it's so Detroit! on the river, bunch of people fishing from the shore chitting and chatting and…read moreenjoying the day at Mariner Park with a playground for the little peoples right behind and nice view of the ships out front.... spent some time talking with the locals and we all had a good laugh about how fortunes change and the current reality of Chicago is twice as worse as the gob-smacked reputation of turn of the century Detroit ever was. I would totally consider retiring here except that my lovely bride isn't a fan of the coldy-cold associated with living north of Canada. rumored to have been put up in the early 30's the Windmill Point light sits atop an octagonal base where Lake St Claire meets the Detroit River. the current 33-foot cylindrical tower houses an automated 500W electric light showing though an sixth order lens plus an acetylene lamp as backup.

This marker stands in front of an interesting home in the Grosse Point Park neighborhood on a…read moresomewhat busy street. There are sidewalks and a bicycle lane so there's room for you to stop and read the sign. I found it interesting to learn some of the settlement history of the area as well as reading about a dedicated educator. The house itself is an English Tudor style constructed of brick with a slate roof. It is quite lovely to look at and is in excellent condition on the exterior. The ivy along one wall is absolutely impressive. On the front, "William Voigt, Jr. is thought to have designed this house as a summer home in the early 1900s. In 1889 his parents, who ran a butchering business, purchased the property for $1,850. French settler Joseph Tremble was granted the land by President James Madison in 1811. Paul Trombley later had title to the site. Voigt, Jr., a city engineer, owned The Home Brewing Co., and had studied architecture in Germany. As a member of the Detroit Board of Education, 1887-1893, he was instrumental in strengthening the compulsory education law and introducing physical culture into school programs. Voigt's sister, Christine and her husband Herman Kreit, D.D.S. were deeded the home in 1907. Dr. Kreit became a trustee and president of the Village of Grosse Pointe Park. Christine taught German and science at the Liggett School from 1882 to 1900. The home remained in the family until 1969." And on the rear, "As a member of the Detroit Board of Education from 1887 to 1893, William Voigt Jr. supported compulsory education laws and advocated providing free text books for students. Serving as president of the board in 1889 he defended the cost of public education in his annual report: "While the estimates asked by the Board of Education are undoubtedly large sums, and should be expended by the body with the utmost care and scrutiny, still... there is no purpose for which money should be so willingly given by the taxpayer as for our public schools, the one, of all our American institutions, which is the very foundation and base of the structure of our form of government... American patriotism can well be measured by the love for our public schools."" The marker was erected in 1982 by the Michigan History Division of the Department of State. It is marker L923. [Review 17970 overall - 363 in Michigan - 1491 of 2022.]

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 historical home that is maintained and cared for by a very kind group of women. They open to the…read morepublic every second Saturday of the month and may open more frequently than that - you can check their schedule posted on their website. The women will welcome and offer you a tour of the home or you can simply shop in their second hand vintage "store" in a dedicated room. They sell items both old and a couple new. The items are fairly priced but I still ended up passing on a beautiful gravy boat with a tray and I will regret it forever haha. They very welcoming to littles and offered a cookie after our permission. Just such a thoughtful gesture. They also have a restroom in case needed. In the back of the house there's a cabin from the late 1800's with a tombstone. The energy was really great so that's always nice. Definitely worth visit, even if you just have a few minutes. The house itself is very unique and beautiful. They are donation based but are not pushy whatsoever.

From the owner: The Society works to make the history of our exceptional community vital, relevant, and accessible…read more Through our public programs, facilities, and gala events, we bring history to life and protect historic artifacts so that we all can experience the past first hand. We are involved in helping promote historic preservation of architecture and artifacts. We offer a Michigan State approved curriculum for grades 2, 3, 4 and 5. School groups are welcome to visit the Provencal-Weir House One-Room Schoolhouse all year long. We manage a significant historical archives and library. Also, we provide a gift shop stocked with interesting, tastey and fun items for all ages. Come visit us!

Nothing beats a drive along Riverside Drive in the city of Windsor. It probably is the best…read moreattribute that Windsor has. Starting from the bridge you drive East...past the Sculptural Gardens on the north side. Soon you'll hit Dieppe Park in the downtown core. Continuing along you'll pass by Caesars Casino and its thunderous waterfall. On the north side is an amazing vista of the Detroit skyline. Up next is Seagrams Distillery (which was once home to Canadian Club) a collection of heritage buildings that have been lovingly preserved. On the weekends you may spot brides/grooms having their pictures taken amongst the gardens). Once past this you'll hit a small area of no-mans land...a few blocks of really dreadful nothingness....then you hit an area of expensive homes. I think it's every Windsorites dream to have a home on the Drive....especially ones on the north side, with backyards on the river. Along the way, you'll pass by small parkettes that offer views of Belle Isle...finally coming to Pillette Garden, with the awesome Peace Fountain (a floating fountain actually in the river. With its dancing plumes and colourful light show, it really is the jewel on the drive). Continuing on, you'll hit more gorgeous homes and awe at how the other side lives. When you hit Lauzon, you can either continue on (I recommend you do) and you'll pass by a marina and a park with a sandy beach. I remember when I was younger when Canada allowed females to sunbathe topless..this beach was at the centre of controversy as those bold enough to do so, offed their tops to go naked. The line up of cars filled with gawkers from both sides of the border caused traffic nightmares...until finally the phase passed. You can end your trip at either Lesperance or all the way over to Manning...turn around and do the drive back. Whenever I visit Windsor I always do this drive...from Tecumseh all the way to the bridge. It truly is spectacular.

