Detroit, Michigan
“There’s just something about the audiences in Detroit that I’ve always felt connected to. Detroit is different.”
- Bob Saget
Detroit is known as a city that has fallen on hard times. It is also known as Motor City due to its close ties to the automotive industry. Everywhere I looked, there were classic cars that would make any motorhead salivate. Detroit gets a bad rap, but the people I met were beyond welcoming. Here is a brief overview of some of the amazing sites I saw in Detroit, Michigan.
Gem Theatre
The view of downtown Detroit from the front of the Gem Theatre shows just how beautiful this big city can be. According to Forbes Detroit, the Gem Theatre was built in 1927. The building itself was designed by architect George D. Mason and built in 1903. The Gem Theatre was first listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1985. Now, it hosts plays as well as weddings. It’s a very beautiful venue for special events.
“When I thought about Detroit, I would think big city, very urban - not a lot of places to walk around, not a lot of parks. I sort of pictured Manhattan almost, where, besides Central Park, it’s all city and big buildings. But now that I’m here, you see people pushing strollers, people hanging out in the park.”
— Erin Cummings
Beatrice Buck’s Paradise Valley Park
Beatrice Buck was a historian that dedicated herself to the preservation of the history and culture of Detroit’s Paradise Valley. The pictures of the park (seen above) highlight some of the people of Paradise Valley. The sign in the first picture has some fantastic information regarding the woman in whom the park is dedicated and the people she worked to memorialize.
Detroit is a town that, as a community, has been through hell. That seems to no longer be the case. Downtown Detroit is taking great strides to restore and preserve its history and not repeat the mistakes of the past. The center of the streets downtown have green spaces, with lights, pathways, and places to sit. Many parks and places to gather have popped up, allowing people to congregate and feel like a community. There are several historic buildings that you can tour. My favorite was the Guardian Building. However, most buildings have placards with their history in the lobbies. Walking around downtown Detroit is a pleasurable experience. The city certainly gives off a warm and welcoming vibe.
Immersive Van Gough
The Immersive Van Gough exhibit at The Ashley building in downtown offers a new way to experience Van Gough. You will be surrounded by light and sound for a unique viewing experience. I highly recommend this or similar exhibits that are offered throughout the US.
“Hold on to what you have, learn to appreciate what you have and take care of it.”
— Beatrice M. Buck
Detroit is many things, but mostly, Detroit is what you make of it. If you are looking for beauty and a community of people who care, you have come to the right place. I enjoyed my time in Detroit, and I would absolutely take another contract there.