The first multi-million dollar industry in the New World was the
fur trade and as early as 1608 Champlain began to form alliances
with Indians to trade furs to Europe and in 1682 La Salle
claimed for France all the land drained by the Mississippi and
its tributaries. All of the early American settlements were
established in locations based on their proximity to
transportation to facilitate trade. Waterways and native trails
were the first highways and no region had better access than
that of an area in Michigan Territory. Lake St. Clair flows into
Lake Erie there and the French traders referred to it as "the
Strait," or "Le Detroit."
Fort Ponchartrain de Detroit was settled on July 24, 1701 by
Antoine de la Mothe Cadillac
as both a French fur trading post and a barrier to British
infringement. The site was strategic because the river was
narrow and the bluffs were steep. The original group of
colonists consisted of 2 priests, soldiers, craftsmen, traders
and Indian allies. Detroit fell to the British in 1760 and was
surrendered to the US who took control in 1796. A statue of
Cadillac's landing was dedicated in 2001 in Hart Plaza.
Detroit was incorporated in 1815 and during the antebellum
period it became an increasingly significant station on the
Underground Railroad. The city was called "Midnight" in the
freedom code and it was the final stop prior to crossing into
Windsor, Canada. To memorialize the journey and the people a
sculpture in Hart Plaza on the riverbank depicts figures of 6
slaves and African American UGRR conductor George DeBaptiste
gazing toward Canada as they await transport. "The Gateway to
Freedom Memorial," sculpted by Ed Dwight, is 10' by 12'. A
memorial on the Canadian shoreline captures freedom seekers at
the moment of their arrival.
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Detroit Stadium |
Detroit, from its founding, has been a place where cultures have
intermingled, where innovation and creativity have flourished
and where people have the ability to revitalize, reform and
remake both themselves and the city. This is the perfect time to
visit the city and explore its past, present and future and
Show Me Detroit Tours
offers a comprehensive list of tours that provide glimpses into
numerous aspects of the city. Thematic and specialty guided
tours are available by reservation. This is a wonderful way to
"take a deeper dive into the D." www.showmedetroittours.com
Buildings have biographies and visitors to Detroit, a showcase
for a premiere collection of pre-Depression architectural
marvels, can follow the history and heritage of the city
structure by structure. The first brick building was erected in
1820 and wealth and prosperity were no strangers to the city
from the 1890's until the early 1930s. This
led to a
tremendous building boom and the majority of the most noted
architects of the era left a legacy in Detroit.
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Joe Lewis Fist |
The beauty of each
edifice is enhanced by the history and the architecture is so
impressive and pervasive that you can begin in any section of
the city but I suggest you begin in the Downtown area near
Woodward Avenue, the first street illuminated by Thomas Edison
with arc street lighting and the setting for portions of
"Transformers".
Sculptor Marshall Fredericks created the Spirit of Detroit, the
city's iconic sculpture. A man holds a globe, representing God,
in his right hand and a family in the left. The marble backdrop
stands 45-ft. by 35-ft. The seated bronze sculpture is on a
marble base.
My personal favorite piece of public art is the 1986 "Monument
to Joe Louis" by Robert Graham. Sports Illustrated gifted
Detroit with the very controversial sculpture of Louis' arm with
hand clenched into a fist. The arm is 24-ft. long and is held
aloft by bronze poles.
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![](renee_detroit_guardian.jpg) |
Interior Guardian Window |
Interior Guardian Building |
If you have time to visit a single architectural wonder it must
be the Guardian Building,
Detroit's Cathedral of Finance. It was originally constructed by
the 1927 Union Trust Co. and was known as the 40-story Union
Guardian Building. Approximately 1.8-million bricks, in a
specially created orange color, were used in conjunction with
glazed tile and polychrome terra cotta
Corrado Parducci crafted the exterior carvings and a ribbon of
tri-colored terra cotta distinguishes the lower 7-floors from
those above.
