Penobscot Building

Skyscraper in Detroit

This article is about the 47-story tower in Detroit, Michigan. For the original building, see Penobscot Building (1905). For other uses, see Penobscot (disambiguation).

Penobscot Building

Penobscot Building seen from Campus Martius Park in 2007

Alternative names| City National Bank Building
Penobscot Building - 47 Tower
General information
Type| Commercial offices
Location| 645 Griswold Street
Detroit, Michigan
Coordinates| 42°19′49″N 83°02′51″W﻿ / ﻿42.33041°N 83.0475°W﻿ / 42.33041; -83.0475
Construction started| 1927
Completed| 1928
Owner| Triple Group Of Companies
Management| Triple Properties Detroit
Height
Antenna spire| 202.4 m (664 ft)
Roof| 172.2 m (565 ft)
Top floor| 159.4 m (523 ft)
Technical details
Floor count| above ground: 47
below ground: 2
Floor area| 1,258,900 sq ft (116,960 m2)
Lifts/elevators| 25
Design and construction
Architect(s)| Wirt C. Rowland
Smith, Hinchman & Grylls
Donaldson and Meier

Greater Penobscot Building

U.S. Historic district
Contributing property

Architectural style| Art Deco
Part of| Detroit Financial District (ID09001067)
Designated CP| December 14, 2009
References
[1][2][3]

The Greater Penobscot Building, commonly known as the Penobscot Building, is a class-A office tower in Downtown Detroit, Michigan.[4] Constructed in 1928, the Art Deco building is located in the heart of the Detroit Financial District. The Penobscot is a hub for the city's wireless Internet zone and fiber-optic network.

## Height

[edit]

Penobscot Building on an undated postcard

Upon completion, the Penobscot Building was the eighth-tallest building in the world, the fourth-tallest in the United States[5] and the tallest outside of New York and Chicago.[6][7] Rising 566 feet (173 m), the 47-story Penobscot was the tallest building in Michigan from its completion in 1928 until construction of the Renaissance Center hotel tower in 1977. Ally Detroit Center (formerly One Detroit Center) surpassed the Penobscot as the tallest office building in Detroit upon its completion in 1993. The framing elevation drawing of this building shows a height of 562.166 ft (171.348 m) to the highest roof, approximately 565.75 ft (172.44 m) to the parapet wall around the roof, and 654.166 ft (199.390 m) to the top of the warning beacon atop the antenna.

The Penobscot has 45 above-ground floors and two basement levels, for a total floor count of 47. Although the Penobscot Building has more floors than Ally Detroit Center (45 above-ground floors compared to 43 for Ally Detroit Center), the floors and spires of One Detroit are taller, with its roof sitting roughly 60 ft (18 m) higher than that of the Penobscot.

### Name origin

[edit]

The building is named for the Penobscot River in Maine. The building was named by Simon J. Murphy, President of the Simon J. Murphy Company. Murphy named the building from his association with lumbering in the Maine woods and on the Penobscot River in Maine.[8] Motifs in art deco style ornamentation is used on the exterior and the interiors. The following version of the choice of the name of the building is found in an undated publication believed to have been published concurrent with the building's dedication in 1928:

An intimation of the Simon J. Murphy Sr. family's early history, together with the expression of genuine sentiment regarding the beginnings of the Murphy fortune, is contained in the name of the Greater Penobscot Building...... Long before the Civil War days, Simon J. Murphy and his partner, then two lads who had grown up in the Maine woods obtained their first employment in one of the logging camps along the Penobscot River - a stream named for the powerful tribe of Penobscot Indians.

## Architecture

[edit]

The architect Wirt C. Rowland, of the prominent Smith Hinchman & Grylls firm based in Detroit, designed the Penobscot in an elaborate Art Deco style in 1928. Clad in Indiana Limestone with a granite base, it rises like a sheer cliff for thirty stories, then has a series of setbacks culminating in a red neon beacon tower. Like many of the city's other Roaring Twenties buildings, it displays Art Deco influences, including its "H" shape (designed to allow maximum sunlight into the building) and the sculptural setbacks that cause the upper floors to progressively "erode".

