This is the state of Michigans government building. It's ornate and beautiful. Security was very…read moretight. I love the owls on the lamp post and the architectural details inside.

The historical marker honoring "George" William Dolarson in Detroit is a quietly powerful tribute…read moreto one of the city's lesser-known but deeply courageous figures of the Underground Railroad. Located near the site of the former Finney Barn, the marker anchors a story that blends grit, moral conviction, and the quiet heroism of everyday resistance. It reads, "'George"'William Dolarson was born into slavery in Virginia in 1808. At age eighteen, he was sold three times. He lived in Natchez, Mississippi, until he self-e1nancipated and fled to Buffalo, New York, around 1834. There he was a sailor and encountered the Under-ground Railroad. He 1narried Maria Fletcher (1819-1891) in Canandaigua, New York, before coming to Detroit in 1836 and buying a farm. They briefly lived in Canada after the passage of the 1850 Fugitive Slave Act. Dolarson, working and staying on this site as the Capitol School's janitor from 1851 to 1854, aided freedo1n seekers brought here by abolitionists, such as Asher Array. He hid them in his home and in the Finney Barn before helping the1n cross into Canada. In 1854 he joined the California Gold Rush. Later, back in Detroit, the Dolarsons lived on Croghan Street, where he died on May 9, 1889." The marker's location in downtown Detroit adds another layer of resonance. It's not just a plaque--it's a portal into a time when the city was a critical junction for those seeking freedom in Canada. Dolarson's story, preserved here, reminds passersby that history isn't only made by generals and governors--it's shaped by janitors, farmers, and fugitives who dared to act. [Review 1007 of 2025 - 482 in Michigan - 24561 overall]

This is a small park at a busy intersection, nevertheless, is it a very powerful place to visit…read more  There are plenty of places to eat within walking distance.  Parking is available at the MGM Grand and other nearby locations including on the street within walking distance.  It has been planted with trees that surround this imposing statue of our Revolutionary War Hero General Thaddeus Kosciuszko. This cast statue is the work of the Warsaw-bornItalian-Polish sculptor, Leonard Marconi. It was cast in 1889 for the groundsof the Wawel Castle in Krakow. To honor Detroit on the bicentennial of the United States, the city of Krakow had the statue cast and then donated it tothe city. Sculptor: Leonard Marconi Date of original casting: 1889 Date of the establishment of this copy: 1978 Materials: Granite and bronze Andrzej Tadeusz Bonawentura Kościuszko (Andrew Thaddeus Bonaventure Kosciuszko was a Polish-Lithuanian military engineer, statesman, and military leader who became a national hero in Poland, Lithuania, Belarus, and the United States. He fought in the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth's struggles against Russia and Prussia, and on the U.S. side in the American Revolutionary War. As Supreme Commander of the Polish National Armed Forces, he led the 1794 Kościuszko Uprising.

Located at the south end of Washington Boulevard near where it crosses Michigan Avenue, this marker…read morepoints out some of the history of the War of 1812 that passed through. The marker was erected in 2019 by the Michigan Historical Commission and the Michigan History Center. It is marker number S0242. On the front, it reads "On June 18, 1812, the United States Congress declared war on Great Britain. William Hull, Michigan's first territorial governor, was selected to lead the U.S. army at Detroit. He invaded Canada on July 12, but soon lost battles south of Detroit and withdrew. On August 16, 1812, the British attacked Fort Detroit. Hull surrendered. Britain governed the city under martial law until Oliver Hazard Perry gained control of the upper Great Lakes in September 1813. American forces returned to Detroit and launched a successful invasion of Canada. The citizens of Detroit lived in an uneasy peace until they learned, on February 20, 1815, of the December 24, 1814, signing of the Treaty of Ghent. On March 29 they celebrated the war's end with a "Grand Pacification Ball."" And on the reverse, "In reaction to Oliver Hazard Perry's Lake Erie victory, the British withdrew from Detroit on September 26, 1813, setting fire to the buildings within the fort and the Citadel. Three days later, United States troops returned to a city that lacked housing and food supplies. A disease, probably cholera, broke out among the soldiers. By December 1, 1813, an estimated 1,300 of them were ill. The medical supplies were soon depleted; conditions worsened. When coffins became unobtainable, many soldiers were buried in a common grave at this site. Some 700 may have died before the epidemic finally ran its course. This grave site was identified in 1987 during an archaeological survey for the People Mover that found four burials associated with the War of 1812." There is metered parking. The marker is in a linear park that takes up the center of the wide boulevard for a few blocks. It's a peaceful small oasis in the city. [Review 956 of 2025 - 441 in Michigan - 24511 overall]

