Detroit was founded in 1701 by Antoine de Mothe Cadillac to enable the French to trade with the Chippewa Native Americans, and the town’s accessibility via the Great Lakes ensured its steady growth to a medium sized port.
In the early 20th century, Henry Ford, Ford Ransom Eli, the Chevrolets and the Dodge brothers set up their car manufacturing plants, which rapidly transformed the city into a sprawling industrial metropolis. Over the years the region’s car manufacturing industry has had its challenges which have left their mark on the city, however today it is enjoying a rapid resurgence.
The city’s principal attraction is the enormous Henry Ford Museum, which lies ten miles away in Dearborn. This superb museum pays homage to Detroit’s rich car-manufacturing past along with technological innovation. Other attractions include the Detroit Cultural Center which contains the Detroit Institute of Arts, one of the US’s most prestigious art museums, and the Museum of African American Museum. The city is also renowned for Motown music and the Motown Museum pays homage to this popular sound.
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Places near Detroit
- Michigan 267 kilometers away
- Niagara Falls 337 kilometers away
- Traverse City and Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore 339 kilometers away
- Buffalo 348 kilometers away
- Chicago 382 kilometers away
- Milwaukee 405 kilometers away
- Mackinac Island 412 kilometers away
- Door Peninsula 450 kilometers away
- Rochester 454 kilometers away
- Green Bay 468 kilometers away