The opulent Penobscot is one of many buildings in Detroit that features architectural sculpture by Corrado Parducci. The ornamentation includes American Indian motifs, particularly in the entrance archway and in metalwork found in the lobby. At night, the building's upper floors are lit in floodlight fashion, topped with a red sphere.

The building's architect, Wirt C. Rowland, also designed other Detroit skyscrapers, such as the Guardian Building and the Buhl Building, in the same decade.

### Penobscot Block

[edit]

The tower is also connected to two older and smaller buildings, the 1905 Penobscot Building and the Penobscot Building Annex (1916). Together, the buildings comprise the Penobscot Block, located at Griswold Street and West Fort Street. The Greater Penobscot was the last portion of the complex to be developed.

## Events

[edit]

On holidays, both the Penobscot Building and the nearby One Woodward Avenue light-up for the night, with red, white and blue for Independence Day and Canada Day; and red, white and green for the Christmas season. In addition, during the Christmas season, the Penobscot Building's radio broadcast tower is illuminated bright gold, to resemble a giant glowing Christmas tree topped with a flashing red beacon. The Penobscot Building has become a souvenir item along with other Detroit skyscrapers.[9]

The first televisions in Michigan were sold in the retail space on the Griswold level of this building.[citation needed]

For a period of time in the late 1970s and early 1980s, it was renamed the City National Bank Building, after its major tenant. When City National was acquired by another bank and renamed, the historic Penobscot name was revived.

### Landmark

[edit]

The Penobscot Building is a contributing property in the Detroit Financial Historic District, and on the National Register of Historic Places.

## Tenants

[edit]

* The Caucus Club, a restaurant known for hosting influential business officials, was located in Penobscot from 1952 until 2012. On October 4, 2012, the restaurant announced that it would close by the end of that month. Early in her career, Barbra Streisand appeared as one of the lounge singers at the Caucus Club in 1961. Caucus Club reopened under new ownership in 2017, after an extensive renovation.[10]
* The tower apex once had "CNB" signs for a local bank that was formerly headquartered in the Penobscot Building.[11]
* For approximately 20 years ending in 2009, the building was home to radio station WJLB and its well-known 80s DJ, The Electrifying Mojo, who broadcast his nightly visits over Detroit from his 'Mothership'. The Electrifying Mojo is credited with exposing many Detroit techno musicians to new audiences through his broadcasts.[citation needed]
* The Smart Detroit Conference Center occupies space on the 13th floor, and includes Class A conference, meeting, or convention space.[citation needed]
* The Wayne County Friend of the Court occupies floors between the sub-basement and eighth floor, making it the current largest tenant of the building.[citation needed]

## Ownership

[edit]

In May 2012, the Penobscot Building was sold for $5 million to the Toronto-based real estate company, Triple Properties Detroit.[12][13] The building has since incurred numerous fines and code violations from the city of Detroit.[14][15][16][17][18]

## Gallery

[edit]

Architectural details by Corrado Parducci

*   *   *   *

## See also

[edit]

* Michigan portal
* Architecture portal

* Penobscot Block — the complex

* The Penobscot Building — the oldest
* Penobscot Building Annex — access connected

* Buhl Building
* Detroit Financial District
* Guardian Building
* List of tallest buildings in Detroit
* National Register of Historic Places listings in Detroit, Michigan

