det

Detroit Area

Detroit, the Motor City, was established in 1701 when Antoine de la Mothe Cadilac arrived in what is today downtown Detroit and began a fur trading operation. From those humble beginnings, Detroit has grown into a city with over 4.5 million people living in the metro area. Detroit is recognized for its automobile production, while General Motors, Ford Motor Company, Chrysler, and Volkswagon of America make Detroit the home of their corporate headquarters.
Detroit: photo by Aron Thomas

Downtown Detroit (photo by Aron Thomas)

Each spring, Detroit plays host to the North American Auto Show, and also to the Detroit Grand Prix on nearby Belle Isle.

Detroit Grand Prix at Belle Isle (photo by Bill Bogle)
In Downtown, visitors can ride the People Mover around the area. In the theatre district, the Detroit Opera House has recently been restored. The Fox Theatre has also been reopened and restored to an atmosphere straight from 1928. The Renaissance Center, now to be the new headquarters for General Motors, features hotels and a revolving restaurant at the top of one of the towers.
Detroit: photo by Karen Stark

The Renaissance Center (photo by Karen Stark)

    Four professional sports teams call Detroit home: The Detroit Lions (football), The Detroit Tigers (baseball), The Detroit Pistons (basketball), and the 1997 NHL champion Detroit Redwings (hockey). New stadium facilities are currently under construction for the Tigers and Lions.
    Motown music also began in Detroit's Hitsville USA. The Motown Historical Museum pays tribute to the great Motown Sound.
    The Detroit Institute of the Arts houses more than 60,000 works of art, including highlights from the Renaissance and Impressionist eras. The Detroit Science Center features exhibits and demonstrations on the wonders of science, including a Cyberspace Safari and an IMAX Theatre. The Detroit Zoo houses more than 1,200 animals, including 54 types of endangered species. Casino gambling is also coming soon to Detroit, with a tentative deadline of the year 2000. Three casinos (sponsered by MGM Grand, Atwater/Circus Circus, and Greektown/Chippewa Indians) are being readied for a riverfront opening.

Eastern Market - downtown Detroit (photo by Aron Thomas)

Nearby Grosse Point Shores is home to the Eleanor & Edsel House. The historic mansion was designed in 1926. The house and beautifully landscaped grounds are open year-round for guided tours.

Map of the area

(Map source: US Census TIGER Maps) Other web sites of interest:

Downtown Detroit Central: project..ddc.com/

Detroit Tourism: project..detroit.net/home/trv.shtml

Detroit Conventions and Visitors Bureau: project..visitdetroit.com/

Detroit Zoo: project..ring.com/zoo/overview.htm

Detroit Art Institute: project..dia.org

Detroit Science Center: project..detroitsciencecenter.org/

Motown Historical Museum:
project..fifa.com/wc94/hosts/detroit/motown.1.html

Detroit News - History of Detroit:
project..detnews.com/history/index.htm

Detroit Tigers: project..majorleaguebaseball.com/al/det/

Detroit Lions: project..detroitlions.com/

Detroit Red Wings: project..detroitredwings.com/

Detroit Pistons: project..nba.com/pistons/index.html

Edsel & Eleanor Ford House: project..fordhouse.org/