Finding interesting facts about a city beforehand makes a visit worthwhile. Detroit is one of those cities that you need to visit in the course of your lifetime. It is rich in history, places to visit, things to do and restaurants to try out. Learning about some of these things will make your visit more valuable as you know what to look out for.
Brief History
The city of Detroit is the largest in the state of Michigan. The city initially started out as a successful connector between the Great Lakes and the inland during fur trade. It grew to become a city noted for its industrial milestones and contributions to the larger area. By mid 20th century, Detroit had already become one of the largest cities in America. Since then, it has continued to grow rapidly, a far cry from the little-known 1701 first settlement by the Europeans’ above tidewater in North America.
Some of the sounds and things that are common in the present day world originated in Detroit. The city also has some unique features that residents are proud of and tourists are fond of. These include but are not limited to:
Motown
The Hitsville Museum on Grand Boulevard tells of many legends and the history of Motown. Aretha Franklin, Diana Ross, Smokey Robinson and Marvin Gaye are just some of the notable names associated with this musical sound. The Motown sound was created in 1957 by Berry Gordy. It caught on and spread beyond Detroit to become a favorite of many regardless of their state of origin.
Motor City
Detroit City is also nicknamed Motor City. It is recognized as the origin or heart of the American automotive industry. The automotive industry in the city, pioneered by Henry Ford, provided the model for mass production, that is, the assembly line. This was later adopted by other industries. The great thing about the assembly line is that every individual had a task to perform on each vehicle. This led to specialization, thus making assembly more efficient over time.
Vernor’s Ginger Ale
Detroit is known for more than just its cars. Vernor’s Ginger Ale is America’s oldest brand. Detroit is home to this ginger ale which was created by James Vernor before the civil war. It is said that this pharmacist was called to serve in the Civil War after he had created the drink and stored it in a keg. After the war he returned to find that the keg had transformed his drink and that is how the oldest ginger ale brand in America was created.
Salt Mines
Detroit is famous for its 1,500 acre, 100 mile salt mine that is located 1,200 feet under Detroit’s streets. To get to the salt mine, you have to use the entrance which is at 12841 Sanders Street. The salt mine is operated by Detroit Salt Company and is more expansive than New York’s famous sewers.
In addition to the salt mines, Motown and ginger ale, Detroit city has so much more to offer. Take a trip and discover everything that awaits.