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Penobscot Building". Emporis. Archived from the original on March 10, 2016.
2. ^ "Penobscot Building". SkyscraperPage.
3. ^ Penobscot Building at Structurae
4. ^ Tottis, James W. (2008). The Guardian Building: Cathedral of Finance. Wayne State University Press. ISBN 978-0-8143-3385-3.
5. ^ "What's up with the Penobscot Building's light?". Detroit Free Press. January 28, 2015. Retrieved January 28, 2015. "...the Penobscot was the eighth-tallest building in the world — and the fourth tallest in the United States — when it opened 87 years ago."
6. ^ "Penobscot Building". Emporis. Archived from the original on March 19, 2007. Retrieved July 4, 2010.
7. ^ "Penobscot Building". SkyscraperPage. Retrieved July 4, 2010.
8. ^ Ferry, W. Hawkins (1980). The Buildings of Detroit: A History (revised ed.). Detroit: Wayne State University Press. p. 330\. ISBN 978-0-8143-1665-8.
9. ^ "Souvenir Replica Buildings: Detroit". InFocusTech skyscrapers. Retrieved July 6, 2024.
10. ^ Osborne, Marie (October 4, 2012). "Detroit's Historic Caucus Club To Close". CBS 62 Detroit. Retrieved March 7, 2013.
11. ^ Friess, Steve (June 2021). "A High-Rise Brought Low". Hour Detroit. p. 28. Retrieved April 23, 2024.
12. ^ Duggan, Daniel (May 6, 2012). "Silverdome owner buys Penobscot". Crain's Detroit Business.
13. ^ Muller, David (August 28, 2012). "Triple Properties envisions continuous underground retail for downtown". MLive.
14. ^ City of Detroit coming down on owner of Penobscot building. WDIV News. February 18, 2020 – via YouTube.
15. ^ Pinho, Detroit (March 20, 2020). "Penobscot Building owner facing city lawsuit over condition". Crain's Detroit Business.
16. ^ Pinho, Kirk (August 30, 2020). "Is the Penobscot Building's glory fading?". Crain's Detroit Business.
17. ^ Marini, Miriam; Witsil, Frank (March 17, 2021). "Detroit's Penobscot Building empties again as boiler breaks down". Detroit Free Press.
18. ^ Pinho, Kirk (March 17, 2021). "Commentary: Penobscot Building owner needs to sell to capable, capitalized landlord". Crain's Detroit Business.

## Further reading

[edit]

* Greater Penobscot Building: Fort and Griswold Streets, Detroit. c. 1928. (booklet)
* Hill, Eric J. & John Gallagher (2002). AIA Detroit: The American Institute of Architects Guide to Detroit Architecture. Wayne State University Press. ISBN 978-0-8143-3120-0.
* Kvaran, Einar Einarsson, Shadowing Parducci, unpublished manuscript, Detroit.
* Meyer, Katherine Mattingly and Martin C.P. McElroy with Introduction by W. Hawkins Ferry, Hon A.I.A. (1980). Detroit Architecture A.I.A. Guide Revised Edition. Wayne State University Press. ISBN 978-0-8143-1651-1.`{{cite book}}`: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
* Sharoff, Robert (2005). American City: Detroit Architecture. Wayne State University Press. ISBN 978-0-8143-3270-2.
* Savage, Rebecca Binno & Greg Kowalski (2004). Art Deco in Detroit (Images of America). Arcadia. ISBN 978-1-4396-1485-3.
* Sobocinski, Melanie Grunow (2005). Detroit and Rome: building on the past. Regents of the University of Michigan. ISBN 978-0-9336-9109-4.

## External links

[edit]

* Media related to Penobscot Building at Wikimedia Commons
* Official Penobscot Building website
* Caucus Club website
* Article from the Detroit Area Art Deco Society Archived 2008-10-29 at the Wayback Machine

* v
* t
* e

Downtown Detroit

Areas|

* Broadway Avenue Historic District
* Capitol Park Historic District
* Detroit Financial District
* Detroit International Riverfront
* Grand Circus Park Historic District
* Greektown
* Lower Woodward Avenue Historic District
* Mexicantown
* Monroe Avenue Commercial Buildings
* Park Avenue Historic District
* Randolph Street Commercial Buildings Historic District
* Washington Boulevard Historic District

Education|

| Primary and
secondary schools|

* Detroit Public Schools

|

Other education|

* Detroit Public Library Skillman Branch
* Wayne County Community College
* University of Detroit Mercy School of Law

