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Date
of Founding:
July 24, 1701
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Population:
City: 882,752
Metropolitan: 4 Million
Michigan: 10 Million
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Detroit
is the largest city in the state of Michigan, the
tenth largest city in US. |
History of Detroit:
In 1701, Antonie de La Mothe
Cadillac , a French explorer discovered and settled in Detroit
with party of 100 or so. Paddling along what now is the
Detroit River in their canoes looking for a place to start
a new life, Cadillac and his crew chose Detroit because
they liked the river and its high banks. The French called
their discovery at a narrow point in the river "the
strait," or in their language, d'etroit.
Nine years later he was removed from his post as outpost
commander due to "ill conduct" (i.e. excessive
lining of his own pockets). Change would remain a constant
throughout Detroit's first century. In 1760, French rule
gave way to British. And in 1796 the Americans took over
Detroit as a result of Jay's Treaty. Detroit was incorporated
as a city in 1815 and spent the decades leading up to the
Civil War as the final U.S. stop on the Underground Railroad.
The area also was earning a reputation for, among other
things, the manufacturing of cigars and kitchen ranges.
So why did Detroit become the Motor City instead of the
stove-making capital of the world? It's in large part due
to the influence of a farmer's son named Henry Ford. In
1896, Ford built his first car in Detroit - not an entirely
earth-shattering event since the automobile had already
been around for a while. It was the method of building cars
that he would later devise - the moving assembly line -
that put the world on wheels. During the early part of the
20th century, dozens of companies emerged in the area committed
to finding success in the new industry. During World War
II, the factories they built to produce cars were put to
use churning out weapons for the Allied Powers. The production
edge they provided helped to win the war.
Ironically, it was a former autoworker that led the way
for Detroit's other famous 20th century contribution - Motown.
Founded by Berry Gordy Jr. with just an $800 loan, the upstart
record company introduced the world to Marvin Gaye, Stevie
Wonder, Smokie Robinson, Michael Jackson, the Temptations,
Diana Ross and others - all of whom either grew up or gained
their first fame in Detroit.
Detroit is known for automobile manufacturing and trade,
the world headquarters for General Motors Corp., Ford Motor
Co., DaimlerChrysler, and Volkwagen of America are located
in Metropolitan Detroit. |
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The birth place of Pampa Kannada
Koota - the first Kannada koota in North America.
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Detroit installed the first traffic
light (1915)
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First urban Freeway in the nation
(1942 - Davison Freeway)
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Detroit was the first city in the
nation to assign individual telephone numbers (1879)
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The nations' first shopping mall
(1954 - Northland Mall)
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Month
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High (F/C)
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Low (F/C)
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June
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79/26
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56/13
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July
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83/29
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61/16
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August
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82/28
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59/15
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September
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74/24
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52/17
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The New
Detroit Science Center
(2 miles from Marriott)
5020 John R Street
Detroit, MI 48202
Phone: 313-577-8400
www.sciencedetroit.org
A wonderland for kids who
love hands-on science projects. See a large-format film
in Michigan's only IMAX Dome Theater.
Hours: Mon.-Fri. 9:30a.m.-2p.m., Sat.-Sun. 12:30p.m.-5p.m.
Admission: Adult, $7; Children, $5
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Henry Ford
Museum & Greenfield Village / IMAX
(8 miles from Marriott)
20900 Oakwood Blvd.
Dearborn, MI 48124
Voice: 313-271-1620
www.hfmgv.org
America's largest indoor/outdoor
museum celebrates the spirit of invention. The 12 acre
Henry Ford Museum features world-renowned treasures such
as the limousine in which President John F. Kennedy was
assassinated, Edgar Allan Poe's writing desk, and George
Washington's camp bed. Visitors to Greenfield Village
can tour the historic homes and workplaces of Thomas Edison,
Henry Ford, George Washington Carver and the Wright Brothers.
Enjoy horse-drawn carriage rides in the summer and sleigh
rides in the winter (weather permitting). New IMAX theater
open daily .
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Fisher
Mansion
(6 miles from Marriott)
(Hare Krishna Temple)
383 Lenox, Detroit
(313) 824-6000
Head east from the Henry Ford Estate
to the Fisher Mansion. In its 1920s heyday, playboy and
Cadillac Motors chief Lawrence Fisher's home was the site
of wild parties during which champagne is said to have
flowed from a silver spout in the wall.
The mansion includes a blend of
Italian Renaissance and Vintage Hollywood architecture
and more than 75 ounces of pure gold and 140 ounces of
silver leaf highlight its ceilings and moldings.
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The
Edsel & Eleanor Ford House
(6 miles from Marriott)
1100 Lakeshore Road, Grosse Pointe Shores
(313) 884-4222
www.fordhouse.org
It is a short
drive north of the Fisher Mansion. The Fords loved the
arts and the house remains intact with many of the original
furnishings and fine arts including many pieces from Europe,
Africa, Asia, some of it dating back before the birth
of Christ. Highlights include original paintings by Cezanne,
Matisse and Diego Rivera.
