MMM Lecture Series: The Civil War Comes to the Great Lakes: Confederate Raiders on the Inland Seas
Date
August 6, 2026
Start Time
6:30 pm
End Time
7:30 pm
Event Details
When the Civil War is discussed in Michigan it is often as events that happened in such exotic locales as Virginia, Tennessee or Arkansas. While this is mostly true, it was not exclusively so, with subterfuge, secrecy and invasion fears popping up in places like Detroit throughout the conflict. This was especially true in September of 1864, when a group of Rebel plotters hijacked a steamer with an aim to set the shores of the Great Lakes ablaze and lay its cities in ruins. Together we’ll explore the events of that dramatic raid, the personalities of those involved, and discuss how close the Great Lakes came to being a battlefield.
About the speaker: Jeff Pollock is a public historian, event organizer, and advocate for the ‘Vernors Cure.’ Prior to coming to Detroit History Tours, Jeff (known as Pollock at Detroit History Tours) had stints at museums in Monroe, Sanilac County, Macomb County and Detroit. He has a passion for history, but is especially drawn to the history of crime in Detroit, the Civil War, sports history and the W.P.A. He is an advocate for all things history, and relishes a good trivia question. He has been Executive Director at Detroit History Tours since May of 2025.
