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Art & Inspiration Ruins of Detroit/Industrial Archeology Trip Planned

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by phartman, Jul 11, 2019.

  1. Before the summer is over, I have the opportunity to visit Detroit. Can any of you make some suggestions about what to visit and where to go to see first hand the early roots of the automobile industry and related crafts? My interests are multiple: automotive manufacturing, industrial archeology, and Industrial/Machine Age art. A couple "must sees" on the list so far are the Model T plant, the Rouge Plant, the Institute of Art, and the Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn.

    If anyone could help as far as suggestions of tours such as the abandoned Packard plant and the like, it is much appreciated.

    Thanks in advance for your suggestions. This trip has been on my bucket list for quite some time. Oh, and if makes any difference as far as sites along the way, I will be traveling up from Louisville, KY.
     
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  2. derbydad276
    Joined: May 29, 2011
    Posts: 1,336

    derbydad276
    Member

    Hines Park... Nankin Mills and Wilcox Mill two of Ford's rural factory shops
    https://www.freep.com/story/money/b...rd-mills-hines-drive-wayne-county/2213131002/
    The Fisher Building... http://shop.puredetroit.com/Fisher-Building-Tours_ep_43-1.html
    Guardian Building ...http://shop.puredetroit.com/Guardian-Building-Downtown-Tours_ep_44-1.html
    Belle Isle Aquarium ... www.belleisleconservancy.org

    Stay out of the Packard Plant ... more and more of it falls in daily

    Piquette Plant is really cool https://www.fordpiquetteplant.org/
    Boston Edison district ... auto barons early mansions... https://www.historicbostonedison.org/Holiday-Home-Tour
    drive The Davison Freeway ...
    First one in America https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M-8_(Michigan_highway)
    The Henry Ford & Greenfield Village
    https://www.thehenryford.org/visit/greenfield-village/

    dang I could give tours ...
    pm me
     
    Deuces likes this.
  3. 19Fordy
    Joined: May 17, 2003
    Posts: 8,025

    19Fordy
    Member

    Last edited: Jul 11, 2019
    Bam.inc likes this.
  4. derbydad276
    Joined: May 29, 2011
    Posts: 1,336

    derbydad276
    Member


  5. 49ratfink
    Joined: Feb 8, 2004
    Posts: 18,828

    49ratfink
    Member
    from California

    first thing to do is go online and buy some body armor. if you do not have a gun, buy one and learn how to use it.
     
  6. derbydad276
    Joined: May 29, 2011
    Posts: 1,336

    derbydad276
    Member

    ClayMart likes this.
  7. 31Apickup
    Joined: Nov 8, 2005
    Posts: 3,366

    31Apickup
    Member

    If you need a gun and body armor, then you’re somewhere you shouldn’t be. Lived most of my life there and never had a problem


    Sent from my iPhone using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
     
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  8. topher5150
    Joined: Feb 10, 2017
    Posts: 3,338

    topher5150
    Member

    GPS took me down E McNichols road, and it was like a ghost town. Most of the business were boarded up and falling in on themselves, burned out abandoned burned out houses everywhere.
     
  9. 49ratfink
    Joined: Feb 8, 2004
    Posts: 18,828

    49ratfink
    Member
    from California

  10. Bandit Billy
    Joined: Sep 16, 2014
    Posts: 12,286

    Bandit Billy
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    You might want to ask Dick Jones, he runs OCP and OCP runs the cops.
     
  11. Boryca
    Joined: Jul 18, 2011
    Posts: 709

    Boryca
    Member
    from Detroit

    Rat, I live in Detroit and spend the majority of my time in the city. Kindly piss off.

    @phartman - Hit me up when you're headed this way, I'll take you on a tour of the lesser known sites. There's a lot of history in this old city. Old speed shops, historic manufacturing sites that aren't listed places, etc.

    Mike
     
  12. I visited your city a couple years ago during Autorama. Toured a little of downtown, but only to go find dinner in Greektown. Loved what I saw, and have wanted to come back. Really looking forward to the visit. Thank you for the offer to show me around.

    I just visited the Steel Stacks in Bethlehem, PA and the Mack Plant and other sites in Allentown. Very interesting, sacred ground. I am certain Detroit will be the same way.
     