Located on 87 acres along the
lake of St.Clair reflects the style of Cotswolds in Worchestershire,
England.
Hours: Tue - Sat. 10am - 4pm;
Sun Noon-4pm
Admission: Adults, $5; Children under 12, $4
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The Detroit
Institute of Arts
(2 miles from Marriott)
5200 Woodward Ave.
Detroit, MI 48202
Phone 313-833-7900
www.dia.org
The Detroit Institute
of Arts, the fifth-largest fine arts museum in the country,
offers over 100 galleries with art from ancient to modern
times. Among the DIA's renowned works are French Impressionist,
German Expressionist, American and Flemish paintings,
Italian, African, Asian, Native American, Egyptian and
20th-century art, and Diego Rivera's finest fresco, Detroit
Industry, in the museum's central courtyard.
Hours: Open the first Friday of every month until 9pm.
Docent tours Wed.-Sat. 1pm; Sun. 1pm & 2:30pm. Museum
hours Wed. - Fri. 11am -4pm; Sat. & Sun. 11am - 5pm.
Closed Mon. - Tue., some holidays.
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Charles
H. Wright Museum of African American History
(2 miles from Marriott)
301 E. Warren Ave.
(313) 494-5800
www.maah-detroit.org
You won't find a bigger monument
to African-American history anywhere else in the world.
This 120,000 sq.ft facility houses three exhibition galleries,
a theater, a cafe and a gift store.
The museum's entrance is a sunlit rotunda topped by an
impressive glass dome with a stunning 36-foot work of
art on the museum floor.
The museum's core exhibition tackles an ambitious task:
taking visitors from the origins of African culture through
the horrors of Middle Passage and onto the modern day
accomplishments and struggles of African Americans.
Hours: Tuesday - Sunday, 9:30am - 5:00pm. Admission: adults,
$5; children 17 and under, $3.
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Detroit
Zoo
(10 miles from
Marriott)
8450 W. Ten Mile Road
Royal Oak, MI
(248) 398-0903
www.detroitzoo.org
An animal-lover's paradise,
the zoo offers large open spaces and wonderful outdoor
animal environments. Don't miss the Mandrill (it's
a colorful baboon) exhibits. The Wildlife Interpretive
Gallery is a must-see. This historic building has
been resurrected as a butterfly/hummingbird garden,
coral reef aquarium, theater, exhibition space, art
gallery and mulit-media interactives.
Summer hours (April-Oct.) 10a.m.-5p.m., Wed. until
8p.m. June 19-Aug. 28. Winter hours (Nov.-March) 10a.m.-4p.m.
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Shopping
- Great Lakes Crossing
(30 miles from Marriott)
I-75 North, Baldwin
& Joslyn exits
(248) 454-5010
www.greatlakescrossing.com
Start your shopping excursion
at Great Lakes Crossing, the 117-acre mega mall and
entertainment center in Auburn Hills (located about
a 40-minute drive from downtown Detroit). The mall blends
the hottest concepts in theme entertainment and dining
with an unparalleled offering of more than 200 exciting,
value-oriented stores.
So you can shop at a fine collection of clearance centers,
including Off 5th (Saks Fifth Avenue) and Last Call
(Neiman Marcus), and then enjoy yourself at the Alcatraz
Brewing Company (a prison-themed restaurant with a miniature
Golden Gate Bridge) or the GameWorks hi-tech indoor
playland.
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Shopping
- Somerset Collection
(17 miles from Marriott)
I-75 North, Big beaver Road West exit
(248) 643-6360
www.thesomersetcollection.com
Travel south to the
Somerset Collection in Troy. The retail center features
world-class upscale shopping along the lines of New York's
Fifth Avenue and Chicago's Miracle Mile. Among the palm
trees you'll find a collection of stores that includes
Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus, Gucci, Cartier and Chiasso.
Directly east of the Somerset Collection is Lakeside Center
which features 185 stores.
Go south to visit the downtown Birmingham shopping district.
It's home to more than 286 stores, specializing in home
furnishings, arts and crafts, antiques and gift items
from around the world. Just 10 minutes south of Birmingham,
downtown Royal Oak offers more than 200 shops that focus
more on the trendy side of things.
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GM World
Housed in the company's world
headquarters at Detroit's Renaissance Center, the 50,000-square-foot
showroom displays vehicle from entire global scope of
General Motors operations. Twenty-six vehicles are exhibited
at a time and vehicles are rotated every 60 days. Admission
is free.
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GM Plant Tour
- Lansing
Lansing Car Assembly
Body Plant -
Chassis Plant
(90 miles from Marriott)
Visit and see the latest and best
innovations in automotive manufacturing and quality
processes.
Tour Information
& Scheduling Call:
(517) 885-9676
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Greektown
Downtown, Detroit
(5 minutes walking from Detroit Marriott)
Greektown is one of the most popular
areas to visit in Detroit. Included in this historic
district is a collection of ethinic and American resturants,
nightclubs, casino, bakeries and shops.
