Louis Kamper's castle-like Eighth Precinct Police Station at 4150 Grand River Ave. was built at the turn of the 20th century. (David Coates / The Detroit News)
He designed hundreds of buildings, including some of the most conspicuous commercial buildings and spectacular mansions during Detroit’s Gilded Age from the 1890s through the 1920s.
In 1809, John James Audubon made this pastel and ink sketch of a passenger pigeon in Ohio. The last great massacre of the birds took place in Petoskey, Mich., in 1878. (Special Collections Research Center, University of Chicago Library/Library of Congress)
September 1, 2014 marked the hundredth anniversary of the death of the passenger pigeon Martha, the last known living member of her species.
There may be no greater figure in Michigan’s history than Lewis Cass. He served for 18 years as governor, longer than any other. He wrote the state motto, “If you seek a pleasant peninsula, look around you.” He designed the state seal.
Bela Hubbard made his mark on Detroit, as a geologist, lumber baron, land agent, lawyer, farmer and historian. His lasting imprint is Grand Boulevard, inspired by his trips to Paris.
Architect Albert Kahn’s early version for the Fisher Building included three skyscrapers. He settled for a single tower, 28 stories high, that would become his masterpiece.
You might not notice Capitol Park, even if you were in it: It’s a tiny, triangular wedge with a few benches and monuments, largely concrete, tucked behind the Westin Book Cadillac.
Charles B. King may have been the first on Detroit streets with a gasoline powered motor carriage, but as early as the 1880s Detroit’s mechanics, machinists, engineers and amateur tinkers were all feverishly working on some version of a steam, electric or gasoline powered contraption.
Terry McDermott didn’t view himself as anyone all that special. And this mop-topped rock ‘n’ roll band from England? Well, he was only faintly aware of their budding stardom.
By Neal Rubin / The Detroit News In the good old days, you could make a compelling case that beer was better for you than water. We’re talking about the mid-1800s, a time when only the richest individuals or finest hotels had indoor toilets. So there was a trade-off, but still: “Water could be tainted … Continue Reading →
The Spanish-American War was the shortest war in U.S. history, a mere 10 months from declaration to surrender in 1898. It pitted the up-and-coming international power, the United States, against a faded Spanish empire, which after nearly 400 years saw its colonies break free until it was down to Cuba, the Philippines, and the tiny … Continue Reading →
