Detroit's Antoine de Lamothe Cadillac Statue honors the French colonial founder of the city. The…read moremonument, which stands in Hart Plaza, shows Cadillac just after he arrived in 1701 and founded Fort Pontchartrain du Détroit, the community that would eventually become Detroit. Cadillac, who was born in France as Antoine Laumet, took on his aristocratic name and title after coming to North America. His position as an adventurer and explorer is depicted in the statue, which also represents the city's European beginnings and strategic significance in the fur trade and colonial growth. Along with other adjacent plaques and memorials honoring the Cadillac Convoy. This group of French-Canadians, soldiers, and clergy who accompanied Cadillac to create the settlement. Despite being hailed as a valiant pioneer, Cadillac's legacy has grown more nuanced over time as historians have reexamined his intentions and deeds, particularly his contentious alcohol and land speculating ventures. Nevertheless, the statue continues to serve as a focal point for civic memory, honoring the diverse forces that molded Detroit's establishment and tying the city's identity to its 18th-century origins. He certainly looks heroic and brave here. [Review 711 of 2025 - 416 in Michigan - 24271 overall]

Antoine de Lamothe Cadillac (March 5, 1658 - October 16, 1730), born Antoine Laumet, was a French…read moreexplorer and adventurer in New France, which stretched from Eastern Canada to Louisiana on the Gulf of Mexico. This statue of Antoine Laumet itself was dedicated July 24, 2001, in commemoration of the tricentennial of his arrival sculptors: William Kieffer and Ann Feeley. And it serves as a tribute to his contributions to the development of Detroit and the surrounding area. The car brand Cadillac was named after Antoine, and its headquarters was in the city of Detroit, where Cadillac himself explored. Philip A. Hart Plaza, where this statue sits is believed to be where Antoine Laumet landed and found in 1701, when it was known as Fort Pontchartrain du Detroit which became the city of Detroit. The area itself became the main source of communication and transportation to the outside world until the inventions of the railroad and telegraph. Hart Plaza is always a must visit for me whenever I visit the city of Detroit for mostly the Detroit Free Press Marathon. I always anticipate finishing up at Huntington Place for the expo, just so I can tour the area and visit the Monument to Joe Louis, and Spirit of Detroit. Along with viewing this statue, you can also get a glimpse of Canada from a far the closer you get towards the riverfront. Other sights within Hart Plaza are the Detroit Princess, the Horace E. Dodge and Son Memorial Fountain, and the Gateway to Freedom International Memorial to the Underground Railroad. During my visits, I always park at Huntington Place, being that it is where the expo is located for the Detroit Marathon. It is an affordable parking option in my opinion with no hourly limit. However, if you have interest in other parking options, there are plenty in the area which may also be cheaper than Huntington Place. If you happen to be in the area of Hart Plaza while visiting the city of Detroit, I recommend looking out for Antoine de Lamothe Cadillac Statue. ~Blessings~ Thomas G

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]

This marker is located along the main street and stands in front of the massive General Motors…read moreRenaissance Center. It points out the history of one of Detroit's most iconic automobile brands and the man who founded it. The front of the marker reads, "David Dunbar Buick was one of many Detroiters who built gasoline-powered marine and farm engines during the late nineteenth century. Buick (1854-1929) opened his first motor shop, Buick Auto-Vim and Power Company, around 1900. Machinist Walter Marr built the first Buick automobile about the same time, and engineer Eugene Richard soon patented the powerful overhead valve engine synonymous with the Buick label. In 1903 the Flint Wagon Works purchased what was by then the Buick Motor Company and moved operations to Flint. Carriage maker William C. Durant took control of the company in 1904, propelling Buick to the top of the burgeoning market and using the capital to found General Motors in 1908. In 1998---nearly 35 million Buicks later---Buick's headquarters returned to Detroit." The reverse reads, "David Dunbar Buick, for whom the Buick automobile is named, came to Detroit from Scotland with his parents in 1856 at age two. A plumbing inventor and businessman, Buick turned to building gasoline engines for boats on the Detroit River during the 1890s. By 1900 his first motor firm, Buick Auto-Vim and Power Company, was operating some six blocks north of this site near what is now the southwest corner of Beaubien and Lafayette Streets. The firm's overhead valve engines became famous for power. The first experimental Buick automobile was built in Detroit circa 1900. On May 19, 1903, David Buick incorporated the Buick Motor Company. That fall the firm was sold to the Flint Wagon Works in Flint where the first retail Buicks were built in 1904." I was a pedestrian today so it was easy to stop and read the marker. It might be harder if you're driving. [Review 718 of 2025 - 423 in Michigan - 24278 overall]