The interior will take your breath away. The building's design
is meant to inspire trust in the customers and to that end
certain design elements are reminiscent of a cathedral. The
3-story vaulted ceiling tops a 150-ft. long lobby with
Travertine marble columns the bases of which are rare black
Belgium
marble. Even more rare is the red Numidian marble also found in
the lobby. It was obtained from an African mine that had been
dormant for 30-years because it was no longer mined. In order to
make the bank quiet a �-inch layer of horsehair was placed on
the ceiling. A Tiffany clock, one of 4 in existence, is also on
view as well as two stained glass windows featuring Aztec
figures. The building was listed on the National Register in
1989.The interior will take your breath away. The building's design
is meant to inspire trust in the customers and to that end
certain design elements are reminiscent of a cathedral. The
3-story vaulted ceiling tops a 150-ft. long lobby with
Travertine marble columns the bases of which are rare black
Belgium
marble. Even more rare is the red Numidian marble also found in
the lobby. It was obtained from an African mine that had been
dormant for 30-years because it was no longer mined. In order to
make the bank quiet a �-inch layer of horsehair was placed on
the ceiling. A Tiffany clock, one of 4 in existence, is also on
view as well as two stained glass windows featuring Aztec
figures. The building was listed on the National Register in
1989.
www.guardianbuilding.com
Rivard Plaza is located on Detroit's International
Riverfront, a river walkway from the Ambassador Bridge to
Gabriel Richard Park. The 32-mile long Detroit River is the only
river with a zipcode and this is the only place where Canada is
south of the US. The plaza features outstanding views and photo
ops of Canada and the downtown area. It features an inland map
of the river, a cafe and the
Cullen Family Carousel. www.detroitriverfront.org
The first documented African American in the Detroit area
was an "unknown negresse" who was given the last rites in 1736
and by 1750 there were 450 free blacks and 33 slaves. In 1910 at
the onset of the Black Migration the census noted a black
population of 5,741 in the city, ten-years later the population
was 40,838. From 1913 to 1988 3,000 trains arrived at the
Michigan Central Train Station monthly.
Berry Gordy, Sr. and Bertha Fuller Gordy arrived from
Georgia in 1922 for the greater opportunity that the city
promised. Gordy, Sr. was descended from a white farmer, the
great grandfather of Jimmy Carter, and an enslaved woman. Berry
Gordy, Jr. was born 7-years later, one of 8 children. He
withdrew from school in the 11th grade to become a
professional boxer and after serving in Korea he held a number
of jobs until he penned a hit song, recorded by Jackie Wilson,
in 1957.
Gordy went on to found the most successful African
American company in the country, introduce soul music to the
world and profoundly alter the course of American music, culture
and race relations. In 1988 he was inducted into the Rock and
Roll Hall of Fame and in 2013 he became the first living
recipient of the Songwriter's Hall of Fame Pioneer Award.
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Motown Musuem |
In 1959 the Gordy family loaned Berry $800.00 to
establish his company and purchase a former photography studio
at 2648 West Grand Blvd. he named "Hitsville USA." Motown
relocated to Los Angeles in 1972 and in 1998 it became part of
the Universal Music Group. The Motown Historical Museum was
founded in 1985 by Esther Gordy Edwards to preserve and promote
Motown's history and lasting impact.
Tours begin on the exterior where visitors can take photos in
front of the building, the "Hitsville" sign and the historic
plaque. Of the original 8 buildings 5 remain and the museum is
housed inside two adjacent structures. "The Motown Sound," a
15-minute video provides orientation before you proceed to the 2nd-floor.
Highlights of these galleries include Stevie Wonder's harmonica
and Michael Jackson's hat and glove. Jackson visited the museum
in 1988 and donated $125,000 and his personal items.
