourism: The expanded River Raisin battlefield site and National Battlefield Park designation will expand the site's attractiveness for tourists interested in Michigan and U.S. history, prehistoric and historic archaeology, military history, and history related to the War of 1812 specifically. The City of Monroe's Department of Community Development and Planning is pursuing development of an international War of 1812 Corridor that would connect important sites from Canada to Kentucky. Frenchtown and the River Raisin Battlefield will become a pivotal component of this corridor.
• Recreation: The historic site lies between the City of Monroe and Sterling State Park on the shore of Lake Erie, one of the most visited parks in Michigan. A hike and bike trail to connect the park to the existing river walk and hike and bike trails in Monroe is under development.