On a hot summer afternoon, it was awesome to see this fountain running and being a great…read moreentertainment for kids in the Sun. Horace Elgin Dodge (1868-1920) was a pioneering American industrialist and co-founder of the Dodge Brothers Company, whose mechanical ingenuity helped shape the early automotive industry. Alongside his brother John, Horace built a legacy of innovation and craftsmanship that propelled Dodge into becoming one of the largest automakers in the U.S. by the early 20th century. The Horace E. Dodge and Son Memorial Fountain, located at the heart of Detroit's Hart Plaza, was designed by renowned sculptor Isamu Noguchi and completed in 1978. The fountain's futuristic stainless-steel ring structure and powerful water jets were meant to symbolize Detroit's industrial strength and innovation, honoring the Dodge family's legacy in the automotive industry. It's an impressive and quite unique fountain. Don't miss it when you're in Hart Plaza! This isn't the first Noguchi artwork I've experienced. The Pylon is nearby and I've also seen the Red Cube in Helmsley Plaza New York and the Bolt of Lightning in Philadelphia. [Review 709 of 2025 - 414 in Michigan - 24269 overall]

For his automobile industry contributions, a fountain in his name, and his son, was built known as…read morethe Horace E. Dodge and Son Memorial Fountain. The memorial fountain is one of the must visits for me whenever I visit the city of Detroit for mostly the Detroit Free Press Marathon. I always anticipate finishing up at Huntington Place for the health and fitness expo just so I can see the memorial fountain along with the nearby Monument to Joe Louis, Spirit of Detroit, and Hart Plaza which is where the memorial fountain sits. For me, a visit to the city of Detroit is never complete without visiting Hart Plaza! As for Hart Plaza, it is named in honor of the late Senator Philip A. Hart, a Democratic Senator who is known as the "Conscience of the Senate" for his work on civil rights and the environment. On a nice day, as was my latest visit, there were several activities going on like individuals riding segways around the memorial fountain, and people touring and enjoying the sights within the immediate area. From May to October, depending on the weather you can catch a glimpse of the memorial fountain activated. Along with the memorial fountain, there are a few commemorative statues and monuments in this area which are the Antoine de la Mothe Cadillac Statue, Pylon, Transcending, and the Gateway to Freedom International Memorial to the Underground Railroad. And along with that you also get a glimpse of Windsor, Ontario Canada from a distance. Being that I visit during the time of the Detroit Free Press Marathon, I always park at Huntington Place, which is typically my go-to for parking due to the event. If you have interest in other parking options, there are plentiful of them which also may be cheaper than Huntington Place, but keep in mind that you may have a longer walk. If you are planning to visit downtown Detroit, I recommend including the Horace E Dodge and Son Memorial Fountain to your tour, especially if it is during the summer months because you are likely to see it activated. ~Blessings~ Thomas G

up in Michigan considering the superiority of the lake cities versus their saltier counterparts to…read morethe east and even more so the southier ones; fresh water on sandy beaches and the water goes as far as the eye can see... Detroit is special in that regard as it sits between great lakes on the Detroit River just below Lake St. Clair - an excellent lake by any standard. the river boasts a marvelous little island that has been adapted for human relaxation and amusement with all manner of architectural brilliance from the turn of the previous century and on the upstream end there's this delightful light erected in honor of a man of standing and influence, a local hero of sorts; setter of agendas and follower through. the light seems a bit far from the water and not really so tall but since the river isn't so wide here it's more than adequate for the task at hand.

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]

Unveiled in 1921, the fountain is a tribute to one of Michigan's most influential figures. Alger, a…read moreCivil War general, lumber baron, and railroad magnate, also served as Governor of Michigan, U.S. Senator, and Secretary of War under President McKinley. The monument is a collaboration between two artistic giants: Daniel Chester French, the sculptor behind the Lincoln Memorial's seated figure, and Henry Bacon, its architect. French created a seven-foot bronze allegorical figure representing the state of Michigan, with one hand raised in greeting and the other holding a sword and shield bearing the state crest. The granite pedestal features a bas-relief portrait of Alger surrounded by laurel, and lion heads serve as water spouts into the surrounding bowl. It was cast by the Gorham Manufacturing Company and installed two years later. Though the statue suffered vandalism in the 1970s--with its sword and plaque stolen--restoration efforts in 1997 replaced the missing elements, preserving this Beaux-Arts masterpiece as a lasting symbol of civic pride and artistic excellence. Wading in the fountain isn't allowed and on a hot day, it might have been fun. Still, a pretty fountain and a great tribute to a great man. Note that this is the fountain on the EAST side of Grand Circus. There is another fountain on the WEST side. [Review 966 of 2025 - 448 in Michigan - 24520 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.