  13. pirate
    Joined: Jun 29, 2006
    Posts: 1,024

    pirate
    Member
    from Alabama

    I find a trip to Detroit for Industrial Archaeology both interesting and also ironic. I was born and raised as they say in the downriver area of Detroit. As a kid in the 50’s our family often went downtown for shopping and events and as a teenager in the 60’s went downtown on dates and for other events. Never feared for my safety. As a kid just about all my family and friends families worked for one of the Big Three or were some how connected to the auto industry through suppliers or other companies. Detroit was a working mans town and thrived on that reputation.

    It seemed you graduated from high school and went to work for one of the Big Three or went to college and then came back and worked for the Big Three. It seemed most jobs were connected to the auto industry. I worked at Ford Motor for seventeen years and finally tired of the feast or famine nature of the business and moved south in the early 80’s just as things were getting bad for the city and auto industry. I never looked back.

    Even when leaving I never imaged just how bad things could get with some of the auto business almost going out of business and taking very large suppliers with them. I’m sure most people in the Detroit area never thought it could happen either. The city had a series of very bad and corrupt mayors and the exodus began. I remember seeing bumper stickers that said “ The last one who leaves Detroit turn off the lights” a very sad ending to a once very proud and great city. It is encouraging to see parts of the city and surrounding area making a comeback but it is a long road.

    Not sure how much of the original auto industry architecture still exists lots of it has been torn down or rebuilt in order to survive. At one time the Ford Rouge Complex had over 30,000 people there and was said to be the only plant in the world where every component of a car could be manufactured. I doubt if there is a third of the people who still work there.
     
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  14. lothiandon1940 likes this.
  15. The Society for Industrial Archeology held their annual meeting in the city in 2005. The tourist and academic interest has been building for quite some time. I am not alone in wanting to visit.

    And here:

    https://www.washingtonpost.com/life...47dd2df3829_story.html?utm_term=.8ef33270afac

    And this interesting piece on grassroots, modest archeology efforts currently underway:

    https://savageminds.org/2016/07/05/...izing-archaeology-in-the-postindustrial-city/

    Lots to learn. I have an open mind.
     
    Last edited: Jul 11, 2019
    lothiandon1940 and pirate like this.
  16. whiteknuckle
    Joined: Feb 6, 2007
    Posts: 75

    whiteknuckle
    Member
    from Dryden, NY

    at some point you'll have to eat...…………
    check out Vinsetta Garage at 27799 Woodward Ave, Berkley, MI 48072

    Curt Catallo recreated the well-worn and well-loved mechanics shop that was built in 1919 into a brush-steel restaurant that serves reimagined home cooking.


    [​IMG]

    In 2010, the oil and grease were wiped up and the jacks and drill bits were put away as the oldest operating garage east of the Mississippi, Vinsetta Garage, shut its doors after 91 years of service.

    [​IMG]
     
    lothiandon1940 likes this.
  17. 41 GMC K-18
    Joined: Jun 27, 2019
    Posts: 3,562

    41 GMC K-18
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    This is one of the great murals that Diego Rivera painted in Detroit, incredible detail !
    detroit.jpg
     
    Last edited: Oct 31, 2019
  18. Highland Park plant. HRP

    [​IMG]
     
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  19. 31Apickup
    Joined: Nov 8, 2005
    Posts: 3,366

    31Apickup
    Member

    As I said most of the crime is in areas you don’t belong, it is not rampant all over.


    Sent from my iPhone using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
     
    chopped likes this.
  20. Truck64
    Joined: Oct 18, 2015
    Posts: 5,325

    Truck64
    Member
    from Ioway

    How does one determine an area isn't where one belongs? Is there are brochure or something?
     
  21. Ebbsspeed
    Joined: Nov 11, 2005
    Posts: 6,250

    Ebbsspeed
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    Let me preface this by pointing out that I was the South Dakota 7th Grade State Spelling Bee Champion in 1967, and therefore am a HUGE ASSHOLE when it comes to spelling.

    Wondering is usually quite safe; it's the wandering that may get you in trouble.

    Like I said, I am an asshole. Please forgive me for this horrible affliction which causes me to make uncalled for comments.
     


  22. From the entire South Dakota Elementary School Graduating Class of 67:;)
     
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  23. Misspelled words are like bad welds- best corrected. To paraphrase Barry Goldwater:

    "Extremism in defense of syntax is no vice. Moderation in pursuit of correct spelling is no virtue."

    But that being said- as a lifelong egghead- let me point out that wondering has gotten me into all manner of jams and tight spots. Wondering and wandering can be equally dangerous in this current culture of ours.

    I promise to be on my toes while in the Motor City.
     