Located in front of what is now the Grosse Pointe South High School (after 1968 when the other high…read moreschool in the city opened that is the Grosse Pointe North High School), this marker is in very good condition. It has the same text on both sides, "Completed in 1928, this Neo-Georgian school, with its 134-foot-tall clock tower, is reminiscent of eighteenth-century buildings like Philadelphia's Independence Hall. Detroit architect George J. Haas designed the school with the most modern equipment and fashionable accoutrements. The school's Program of Dedication noted that the goal was to "create in appearance an expression in brick and mortar of the idealism of the public school in community and individual life." The hallways are lined with pink Tennessee marble and the doorways are crowned with plaster cornices. Murals in the library, by Edgar Louis Yeager, were commissioned by the Works Progress Administration in 1938. In 1968 the school was renamed Grosse Pointe South High School." Notably, Martin Luther King Jr. gave a speech in the school gymnasium on March 14, 1968. He was assassinated three weeks later in Memphis. Titled "The Other America", it is archived here: http://www.gphistorical.org/mlk/mlkspeech/index.htm. There is another marker nearby that commemorates the speech.. [Review 17981 overall - 374 in Michigan - 1502 of 2022.]

Hurry! Hurry! Hurry! Hare! Hare! Hare! Every Sunday night at six - a fabulous Vedic vegetarian…read morefeast, presented by lovable blissed out Hare Krishnas at a gorgeous, occasionally gloriously dilapidated old auto baron jet-setting Playboy's mansion. The wildest of the seven Fisher brothers hopped around the globe collecting exquisite decor for the inside of his Spanish style, Charles Howard Crane designed mansion. He had a fountain filled with champagne for party guests. And when he died he left it to the Hare Krishnas for all eternity, or until the rapture, whichever comes first. The Krishnas added the awesome psychedelic Hindu art to go with the outlandish fusion of styles Fisher had already built into the mansion. Then they decided the place's good time legacy should continue, so they decided to throw a celebration every Sunday. Dinner's at six. It's better when it's nice out because it's served outside and you can go and sit on the expansive lawn. Tonight we saw kids chasing around a squirrel that was obviously playing with them. The food usually is pretty tasty with stuff like spicy lentils, corn and cous cous fritters a vegetable medley and a sweet/spicy yogurt for dessert. At a $2 per person/$5 per family suggested donation. You can't beat it with a Siva stick and it won't make you feel like McDeath inside. After dinner they play music, sing, dance and generally get their Krishna groove on. Epic. If you're looking for some quiet serenity while you digest your food, go down and sit on one of the benches by the adjacent canal. Things are a looking a little more overgrown and frayed at the edges around that part of the estate. A fine place to get your meditation thinkings on. They give tours, too. I took one for the second time tonight. Our tour good was, like, an Ann Arbor stoner who said "like" a lot and was comically uniformed about the mansion's history. But he was really friendly just like everybody else there. Some old lady who had crazy Mrs. Slocum hair just kind of took over the tour at one point, and I don't know what was funnier - her sarcasm or his stonerism. I took three first timers there tonight and they all thanked me for exposing them to such awesomeness. And now, Ye of Yelp can make such awesomeness yours, too.

Please remove the "closed" designation from this entry! After having a near heart-attack last…read morenight upon seeing that, I made a frantic call to them and got the scoop-they are open still. Designed to Lawrence Fisher's whims in a mishmash of styles, this majestic old house has been run by the Hare Krishna movement for many years. This place will always remain near and dear to my quirky Detroit-loving heart, as it's one of the most unique spots I've ever seen. It's where I had my first tastes of Indian cooking while giggling as peacocks loudly copulated outside on the patio. The grounds are still a lovely little oasis with stone paths, stairways, and large statues of Hindu deities to discover. It's right on the water..well a canal, anyway, and you may happen upon the home base of a rowing club that shares some of the property. The house itself is a bizarre and fabulous juxtaposition of old auto baron decor and beautiful East Indian imagery. Take the tour and along with the interesting info on Fisher's house and life, you'll get to see a ballroom that's been converted into an ornate multi-altared worship area (you'll have to remove your shoes while walking through here). Services are held at various times through the day and evening, but on Sunday a delicious vegetarian feast prepared for those who attend. There are two incredibly lifelike wax figures of the man who brought the Krishna Consciousness movement here from India that you'll see as well. The people are friendly and fun, and the house is full of interesting design details. You'll see children playing, check out a painting used by George Harrison for an album cover, and I hear that the amazing downstairs display had been restored to its original beauty! Incense and curry fills the air. It's echoey and reverent and if you are open to the quirkier side of life, check out this very hidden Detroit gem. Note: When you call their number, they often don't answer. Just leave a voicemail and someone usually gets back with you soon.

This is a smaller library than the Woods branch but it's comfortable and has a lot of areas to…read morelounge. I like that the coffee tables have outlets. There is a silent room with two computers and a fireplace. It's too bad there isn't enough space for a dedicated computer room where people can talk. Unfortunately, the library is too small to have areas where patrons can talk on the phone or on a virtual call. I prefer libraries with nooks and crannies for privacy and more private study rooms. Overall, a small but attractive library for reading and studying.

This is on the corner of Fisher and Kercheval in GPF. It's a pretty basic and no frills library…read more I spent a lot of hours here, heads down, looking for reference books during highschool and college too. If they didn't have a book, they would request from other local libraries for the book I was looking for. I would come here with mom since I was a kid for her reading needs as well. I was with my mom recently to borrow a bolt cutter of ally random things. I would have never guessed they would let you borrow such tools. There are bigger and nicer libraries in GP, but this one was the closest to our house in HS and my mom just preferred it over the others. I don't go very often anymore, but my mother still frequents it every few weeks for a new read.