Were There Ever Any Opium Dens in Michigan?
Before I get to that answer, let’s establish – for the uninformed – what opium dens were:
According to Wiki, opium dens were “establishments where opium was sold and smoked, prevalent in many parts of the world in the 19th century…..Dens were airless, usually windowless spaces with air vents and doors sealed with blankets to prevent the telltale smell of opium smoke from escaping.”
Download the WFMK Mobile App Now
The first opium dens popped up in San Francisco’s Chinatown district. Soon, dens began appearing in many U.S. cities that had a Chinese district…..and that included Detroit…