The Equestrian Monument

City / town · Michigan

Monroe

The Equestrian Monument

Open in Maps ✎ Write about it
Best timeApr–Oct
From you
Nearest airportDTW · 21 mi
On this page

Overview

Monroe is the county seat of Monroe County.

7 sights · 3 things to do · 5 places to eat · 2 bars & cafés · 5 places to stay

Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage

Best things about Monroe

George Armstrong Custer Equestrian Monument

Also known as Sighting the Enemy, it was intended to commemorate George Armstrong Custer's actions in the Civil War by depicting him in his Civil War fatigues.

St. Mary's Church

Constructed in the Gregorian year of 1834, consecrated in 1839, and commemorated on November 28, 1889. Tricky to miss.

River Raisin National Battlefield Park

River Raisin National Battlefield Park

The Monroe County Museum

Saint Michael the Archangel Church

Roman Catholic

Sterling State Park

Sterling State Park

The only Michigan state park on Lake Erie. In its 1,300 acres are great recreational opportunities of boating, fishing, camping on the lakefront, and viewing wildlife.

Plan your trip

Best time to visit & weather

Most comfortable: Apr–Oct. Summer highs reach about 86°F; winter lows dip to about 20°F. Cold months (Jan, Feb, Dec) can bring snow and ice; check road conditions. Wettest: May and Apr. (climate data from nearby Toledo)

Jan: 2.4 in rain2.4"Jan: high 35°F, low 20°F35°20°JanFeb: 2.3 in rain2.3"Feb: high 38°F, low 22°F38°22°FebMar: 2.6 in rain2.6"Mar: high 48°F, low 30°F48°30°MarApr: 3.5 in rain3.5"Apr: high 62°F, low 40°F62°40°AprMay: 3.8 in rain3.8"May: high 73°F, low 51°F73°51°MayJun: 3.5 in rain3.5"Jun: high 83°F, low 60°F83°60°JunJul: 3.3 in rain3.3"Jul: high 86°F, low 64°F86°64°JulAug: 3.2 in rain3.2"Aug: high 84°F, low 63°F84°63°AugSep: 2.9 in rain2.9"Sep: high 78°F, low 55°F78°55°SepOct: 2.6 in rain2.6"Oct: high 65°F, low 44°F65°44°OctNov: 2.7 in rain2.7"Nov: high 51°F, low 34°F51°34°NovDec: 2.4 in rain2.4"Dec: high 39°F, low 26°F39°26°Dec

Blue bars: average daily high and low (°F). Purple columns: average monthly rain and melted snow (inches).

Getting there

  • From you: to see whether to drive or fly, and how long it takes.
  • DTW Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport, Detroit — 21 mi away (major hub). Directions
  • TOL Eugene F. Kranz Toledo Express Airport, Toledo — 31 mi away. Directions

I-75 passes through the town from the north to south, connecting Monroe with Detroit to the north and Toledo to the south.

Full “Get in” guide ↓

Budget & where to stay

No prices are listed for this place yet. See the Sleep guide ↓ for options.

Sample 2-day itinerary

Day 1

  • Morning George Armstrong Custer Equestrian Monument, St. Mary's Church, Saint Michael the Archangel Church
  • Lunch Public House
  • Afternoon River Raisin National Battlefield Park, Sterling State Park
  • Dinner Joe's French-Italian Inn
  • Evening 129 Lounge

Day 2

  • Morning Monroe County Fair, The Monroe County Museum
  • Lunch Detroit Beach Restaurant
  • Afternoon Muskrat Dinner
  • Dinner Pete's Garage
  • Evening Beek's Bar & Grill

Stops are grouped by area so each day needs little backtracking. Check opening hours before you go.

Food for you

Cuisine (tap to filter)

What to ask about, for your diet

    Diet labels come from each listing's description and cuisine; “likely” means the cuisine usually has good choices, not a promise. Check with the restaurant. Open the food finder

    Photos

    The Equestrian MonumentRiver Raisin National Battlefield ParkSterling State ParkSouth Monroe Street

    Map

    Every listing with a location. Tap a pin for its Google Maps link.

    Understand

    Birthplace of General Custer and, unsurprisingly by extension, the Celebratory Hub of Custer Week. Monroe is also home to La-Z-Boy and Monroe Shocks & Struts.

    Get in

    By car

    I-75 passes through the town from the north to south, connecting Monroe with Detroit to the north and Toledo to the south.

    By plane

    Go Detroit Metropolitan Airport (DTW)

    The nearest major airport.