Skyscrapers
and complexes|

* 150 West Jefferson
* Ally Detroit Center
* Book Tower
* Broderick Tower
* Buhl Building
* Cadillac Place
* Cadillac Square Building (demolished)
* Cadillac Tower
* Chrysler House
* David Whitney Building
* Detroit Life Building
* Executive Plaza Building
* Federal Reserve Building
* First National Building
* Fisher Building
* Ford Building
* Fort Pontchartrain Hotel
* Francis Palms Building
* Guardian Building
* Hudson's Detroit (under construction)
* Industrial Building
* Lafayette Building (demolished)
* Michigan Central Station
* Millender Center
* One Campus Martius
* One Griswold Street
* One Kennedy Square
* One Woodward Avenue
* Penobscot Building
* Renaissance Center
* Riverfront Condominiums Detroit
* David Stott Building
* Westin Book Cadillac Hotel
* Meridian Health Plan Headquarters (proposed)
* Detroit Statler Hotel (demolished)
* Water Board Building
* Wurlitzer Building, a former Wurlitzer office building

Parks|

* Belle Isle
* Campus Martius Park
* Water Works Park (closed)

Public art|

* Bagley Memorial Fountain
* Scott Fountain
* Russell Alger Memorial Fountain
* General Alexander Macomb
* Michigan Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument
* The Spirit of Detroit
* Stevens T. Mason
* General Thaddeus Kosciuszko

Other landmarks|

* Comerica Park
* Detroit Athletic Club
* Detroit Building
* Detroit City Hall (demolished)
* Detroit Opera House
* Detroit Public Safety Headquarters
* Detroit Club (defunct, but building still there)
* Elwood Bar
* Farwell Building
* The Fillmore Detroit
* Ford Auditorium (demolished)
* Ford Field
* Fort Shelby Hotel
* Fort Street Presbyterian Church
* Fox Theatre
* Frank Murphy Hall of Justice
* Gem Theatre
* Griswold Building Senior Apartments
* Hollywood Casino
* Huntington Place
* Joe Louis Arena (demolished)
* Kennedy Fountain, a/k/a Kennedy Square (demolished)
* MGM Grand Detroit
* Park Avenue House
* Town Apartments
* Veterans' Memorial Building (demolished)
* Wayne County Building
* William Livingstone Memorial Light, only marble lighthouse in the United States, located on Belle Isle
* Women's City Club
* Coleman A. Young Municipal Center
* University Club
* Yondotega Club

Detroit People Mover
stations|

* Broadway
* Bricktown
* Cadillac Center
* Financial District
* Fort/Cass
* Grand Circus Park
* Greektown
* Huntington Place
* Michigan Avenue
* Millender Center
* Renaissance Center
* Times Square
* Water Square

This list is incomplete.
The Michigan State University College of Law was in Downtown Detroit prior to 1997 and was known as the "Detroit College of Law."

* v
* t
* e

Architecture of metropolitan Detroit

Skyscrapers|

| 10 tallest|

* Renaissance Center
* One Detroit Center
* Penobscot
* RenCen Towers 100-400
* Guardian
* Book Tower
* 150 West Jefferson

|

20 tallest|

* Fisher
* Cadillac Tower
* Stott
* One Woodward Avenue
* McNamara Federal
* DTE Energy
* Broderick
* 211 West Fort
* Buhl
* Westin Book Cadillac Hotel
* Hollywood Casino

30 tallest|

* First National
* Cadillac Centre
* RenCen Towers 500-600
* 1001 Woodward
* Millender Center
* AT&T
* Chrysler House
* Jeffersonian
* Blue Cross Blue Shield
* Coleman A. Young Municipal Center

40 tallest|

* Penobscot Annex
* Lafayette East
* Riverfront Tower 300
* Riverfront Tower 200
* Whitney
* Washington Square
* Riverfront Tower 100
* Water Board
* Washington Boulevard

50 tallest|

* Riverside Hotel
* Fort Shelby Hotel
* Industrial-Stevens
* Ford
* Leland
* Fyfe
* Grand Park Centre
* Compuware
* United Artists Theatre
* Michigan Central Station
* Cadillac Place

60 tallest|

* MGM Grand Detroit
* MotorCity Casino Hotel
* The Qube
* Maccabees
* Fort Washington Plaza
* One Kennedy Square
* Detroit Free Press
* Metropolitan
* Wardell

70–195 tallest|

* Kales
* Masonic Temple
* Town Apartments
* Michigan Building
* Park Avenue House
* Penobscot Building (1905)
* 1212 Griswold
* Belcrest
* Griswold Building
* Harvard Square
* Professional Plaza Tower
* Vinton
* Detroit Building
* Fox Theatre
* Lawyers Building
* Levin United States Courthouse
* Marquette

