National Register of Historic Places

Washington Boulevard Historic District

Detroit, Wayne County, Michigan
Listed
July 14, 1982
Type
District
Period
Listed
Ref No.
82002914

About this property

Washington Boulevard Historic District is a multi-block area of downtown Detroit, Michigan. It consists of structures facing Washington Boulevard between State and Clifford Streets. In 1982, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places. It includes the Book-Cadillac Hotel, the Book Tower, the Industrial Building, and Detroit City Apartments among other architecturally significant buildings. Washington Boulevard is one of the city's main boulevards and part of Augustus Woodward's 1807-design for the city. Because Woodward's plan was never completed, the boulevard contains a sharp curve south of Michigan Avenue where it was connected to an existing street. The street was broadened and ornamented in the early part of the 20th century. The development was inspired by the City Beautiful movement and financed by J. Burgess Book Jr. and designed by Louis Kamper. It was to resemble New York's Fifth Avenue and European boulevards. A sculpture lined park between two one-way streets decorated a shopping district and upscale residential neighborhood Edward H. Bennett, a well known master planner, turned Washington Boulevard into a Beaux-Arts streetscape. In the late 1970s, Washington Boulevard was redesigned with an urban pedestrian mall that included new sculptures and an amphitheater. It has since been restored to its original plan.

Location

Detroit, Wayne County, Michigan
42.33353, -83.05122

Categories

COMMUNITY PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENTARCHITECTURE
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

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Everything a full report reveals about Washington Boulevard Historic District

This page lists Washington Boulevard Historic District. A full Aubrey report for an address near it pulls together this listing alongside battlefield records, land patents, and every other historical record within a chosen radius:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
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Nearby Historic Sites

Farwell Building
Industrial
0.1 mi
Capitol Park Historic District
Listed
0.1 mi
Griswold Building
Industrial
0.1 mi
Lower Woodward Avenue Historic District
Listed
0.1 mi
Detroit-Leland Hotel
Industrial
0.1 mi

Nearby Battles

Surrender of Fort Detroit
1812Early Republic
0.3 mi
Siege of Fort Detroit — American Recovery 1813
1813Early Republic
0.3 mi
Battle of Bloody Run 1763 (Detroit)
1763Colonial
0.3 mi

Questions about this property

When was Washington Boulevard Historic District listed on the National Register?

Washington Boulevard Historic District was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on July 14, 1982.

What type of historic resource is Washington Boulevard Historic District?

Washington Boulevard Historic District is classified as a district in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Washington Boulevard Historic District?

The period of significance for Washington Boulevard Historic District is recorded as the listed era.

Can I research the history near Washington Boulevard Historic District?

Yes. Aubrey Research reports search National Register listings, battlefield records, land patents, and other primary historical sources within any radius of a US address. A report for an address near Washington Boulevard Historic District will include this listing and all other historical records in the area.

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