First Albanian Bektashi Tekke in America

01 / The story of this place

Make time for these

Baba Rexheb, a Bektashi Sufi spiritual leader born in Gjirokastër in what is now Albania, fled to the United States after the Second World War as Albania fell under communist rule, and settled among the growing Albanian community in metro Detroit. Detroit-area Albanian immigrants helped purchase an 18-acre former farm in Taylor, southwest of the city, and the tekke, or Sufi lodge, was consecrated on April 29, 1954, becoming the first Bektashi monastery established anywhere in America. Baba Rexheb led the community here for the rest of his life, building it into a spiritual and cultural anchor for Albanian Muslims across North America, until his death on August 10, 1995, at the age of 93. He is buried on the grounds in a turbe, a domed tomb-shrine, which remains open daily for prayer and pilgrimage. The tekke still functions today as both an active monastery and a community center, with a small museum preserving Baba Rexheb's archives and personal belongings.

1. Founded by Baba Rexheb, consecrated April 29, 1954
2. First Bektashi Sufi tekke established in the United States
3. Sits on an 18-acre former farm in Taylor
4. Baba Rexheb led the community here until his death in 1995
5. His turbe (tomb-shrine) on the grounds remains open daily for pilgrimage