Bebop, Boulevards, and Boomtown: A Detroit Walking Tour

Campus Martius Park sits at the literal center of Detroit, marking the "Point of Origin" from which the city's street grid, and even 8 Mile Road, eight miles to the north, is measured. Its name, Latin for "Field of Mars," dates back to its early use as a military parade ground, and the park has anchored downtown ever since, hosting the First Michigan Regiment's send-off at the start of the Civil War and later the city's Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument. After decades buried under pavement and traffic, the park was reimagined in a 2000-2003 revitalization that turned it into the vibrant public space it is today, featuring the Woodward Fountain, an urban beach, seasonal ice rink, and open lawns that host concerts and festivals. It has since become downtown Detroit's social heart, recognized in 2010 with the Urban Land Institute's inaugural Urban Open Space Award.

Grand Circus Park has anchored downtown Detroit since 1850, when it was laid out as part of Judge Augustus Woodward's post-fire redesign of the city, its distinctive semicircular shape a nod to his radial street plan. Origanally planned as a complete circle, the five-acre green space is ringed by some of Detroit's architectural landmarks, including the David Whitney Building, the Kales Building, Central United Methodist Church, and the Detroit Opera House. Within the park, Henry Bacon's 1921 Russell Alger Memorial Fountain and statues of former mayors William Maybury and Hazen Pingree add historical texture. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, Grand Circus Park remains a green centerpiece where Detroit's past and present meet.

The Belt is an activated alley in Detroit's former Garment District, next to the Z Garage. Transformed from an overlooked service corridor into an open-air art gallery and entertainment hub, it features striking international murals, rotating art installations, and popular local bars.

This is an external stop, not an interior tour. We will explore the Madison Avenue corridor and discuss the Opera House (Capitol Theatre), Detroit Athletic Club, Music Hall (Wilson Hall), and the Gem (Little Theatre).

This is an external location visit only. Ford Field and the surrounding area was once home to numerous jazz clubs and Black-owned businesses. This visit will reflect on the history of this site through storytelling and historic photographs.