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United Sound Systems |
Returning to the first level you pass through the lobby, control
room and enter the famous Studio A. This is where many of the
hits were recorded and the studio remains 99% original. Paul
McCartney visited and wanted to play the 1877 Steinway used in
the sessions. When he found it out of tune he had it transported
and tuned. Wonderful souvenirs are available in "Shop Around,"
the museum gift store.
www.motownmuseum.org
You can be among the first to visit United Sound Systems
Recording Studio (USSRS), the first independent recording
studio, meaning it allowed people to record their own music and
market it on their own. It was founded in 1933 and has operated
continuously since then. The tour begins with a 10-minute film
and proceeds into the 3 studios. Ray Charles, Aretha, Bootsy,
the Rolling Stones, Prince, Miles, Muddy Waters, the
Parliaments, Whitney and John Lee Hooker, among others have
recorded here as well as the first Motown music was recorded
here. Stax, at one point, was having financial difficulty and
the USSRS agreed to allow their artists to come there. They
recorded 31 albums in 2 months for the Stax label. Studio A is
the largest sound studio in the country and most of it is
original. This is a working studio that is open around the
clock. Tours are by appointment only. www.unitedsounddetroit.com
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Bert's Booth |
The Majestic Entertainment Center includes the
Garden Bowl, a family owned retro, 16-lane bowling alley,
restaurant and alternative music venue.
The bowling alley is the oldest active bowling center.
More than 290 concerts are presented annually. Visitors can
"Rock and Bowl." www.majesticdetroit.com/garden-bowl-detroit
Bert's Market Place at Eastern Market is another must while in
the city. The manager, Miller London, was Motown's first black
salesman and is depicted in "Motown, the Musical." Portions of
his personal collection are on display throughout the restaurant
and event space. The Motown Room is shaped like a music note
with booths around the sides. Each booth is dedicated to a
Motown act and is adorned with photos, records and individual
video monitors that feature performances. A series of murals by
Curtis Lewis are located in an adjoining area. One of the murals
showcases Motown artists and a second mural highlights important
historic figures. Do ask to see the murals!
www.bertsentertainmentcomplex.com
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Joe Lewis Mural |
Baker's Keyboard Lounge, the oldest continuously operated jazz
club, opened in Detroit n May of 1934 as a diner. Clarence
Baker, the son of the owner, worked alone at night and decided
to add a piano and some jazz music and the legendary club was
born. Baker's remains an authentic, retro, jazz club that is
nearly 100% original.
The iconic bar, designed in the 50s, is
shaped like a keyboard and the 7-ft. Steinway piano was
personally selected by Art Tatum. Most of the greats have
performed there, Adderley, Parker, Peterson, Coltrane, Krupa,
Hines, Gillespie, Brubeck, Cole, Fitzgerald, Holiday and Davis.
The King of Sweden once dropped in to listen to a set and scenes
from Whitney Houston's "Sparkle" were filmed at the club. Soul
food is on the menu, jazz is regularly performed and you can
become part of the legend.
www.theofficialbakerskeyboardlounge.com
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Baker's Jazz Club |
This will be the 36th year for the
Detroit Jazz Festival, the largest
free jazz festival in
the world. Held outdoors in the downtown area, completely family
oriented and featuring only jazz, the festival brings
aficionados from around the world. The festival will be held
Sept 4-7 and the headliners will be announced in April.
www.detroitjazzfest.com
The world-class Westin Book Cadillac Detroit Hotel, ideally
located for touring the city, offers all amenities imaginable.
There has been a hotel on the site since 1888 but the Book
Brothers purchased the property, razed the hotel, hired an
architect and opened the
Neo-Renaissance
Cadillac Hotel in 1924. The 33-story hotel was, at that time,
the tallest hotel in the world. Through the years notables
including Martin Luther King, Kennedy, Elvis, and the Beatles
have stayed there. In 2006 the luxury hotel was renovated at a
cost of $192-million.
Live like a legend.
www.bookcadillacwestin.com
When planning your next trip remember what Martha and the
Vandellas said, "Don't forget the Motor City."
You'll have the time of your life.
www.visitdetroit.com
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