New Center|

* Fisher
* Cadillac Place
* Argonaut Building
* Henry Ford Hospital
* New Center Building

East side

* Lafayette Park
* Jeffersonian
* Detroit Towers
* The Kean
* The Whittier
* Harbortown Apartments

Suburban|

* Southfield Town Center
* American Center
* Top of Troy
* Tower Plaza
* Adoba Hotel
* Parklane Towers
* Chrysler Headquarters

Low rise
under 10 stories
selected|

| Downtown|

* 411
* Bankers Trust
* Cass Building
* Detroit Athletic Club
* Detroit Club
* Detroit Cornice and Slate
* Fillmore
* Harmonie Centre
* Harmonie Club
* L. B. King
* Opera House
* Music Hall
* Merchants
* One Griswold Street
* Wayne County Building
* Wright-Kay
* Savoyard Centre

|

Midtown|

* Orchestra Hall
* Metropolitan Center
* Phoenix Group
* Old Main
* Rackham Building
* McGregor Memorial Conference Center
* Verona
* Wayne State University Buildings
* Clay Office

North|

* University of Detroit Mercy
* Detroit Golf Club

East side|

* Alden Park Towers
* Brewery Park
* Coronado
* El Tovar
* Garden Court
* Milner Arms
* Riverwalk Hotel
* Pasadena

Suburban|

* Country Club of Detroit
* The Dearborn Inn
* GM Technical Center
* Royal Park Hotel
* Inn at St. John's
* Townsend Hotel

Parks and gardens|

* Belle Isle
* Cranbrook
* Campus Martius
* Grand Circus
* Metroparks
* Matthaei Botanical Gardens
* Riverfront parks
* Detroit Zoo

Museums and libraries|

* Cranbrook Educational Community
* Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History
* Detroit Historical Museum
* Detroit Institute of Arts
* Detroit Public Library
* Detroit Science Center
* Edsel and Eleanor Ford House
* Fair Lane
* Ford Piquette Avenue Plant
* The Henry Ford
* Meadowbrook Hall
* Pewabic Pottery
* Southfield Public Library
* University of Michigan Museum of Art

Religious landmarks|

* Religious landmarks

Performance centers|

* Theatres and performing arts venues

Neighborhood
Historic Districts|

| Residential|

* Arden Park-East Boston
* Atkinson Avenue
* Beverly Road
* Boston-Edison
* Brush Park
* Canton Township MPS
* Corktown
* East Ferry
* East Grand Boulevard
* East Jefferson Avenue
* Grosse Pointe
* Highland Heights-Stevens' Sub.
* Indian Village
* Layafette Park
* Northville
* Palmer Park Apartments
* Palmer Park Blvd.
* Palmer Woods
* Park Avenue
* Rosedale Gardens
* Rosedale Park
* Sherwood Forest
* Virginia Park
* Warren-Prentis
* West Canfield
* West Village
* Willis-Selden
* Woodbridge
* Woodward East
* (See also: Historic homes)

|

Mixed-use|

* Adams Street
* Broadway Avenue
* Capitol Park
* Cass Park
* Cass-Davenport
* Congress Street
* Cultural Center
* Eastern Market
* Eastside Cemetery
* Financial District
* Grand Boulevard
* Grand Circus
* Grand River Avenue
* Gratiot Avenue
* Griswold Street
* Greektown
* West Jefferson Avenue
* Jefferson Chalmers
* Larned Street
* Michigan Avenue
* Monroe Avenue
* New Amsterdam
* New Center
* Piquette Avenue
* Randolph Street
* Shelby Street
* State Street
* Sugar Hill
* University–Cultural Center
* Washington Boulevard
* Wayne State University
* West Vernor-Junction
* West Vernor-Lawndale
* West Vernor-Springwells
* Lower Woodward
* Midtown Woodward
* Woodward Avenue