    ⚠ Last checked Jan 2020 — confirm before you go
    MapsWebsite

    Go Custer Airport

    A General aviation airport

    ⚠ Last checked Jul 2020 — confirm before you go
    Maps

    Get around

    By bus

    Lake Erie Transit buses near any drive-by address.

    By car

    Parking in downtown Monroe is free for one hour; just don't park by a fire hydrant or on a sidewalk.

    See

    See George Armstrong Custer Equestrian Monument

    Also known as Sighting the Enemy, it was intended to commemorate George Armstrong Custer's actions in the Civil War by depicting him in his Civil War fatigues.

    at Junction of Elm Avenue and North Monroe Street
    Maps

    See The Sawyer Homestead

    Built by Dr. Isaac Sawyer, in 1872; named possibly to evade confusion with Mark Twain's Tom Sawyer.

    📍 320 E. Front St
    Maps

    See St. Mary's Church

    Constructed in the Gregorian year of 1834, consecrated in 1839, and commemorated on November 28, 1889. Tricky to miss.

    Maps
    River Raisin National Battlefield Park

    See River Raisin National Battlefield Park

    📍 1403 East Elm Avenue☎ +1 734 243-7136⚠ Last checked Aug 2015 — confirm before you go
    MapsWebsite

    See The Monroe County Museum

    📍 126 South Monroe Street☎ +1 734 240-7780⚠ Last checked Sep 2016 — confirm before you go
    MapsWebsite

    See Saint Michael the Archangel Church

    Roman Catholic

    📍 502 West Front Street⚠ Last checked Apr 2018 — confirm before you go
    MapsWebsite

    See Saint George Serbian Orthodox Church

    📍 2330 North Monroe Street☎ +1 734 241-1169⚠ Last checked Apr 2018 — confirm before you go
    MapsWebsite

    Do

    Sterling State Park

    Do Sterling State Park

    The only Michigan state park on Lake Erie. In its 1,300 acres are great recreational opportunities of boating, fishing, camping on the lakefront, and viewing wildlife.

    📍 2800 State Park Rd☎ +1 734 289-2715⚠ Last checked Jul 2020 — confirm before you go
    MapsWebsite

    Do Muskrat Dinner

    Annual dinner featuring local cuisine made from Muskrats.

    Monroe Boat Club🕒 First Mon of January (Unless it's New Years)💲 $10-$23⚠ Last checked Oct 2020 — confirm before you go
    Maps

    Buy

    Shop The Mall of Monroe (Frenchtown Square Mall)

    Formerly called the Frenchtown Square Mall.

    📍 2121 N. Monroe St🕒 Mon-Sat 10AM-9PM; Sun noon-5PM☎ +1 734 242-9150
    MapsWebsite

    Eat

    Eat Joe's French-Italian Inn

    ItalianFrenchAmerican$

    Italian and American cuisine since 1930.

    📍 2896 N. Dixie Hwy.2 miles east off of Exit 15 from Interstate I-75🕒 Opens at Mon-Fri 11AM, Sat Sun at 4PM💲 $2.75-24☎ +1 734 289-2800
    Video reviews: Instagram reels · TikTok · YouTube
    MapsWebsite

    Drink

    Sleep

    Stay Hotel Sterling

    With 160 years of history and fresh, cosmopolitan décor, it has rooms with en-suite bathrooms for tourists and business guests.

    📍 109 West Front St💲 From $112☎ +1 734 242-6212
    MapsWebsite

    Stay Econo Lodge

    Pool and hot tub, free breakfast, free wireless internet access, meeting room. Pets welcome for an additional fee.

    📍 6500 E. Albain Rdoff I-75 at exit 11☎ +1 734 384-1500
    MapsWebsite

    Nearby

    Luna Pier

    Luna Pier

    City / town · 7 listings · 8 mi away

    Maybee

    Maybee

    City / town · 4 listings · 9 mi away

    Carleton

    Carleton

    City / town · 2 listings · 10 mi away

    Southern Wayne County

    Southern Wayne County

    Rural area · 11 listings · 13 mi away

    Dundee

    Dundee

    City / town · 7 listings · 14 mi away

    Petersburg

    Petersburg

    City / town · 2 listings · 16 mi away

    Milan

    Milan

    City / town · 4 listings · 19 mi away

    West Sister Island

    West Sister Island

    Park · 3 listings · 19 mi away

    My experience

    Write about your trip here. Notes save automatically in this browser as you type; back them up from My journal.