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Hart
Plaza
Downtown, Detroit
(5 minutes walking from Detroit Marriott)
The site of the summer outdoor
Riverfront Festivals. The Hart Plaza with its fountain,
sculptures, and sorrounding lawns, i sone of Detroit's
favorite outdoor places. Hart Plaza is the site of several
well-known special theme events; such as the Downtown
Hoedown, the largest free country music event in North
America, the Detroit Electronic Festival, the Ford Detroit
International Jazz Festival, North America's largest
free jazz festival, and the International Freedom Festival
Fireworks, the world's largest annual display.
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Night
Clubs
Coming soon.......
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City
of Windsor - Canada
www.city.windsor.on.ca
To enter Canada, visitors
must have a Canadian visitors visa or US Passport.
Just south of Detroit, situated
on an international border , on the Detroit River. Visitors
may travel to Windsor by the Ambassodor Bridge, the
longest international suspension bridge in the world,
or the Windsor-Detroit Tunnel - under the Detroit River.
Some of the popular attractions of Windsor includes
dowtown shopping, night clubs, casino, three mile walk
along the Detroit River with best view of the Detroit's
skyline.
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Traverse
City - Michigan
(220 miles from Detroit)
www.tcvisitor.com
Visit Traverse City, and you’ll
soon find yourself driving through the majestic beauty
of towering emerald pine forests..lakes...thousands
of trees rising into the sky, home to the bears and
deer and otter living in the area’s national preserves.
Nearby Attractions:
- Sleeping Bear Dunes
- Golfing
- Fishing
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Mackinac
Island - Michigan
(280 miles from Detroit)
www.mackinacisland.org
Pronounced "mackinaw" . This
historic island is just east of the Mackinac Bridge
that connects the lower and upper peninsulas. The island
does not allow cars anywhere on it. The mode of transportation
here is horse & buggy or bicycle! Set aside your whole
day to explore this beautiful island! There you will
find a fort, `arch rock`, and tons of fabulous Victorian-style
homes.
Grand
Hotel beckons you to a bygone era of old-world hospitality
and charm. Back to a time of horse-drawn carriages,
Afternoon Tea, and croquet on an endless lawn. The crown
jewel of pristine secluded Mackinac Island, Grand Hotel
has been the world's largest summer hotel since 1887.
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Chicago
(300 miles from Detroit)
www.chicago.il.org
Chicago is one of the top urban
leisure destinations in the world. With its sparkling
lakefront, exciting and friendly downtown cultural and
shopping districts, and quality options in many price
ranges for dining, entertainment and accommodations,
it’s a city that continues to surprise and delight visitors.
Beyond Chicago, enjoy historic architecture, great golf,
outlet mall shopping, amusement parks, gaming and more.
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Toronto
- Canada
(220 miles from Detroit)
www.torontotourism.com
Toronto is a city that holds all
the wonders of the world in one clean, safe, friendly
place: a theatre scene rivaled only by London and New
York, more than 80 cultures from across the globe, attractions
that range from high art to rowdy family fun, and polished
services for business travelers. What could make that
better? How about packing many of our most popular attractions
within walking distance of each other. In downtown Toronto,
a short stroll is all it takes to travel between thousands
of hotel rooms, great sports venues, the CN Tower, major
convention centres, endless shopping, top theatre, the
waterfront, and inspired cuisine. Beyond the cozy and
quirky neighbourhoods of the city are more fabulous
attractions, plus countryside, Niagara Falls, a wine
region and outdoor adventures, all an easy drive away.
Must see attractions: CN Tower ; Lions Safari ; Toronto
Zoo
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Niagara
Falls - Canada
(280 miles from Detroit)
www.tourismniagara.com
Niagara Falls is the second largest
falls on the globe next to Victoria Falls in southern
Africa. One fifth of all the fresh water in the world
lies in the four Upper Great Lakes-Michigan, Huron,
Superior and Erie. The water that flows over Niagara
Falls comes from four of the five Great Lakes. From
the Falls, the water travels down the Niagara River
to massive Lake Ontario and then along the St. Lawrence
River and then into the Atlantic Ocean.
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Sports
in Detroit
Named "Best
Sports City 1998" by Spoting News, Detroit
is home to professional baseball, basketball, football
and hockey sports teams.
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Ford Field, the Detroit
Lions' new home will be a one-of-a-kind 65,000-seat
facility that will include a giant glass wall, revealing
the picturesque Detroit skyline. Ford Field will host
Super Bowl XL to be played February 5, 2006.
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Comerica Park, the
home of the Detroit Tigers baseball team (1984 World
Champions). The capacity of the ballpark is about 40,000.
The outfield offers an impressive view of the downtown
skyline.
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Joe Louis Arena
on the river front, the home of the Detroit Red Wings
(1997 & 1998 Stanley Cup Champions)
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People Mover
The People Mover is an elevated
computerized rail transit system stopping at 13 stations
throughout downtown Detroit. It links the city's major
office buildings, hotels, resturants, Cobo Conference/Exhibition
center and shopping districts.
The People Mover can be accessed from the Renaissance
Center also.
Cost per ride is $0.50 and the hours of operation: Mon-Thu,
7am - 11pm; Fri and Sat until midnight and Sun, noon-8pm.
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