See also: List of tallest buildings in Detroit

* v
* t
* e

National Register of Historic Places in Wayne County, Michigan

Historic districts|

* Annapolis Park Historic District
* Arden Park–East Boston Historic District
* Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church
* Belle Isle Park
* Beverly Road Historic District
* Boston–Edison Historic District
* Broadway Avenue Historic District
* Brush Park Historic District
* Capitol Park Historic District
* Cass–Davenport Historic District
* Cass Park Historic District
* Cherry Hill Historic District
* Church of the Transfiguration Historic District
* Corktown Historic District
* Cultural Center Historic District
* Detroit Financial District
* Eastern Market Historic District
* East Ferry Avenue Historic District
* East Grand Boulevard Historic District
* East River Road Historic District
* Eastside Historic Cemetery District
* Fort Wayne
* Grand Circus Park Historic District
* Greektown Historic District
* Grosse Pointe Academy
* Grosse Pointe South High School
* Helen Newberry Nurses Home
* Highland Heights–Stevens' Subdivision Historic District
* Indian Village Historic District
* Jefferson–Chalmers Historic Business District
* Jefferson Intermediate School
* John and Edna Truesdell Fischer Farmstead
* Jos. Campau Historic District
* Louis G. Redstone Residential Historic District
* Lower Woodward Avenue Historic District
* Medbury's–Grove Lawn Subdivisions Historic District
* Midtown Woodward Historic District
* Michigan Avenue Historic Commercial District
* Monroe Avenue Commercial Buildings
* New Amsterdam Historic District
* New Center Commercial Historic District
* Northville Historic District
* Norwayne Historic District
* Palmer Park Apartment Building Historic District
* Palmer Park Boulevard Apartments District
* Palmer Woods Historic District
* Park Avenue Historic District
* Piquette Avenue Industrial Historic District
* Randolph Street Commercial Buildings Historic District
* Rosedale Gardens Historic District
* Rosedale Park Historic District
* St. Charles Borromeo Roman Catholic Parish Complex
* St. Florian Church
* Springwells Park Historic District
* Sugar Hill Historic District
* Virginia Park Historic District
* Warren–Prentis Historic District
* Washington Boulevard Historic District
* Wayne State University Buildings
* West Canfield Historic District
* West Vernor–Junction Historic District
* West Vernor–Lawndale Historic District
* West Vernor–Springwells Historic District
* West Village Historic District
* Willis–Selden Historic District
* Woodbridge Historic District
* Woodward East Historic District

