About Detroit

Fun Facts

Detroit...

is home to the Motown sound founded by Berry Gordy Jr. in 1957
installed the first mile of paved concrete road, just north of the Model T plant, on Woodward Avenue between McNichols and 7 Mile Roads in 1909
is home to the oldest state fair in the nation, first held in 1849
has the country's largest island park within a city - Belle Isle Park
is home to the world's only floating post office, the J.W. Westcott II, can be found on the Detroit River
is north of Canada
is second in the nation in fishing rod sales
shares the world's first auto traffic tunnel between two nations - the Detroit/Windsor Tunnel
is home to the second tallest hotel in North America - the Detroit Marriott Renaissance Center, at 73 stories
is home to the nation's first soda - Vernors - which was created in Detroit by pharmacist James Vernor in 1862. Detroit's also home to Sanders hot fudge, Better Made Potato Chips, Faygo soda pop and Stroh's Ice Cream
has the most registered bowlers in the United States
was the first city in the nation to assign individual telephone numbers in 1879
is home to the first Van Gogh painting in a public collection in the U.S. at the Detroit Institute of Arts, "Self Portrait," Vincent Van Gogh, 1887

What You May not Know About the D.

The city of Detroit began as a small fur trading post on the Detroit River more than 300 years ago. Since then, the city has grown into the automotive capital of the world and a major center for culture, gaming, music and sports. Detroit has also earned an extensive number of nicknames over the years, including Motown, the Motor City, the Northern Star or simply The D. By whatever name, Detroit remains one of America's most interesting and historic cities. Here are a few more interesting facts about the 11th largest city in the United States.

Metro Detroit is where Henry Ford revolutionized transportation and kick-started the modern automotive industry in the early 20th century. Today, our region is home to an unmatched selection of automotive attractions and events, including auto baron mansions, Ford Rouge Factory tours and the Woodward Dream Cruise parade of 40,000 muscle cars.
Metro Detroit has a world-class selection of cultural attractions, including the newly expanded Detroit Institute of Arts (DIA). The DIA is just one of the reasons metro Detroit was recently named one of the top 25 arts destinations in the nation by readers of AmericanStyle Magazine.
Known as the Northern Star, the city of Detroit served as one of the final stops on the famed Underground Railroad in the 19th century. Detroit is currently a major center for African American culture and home of the world's largest museum of African American history.
With four casinos located within a few miles of each other, Detroit is the largest gaming district in the Midwest. The MGM Grand Detroit and MotorCity Casino Hotel recently opened new resort-style gaming centers complete with new signature restaurants and 400-room luxury hotels. The city's Greektown Casino will open its new larger gaming complex and luxury hotel in early 2009. Caesars Windsor is just a short trip across the Detroit River in Ontario, Canada.
Detroit is the birthplace of the Motown Sound and the company's former headquarters still operates as a museum in the downtown area. Electronic music also originated in the Detroit area and it is celebrated each year at Movement: Detroit's Electronic Music Festival.
Detroit is a major center for professional and amateur sports and home to some of the finest sports facilities in the nation. The D is also the only northern city to have hosted a NFL Super Bowl twice and the first cold weather city to host a Super Bowl and World Series in the same year.