Walker Tavern

Walker Tavern is a two-story white wooden structure built with hand-hewn oak timber that served as a lodging house and rest station along the route between Detroit and Chicago. The building displays simple, functional design typical of early 19th century construction methods.

The tavern was built in 1832 and purchased by Sylvester Walker in 1843, who made it a major rest point on the route between Detroit and Chicago. It played an important role in the movement of people and goods during early American expansion.

The tavern served as a meeting point where people from different communities gathered to eat, sleep, and share news during their journeys. The spaces reflect how travelers and locals mingled in this stopping place.

The tavern is located on U.S. Route 12 in Cambridge Township and is open to visitors from spring through fall. The site is part of a historic state park where guided tours help visitors understand how travelers and settlers lived during that era.

The tavern has preserved records showing that meals cost about 25 cents in the 1840s, revealing how affordable it was to eat while traveling. These same records document that guests shared sleeping quarters, which was a normal part of a multi-day journey.

Location: Michigan

Architectural style: Federal architecture

GPS coordinates: 42.06000,-84.22500

Latest update: December 14, 2025 13:05