Bronson Township in Branch County, Michigan — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

The Chicago Road

Photographed by J.T. Lambrou, April 11, 2023

1. The Chicago Road Marker

Inscription. One of the great routes for the pioneers coming west was the Chicago Road. The survey of the road began at Detroit in 1825 and followed closely the Sauk Trail which Indians had marked and traveled for centuries before the coming of the white man. Because of its many curves the road was likened to “a huge serpent, lazily pursuing its onward course, utterly unconcerned as to its destination.” Originally designed as a military highway linking the forts at Detroit and Chicago, the road proved to be more important in opening southern Michigan to settlement and as a westward land route enabling travelers to avoid the long voyage by boat around lower Michigan. By the 1830's pioneer families by the thousands each year were moving over this road in their wagons. By 1835 the Western Stage Company of Detroit was running two stages daily to Chicago. Much of the road was little more than an unimproved trail, making a trip over it an unforgettable and an uncomfortable experience. Buildings from that bygone age still stand along US-12, the Chicago Road's descendant.

Erected 1958 by Michigan Historical Commission. (Marker Number S162.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Roads & Vehicles. In addition, it is included

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in the Michigan Historical Commission series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1825.

Location. 41° 51.859′ N, 85° 13.623′ W. Marker is near Bronson, Michigan, in Branch County. It is in Bronson Township. It is on West Chicago Road (U.S. 12) 0.4 miles east of Prairie River Road, on the right when traveling west. Marker is located in Bronson Roadside Park on the north side of US-12. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Bronson MI 49028, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Southwest Michigan.

It is also in the American Midwest

and on the Great Lakes.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Cyrus Luce (approx. 1.7 miles away); Robert Lowell Davison was born September 12, 1903 in Rushville, Indiana (approx. 1.7 miles away); Bronson City Hall (approx. 1.8 miles away); Bronson High School World War I Memorial (approx. 1.8 miles away); Bronson Veterans Memorial (approx. 1.8 miles away); Bronson World War II Memorial (approx. 1.8 miles away); City of Bronson Sesquicentennial (approx. 1.8 miles away); Bronson Public Library (approx. 1.8 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Bronson.

Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker. The list includes other historical markers about the Chicago Road in Michigan.

Photographed by Duane Hall, November 19, 2012

2. The Chicago Road Marker

Route of the Chicago Road image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Duane Hall, November 19, 2012

3. Route of the Chicago Road

Close-up of map on marker

Bronson Roadside Park image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Duane Hall, November 19, 2012

4. Bronson Roadside Park

Credits. This page was last revised on June 13, 2025. It was originally submitted on December 8, 2012, by Duane Hall of Abilene, Texas. This page has been viewed 3,719 times since then and 121 times this year. Last updated on April 19, 2013, by Duane Hall of Abilene, Texas. Photos: 1. submitted on April 23, 2023, by J.T. Lambrou of New Boston, Michigan. 2, 3, 4. submitted on December 8, 2012, by Duane Hall of Abilene, Texas. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.