Honoring Tejano Roots: A Monument to Music, Migration, and Community in Mexicantown

On the corner of Bagley and 21st Street, just steps from the heart of Detroit’s Mexicantown, a granite monument now stands—etched with names, memories, and music.

In September 2023, Mexicantown became home to Michigan’s first-ever state historical marker honoring a Hispanic/Latinx community. The Tejano Music and Community Marker, located in the Mexicantown CDC Plaza, is more than a tribute—it’s a public reminder that history lives here, in Southwest Detroit.

A Soundtrack of Migration and Resilience

During the early 20th century, Mexican and Tejano families began settling in Michigan, many arriving by way of Texas to work in agriculture and industry. Along with their labor, they brought their stories, culture, and music—particularly the unmistakable sounds of Tejano and conjunto: soulful accordion riffs, bajo sexto rhythms, and lyrics that echoed the dual identity of being both Mexican and American.

Southwest Detroit quickly became one of the most vibrant Tejano music scenes outside of Texas, with bands like Conjunto Los Primos, founded by Martin H. Solis Jr., playing to packed halls, quinceañeras, and neighborhood events. Local radio stations gave airtime to these sounds, helping build an ecosystem that celebrated identity through music.

A Collaborative Effort Years in the Making

The installation of the historical marker was the result of tireless community collaboration. Spearheaded by the Martin H. Solis Jr. Tejano Association in partnership with the Michigan Music Hall of Fame, Mexicantown CDC, Third Man Records, and MSU’s Julian Samora Research Institute, the project united city leaders, historians, musicians, and neighborhood advocates.

Mexicantown CDC was honored to support the effort and provide the physical space for the marker’s home. The CDC Plaza—originally built to host events and anchor community development—now holds a living piece of cultural preservation. It’s a space where art, history, and heritage continue to meet.

Why It Matters

This marker is more than just metal and stone. It’s a formal recognition of the countless families who helped shape Detroit’s southwest side. It acknowledges that the Latinx story is an essential thread in Michigan’s cultural fabric—and that Mexicantown is a living, breathing reflection of that legacy.

For us at Mexicantown CDC, the marker also represents something powerful: the role community development plays in preserving not just buildings—but culture. It reminds us that development without story is hollow. Our role is to uplift both.

Visit the Marker

You’ll find the Tejano Marker in the CDC Plaza at Bagley & 21st. Whether you’re a local resident or a first-time visitor, we invite you to stop by, read the inscription, and take in the space. And maybe—just maybe—play a little conjunto on your headphones as you walk the neighborhood. It’s the soundtrack of a movement still in motion.

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