The Springwells St. Post Office is quite small. The parking on Springwells St. can be a little…read moreannoying - room for two or three cars in front, otherwise, you need to park somewhere else on this rather busy street. There tends to be 2 people working the windows. Does everything a post office/ postal service is built to do, with two bonuses. One, it's bilingual (spanish/english). Two, it's the ONLY post office i've ever used where the employees are super friendly. Without exception, this place always makes the experience of going to the post office actually a little pleasant, which is so rare anywhere else.

A beloved landmark in Detroit, Kern's Clock was first placed in 1933 as a gathering place for…read moregenerations of Detroiters at the entryway of the Ernst Kern Company department store at Woodward and Gratiot. The clock was put in storage after the store closed in 1959 and the building was razed during urban renewal in the 1960s. Later, it was restored through a campaign spearheaded by the Junior League of Detroit. After being taken down during the Compuware Building's construction, it was put back in its original place in the late 1970s. In 2003, it was moved back to its famous corner, where it remains to this day. Kern's Clock is a traditional double-faced street clock with a vintage black-and-gold design that is set atop a tall, elaborate pedestal. It has exquisite Roman numerals. The term "timeless" seems wrong for a clock so let's go with "classic." [Review 716 of 2025 - 421 in Michigan - 24276 overall]

This is a beautiful building with an excellent location in downtown Detroit.  I am looking forward…read moreto the redevelopment of this building in particular, or, in worse case scenario, whatever ends up here.  There is plenty of parking.  It is easy on and off to three major freeways.  The utilities in the area are first rate and being put in to a world class state.  The building is classically built with large emblazoned letters on it announcing 'Loyal Order of Moose'.  If you are looking for a great place to settle your office or set up a branch over the next few years this is an opportunity not to be missed. "This building opened in 1922 and was designed by the firm Baxter, O'Dell & Halpin. The building has been vacant for decades, including 10 years under ownership of the Ilitch family, which paid $1.5 million for it in February 2007. In 1994, there were plans to turn the lodge into a nightclub, but that idea never came to fruition. In August 2017, Olympia Development of Michigan filed with the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality a document calling for asbestos cleanup at the 45,000-square-foot building noting that it was headed for rehab."

This marker is mounted on the wall of the Hotel Indigo at the intersection of Washington and…read moreMichigan. It points out the history of the roadway here. The marker reads, "The Great Sauk Trail, the most important Indian trail in the Great Lakes region, was used later by French explorers, fur traders, missionaries, and soldiers. After the 1760's the trail became a major road for British and American travelers. In the early 1800's, when a military road was needed to connect Detroit with Fort Dearborn (Chicago), Territorial Governor Lewis Cass and Father Gabriel Richard, an influential legislator, were leading supporters of the Great Sauk Trail route. With federal backing the road was surveyed in 1825 and built in 1829-36. Many sections of the road were paved with huge oak logs, covered with a layer of dirt. Even before the road was improved, land-hungry settlers moved west from Detroit via the Chicago Road (now called Michigan Avenue)." In the 1830s, the Chicago Road became a major artery for westward migration. Thousands of pioneer families used the road to settle southern Michigan, avoiding the long and treacherous boat journey around the Lower Peninsula. Despite its challenges as a primitive road, it became a lifeline for commerce and communication. Stagecoach lines like the Western Stage Company ran regular service by 1835, and towns sprang up along its path. Today, much of the original route survives as US Highway 12, with historical markers dotting the landscape from Detroit to Bronson and beyond. It is marker number S280 and was erected in 1966 by the Michigan History Division, Department of State. There is metered parking nearby. [Review 978 of 2025 - 458 in Michigan - 24532 overall]