    Last edited: Jul 11, 2019
  24. Lepus
    Joined: Nov 18, 2016
    Posts: 450

    Lepus
    Member

    If you like to see how the people who got rich from building cars lived, then visit the Edsel Ford mansion, like Potato Truck said, and the dodge mansion.
     
  25. lothiandon1940 likes this.
  26. Bandit Billy
    Joined: Sep 16, 2014
    Posts: 12,286

    Bandit Billy
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    I believe the local Native Americans word for it is "He Mi", but I have nothing to back that up. Have fun in the motor city!
     
  27. theHIGHLANDER
    Joined: Jun 3, 2005
    Posts: 10,244

    theHIGHLANDER
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    As to where NOT to go, a lot has changed. When the Det Chief of Police advised residents "...arm yourself, we can't be everywhere..." things changed rather abruptly. Rough areas might be what we locals still call "Warrendale" and "Brightmoore" on the west side and there's a few "Ruh't roh" places sprinkled around on the east side. Danger? Well you don't walk around alone at 11pm in spots like that, you don't hang out in front of bars or party stores in areas of urban blight (yeah, we got em), and surely downtown is seldom to never dangerous. Casinos, restaurants, the sports arenas and theaters won't stand for having their customer base scared off. Nobody mentioned a ride out west on US-12. You'd need a map, history book, or maybe some details gleaned from a 'net search but there's still some buildings and re-puposed structures from the mom n pop shops that Henry Ford liked to do business with. You'll also venture into Irish Hills which has many of the old tourist traps still in place that motorists would visit back in the day. Of course MIS is also out there and if nothing else a good photo op. The weekend of Aug 9-11 is the 180 mile garage sale on US-12 that runs from Ypsi to New Baltimore. Might not be a better way to hear stories and even picking up a genuine artifact on the cheap is possible. It would be a long day even if you didn't run the whole route but I think it's worth the time. Living here makes it easy to take for granted but my involvement with local clubs opens up such adventures now n then.

    You'll dig it, no doubt.
     
  28. These local restaurant suggestions are terrific. Someone else mentioned Kate's Kitchen in Flat Rock for breakfast or pies.

    [​IMG]
    And the Traffic Jam and Snug Restaurant:

    [​IMG]

    Any others come to mind?

    On an earlier trip to Autorama we ate in Greektown, which was really good.

    I am hearing about Mexico Town with authentic dishes; and a special local delicacy hotdog called a "Coney Island", I believe:

    https://www.eater.com/2016/5/8/11612056/detroit-coney-dogs-history

    [​IMG]

    Gotta try it all. My wife, the healthy food Nazi, will not be with me on this trip. She doesn't need to know details of where I might eat.


    [​IMG]
     
    Last edited: Jul 12, 2019
    Johnny Gee and lothiandon1940 like this.
  29. Boryca
    Joined: Jul 18, 2011
    Posts: 709

    Boryca
    Member
    from Detroit

    There's only one completely assembled car in that entire mural. It's a little red Ford coupe, see if you can find it. lol.

    As for food, Lafayette Coney is better than American (lafayette is in that photo up above). Mexicantown has great food, especially if you go down Vernor to Armando's - great tamales. Eaton spring company is a cool spot to visit, they still produce springs out of their building on Michigan, right in the heart of redeveloping Corktown.
     
    Bearcat_V8 likes this.
  30. derbydad276
    Joined: May 29, 2011
    Posts: 1,336

    derbydad276
    Member

    OK... If you want to try the local cuisine ...
    Lafayette & American Coney !
    https://www.facebook.com/Lafayette-Coney-Island-143071722397988/
    http://americanconeyisland.com/home.htm
    Buddys Pizza !
    https://www.buddyspizza.com/
    gotta have a Faygo RedPop Rock & Rye or Orange .. Grape..
    https://www.faygo.com/
    Kowalski Sausage !
    https://www.kowality.com/
    Better Made Potato Chips !
    https://bettermade.com/
    Superman Ice Cream !
    Stroh's Ice Cream Parlours
    Ice cream shop
    3162 Biddle Ave Wyandotte
    (734) 285-5480
    Real Greek .....without the wait for a table in Greek Town
    https://theauburncafe.com/

    Amazing Mexican Food any place on Bagley is good
    https://www.mexicanvillagefood.com/
    https://www.facebook.com/XochimilcoDetroit/

    Fantastic Deli ......The Rueben is Amazing
    http://www.hygradedeli.com/
     
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