Port Huron in St. Clair County, Michigan — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Immigration

Photographed By J.T. Lambrou, August 15, 2022

1. Immigration Marker

Inscription.

Many people coming to the United States from other lands entered through this depot. By 1881, more than 77,000 immigrants first stepped foot on American soil here. Port Huron folks gathered here to see and hear the new arrivals, fascinated by their different clothes and foreign speech. Young Tom Edison is said to have peddled his candy and fresh vegetables here, to townspeople and foreigners alike.

The immigrants were taken to nearby Fort Gratiot, where they were disinfected, served meals of bread and soup, and temporarily housed in long sheds. Some of these immigrants settled in the Port Huron area, while others continued on to build new lives in America's young cities, farmlands and Western frontier.

Erected by Thomas Edison Depot Museum.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1881.

Location. 42° 59.925′ N, 82° 25.563′ W. Marker is in Port Huron, Michigan, in St. Clair County. Marker is at the intersection of Thomas Edison Parkway and the Bluewater Bridge to Sarnia (Interstate 69/94), on the right when traveling south on Thomas Edison Parkway. Marker is at the Thomas Edison Depot Museum. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 510 Thomas Edison Parkway, Port Huron MI 48060, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers.

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At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Tom Edison at Grand Trunk (here, next to this marker); Native Americans (here, next to this marker); Ships on the St. Clair (a few steps from this marker); All Aboard! (a few steps from this marker); Bridging the Blue Waters (a few steps from this marker); Making Tracks (a few steps from this marker); Wilderness Outpost (a few steps from this marker); Edison Homesite (a few steps from this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Port Huron.

Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., July 5, 2014

2. Immigration Marker

Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., July 5, 2014

3. Immigration Marker

Marker on left

Credits. This page was last revised on December 22, 2022. It was originally submitted on August 5, 2014, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. This page has been viewed 462 times since then and 15 times this year. Last updated on November 22, 2014, by Anton Schwarzmueller of Wilson, New York. Photos: 1. submitted on December 18, 2022, by J.T. Lambrou of New Boston, Michigan. 2, 3. submitted on August 5, 2014, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.