Preservation
Sources
Book: Art Deco In Detroit
This book explores the wide ranging variety of Art Deco commercial buildings, theaters, homes, and churches in the metropolitan Detroit area. Although Detroit is primarily known as an industrial area, it boasts some of the most significant Art Deco architecture in the United States. Art Deco in Detroit gathers the wide ranging variety of these resources together for the first time. Purchase the book!
What is the National Register of Historic Places?
The National Register of Historic Places is the official list of the nation’s historic and cultural resources. Places are “listed” because of their association with a significant event or person, special characteristics of their architecture or design, or having made a significant to the broad patterns of our history and thus are deserving of preservation. National Register listing is purely honorary, and places no restriction on what may or may not be done with a property unless federal funds are used. A benefit of listing includes up to a 25 percent combined state and federal tax credit for rehabilitation of income producing properties and making properties eligible for federal grants and loans to assist with preservation. Go to: www.cr.nps.gov/nr/
What is a National Historic Landmark?
These are among the most special places included on the National Register. The NHL program was begun in 1935 to identify buildings that posess exceptional value in illustrating the nation’s heritage. Today fewer than 2,500 places (or 3% of buildings on the National Register) bear this distinction. As of 2006, eight of these are located in Detroit and two of them are Art Deco Masterpieces – the Guardian Building and the Fisher Building. Go to: www.cr.nps.gov/nhl/
What is the Michigan Historic Sites Online?
This is a database of historic sites in Michigan, created and maintained by the State Historic Preservation Office. MHSO includes information and photos of National Historic Landmarks, properties listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and text and location of State Historical Markers. Go to: www.mcgi.state.mi.us/hso/
What is the Burton Historical Collection?
The Burton Historical Collection is one of the premier sources for historical information in the Midwest. Housed in the Detroit Public Library's Main Branch in Detroit's Cultural Center, the library is across the street from the Detroit Institute of Arts on one side and Wayne State University on the other. Here visitors will find a rich collection of photographs, maps, city directories, and a variety of published and unpublished works.
Other Contributors
Color Photos: Al Trombetta is a board member of the Detroit Area Art Deco Society and amateur photographer.
Text: Isaac David is a preservation consultant and architectural historian based in Detroit. www.isaacdavid.com
Back to Deco Highlights.
Deco Highlights
- Fisher Building, Albert Kahn, 1928
- Guardian Building, Wirt C. Rowland, 1929
- Penobscot Building, Wirt C. Rowland, 1927
- Macomb County Building, Mt. Clements, George J. Hass, 1931
- David Stott Building, Donaldson & Meier, 1929
- William Livingstone Lighthouse, Albert Kahn, 1929
- Maccabees Building, Albert Kahn, 1927
Threatened Deco
- Brodhead Armory (Detroit)
- Wyandotte Theater (Wyandotte)
Saved Deco
- Elwood (Detroit)
Deco Echo
- Centaur (Detroit)
- MGM Grand Casino (Detroit)
For More Information
Read more in Art Deco in Detroit by Rebecca Binno Savage and Greg Kowalski (2004)