Historic properties|

* Albert Kahn House
* Alden Park Towers
* Alexander Chapoton House
* Alexander Chene House
* Alger Theater
* Alpha House
* Amity Lodge No. 335 Temple — Spiritual Israel Church and Its Army Temple
* Antietam Street–Grand Trunk Railroad Bridge
* Architects Building
* Arthur M. Parker House
* Bagley Memorial Fountain
* Barlum Tower
* Belcrest Apartments
* Benjamin and Mary Ann Bradford House
* Bernard Ginsburg House
* Birwood Wall
* Carl E. and Alice Candler Schmidt House
* Carlton D. Wall House
* Cary Building
* Cass Avenue Methodist Episcopal Church
* Cass Motor Sales
* Cathedral Church of St. Paul Complex
* Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament
* Central United Methodist Church
* Central Woodward Christian Church
* Chapel of St. Theresa–the Little Flower
* Chatsworth Apartments
* Century Building and Little Theatre
* Charles G. Curtiss Sr. House
* Charles J. and Ingrid V. (Frendberg) Koebel House
* Charles Lang Freer House
* Charles Trombly House
* Charles Trowbridge House
* Checker Cab Taxi Garage and Office Building
* Chestnut Street–Grand Trunk Railroad Bridge
* Christ Church Chapel
* Christ Church, Detroit
* Col. Frank J. Hecker House
* Commandant's Quarters
* Coronado Apartments
* Croul–Palms House
* Crescent Brass and Pin Company Building
* David and Elizabeth Bell Boldman House
* David Whitney House
* Dearborn City Hall Complex
* Dearborn Inn and Colonial Homes
* Defer Elementary School
* Detroit Club
* Detroit–Columbia Central Office Building
* Detroit Cornice and Slate Company Building
* Detroit Edison Company Willis Avenue Station
* Detroit–Leland Hotel
* Detroit Masonic Temple
* Detroit Naval Armory
* Detroit News Complex
* Detroit Savings Bank Southwest Branch
* Detroit Yacht Club
* Dry Dock Engine Works–Detroit Dry Dock Company Complex
* Duane Doty School
* Dunbar Hospital
* East River Road–North Hickory Canal Bridge
* Eddystone Hotel
* Edmund Atkinson School
* Edwin Denby High School
* Edwin S. George Building
* Edson, Moore and Company Building
* Eighth Precinct Police Station
* Elisha Taylor House
* El Tovar Apartments
* Elwood Bar
* Elizabeth Cleveland Intermediate School
* Engine House No. 11
* Engine House No. 18
* Ephraim and Emma Woodworth Truesdell House
* Farwell Building
* Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago Detroit Branch Building
* Ferry Street–Thorofare Canal Bridge
* Fisher and New Center Buildings
* First Baptist Church of Detroit
* First Congregational Church
* First Federal Building
* First Presbyterian Church
* First Unitarian Church of Detroit
* First United Methodist Church
* Ford–Bacon House
* Ford Valve Plant
* Fort Street Presbyterian Church
* Fort Shelby Hotel
* Fort Street–Pleasant Street and Norfolk & Western Railroad Viaduct
* Francis Palms Building & State Theater
* Franklin H. Walker House
* Frederick K. Stearns House
* Frederick Stearns Building
* Frederic M. Sibley Lumber Company Office Building
* Garden Bowl
* Garden Court Apartments
* General Motors Research Laboratory
* George and Mary Pine Smith House
* George P. MacNichol House
* George W. Loomer House
* Gethsemane Evangelical Lutheran Church
* Gibraltar Road–Waterway Canal Bridge
* Globe Tobacco Building
* Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church
* Grand Army of the Republic Building
* Grande Ballroom
* Graybar Electric Company Building
* Great Lakes Manor
* Greenfield Union School
* Greenmead Farms
* Griswold Building
* Grosse Pointe Memorial Church
* Grosse Pointe Central Library
* Grosse Pointe War Memorial
* Grosse Pointe Yacht Club
* Hamtramck Stadium
* Harmonie Centre (formerly the Breitmeyer–Tobin Building)
* Henry Ford Hospital
* Henry Ford Square House
* Henry W. Baker House
* Herman Strasburg House
* Hibbard Apartment Building
* Highland Park General Hospital
* Highland Park Presbyterian Church
* Hook and Ladder House No. 5–Detroit Fire Department Repair Shop
* Hotel Stevenson
* Hudson–Evans House
* Hunter House
* Hurlbut Memorial Gate
* Hull's Trace North Huron River Corduroy Segment
* James A. Garfield School
* Jefferson Avenue–Huron River and Harbin Drive–Silver Creek Canal Bridges
* Jefferson Hall
* Jerome H. Remick and Company Building
* John and Eliza Barr Patterson House
* John and Emma Lacey Eberts House
* John Harvey House
* John N. Bagley House
* John T. Woodhouse House
* Joseph Campau House
* Kingston Arms Apartments
* Lancaster and Waumbek Apartments
* Lawyers Building
* L. B. King and Company Building
* League of Catholic Women Building
* Lee Plaza Hotel
* Lewis Cass Technical High School
* Lilley Road–Lower Rouge River Bridge
* Lincoln Park Post Office
* Maccabees Building
* Majestic Theater
* Manchester Apartments
* Mariners' Church
* Marwood Apartments
* Marx House
* McKinley Elementary School
* Mellus Newspapers Building
* Merchants Building
* Metropolitan United Methodist Church
* Michigan Bell and Western Electric Warehouse
* Michigan Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument
* Michigan State Fair Riding Coliseum, Dairy Cattle Building, and Agricultural Building
* Moross House
* Mulford T. Hunter House
* Nacirema Club
* Nellie Leland School
* New Bethel Baptist Church
* North Woodward Congregational Church
* Orchestra Hall
* Orrin and Roxanne Fairman Kinyon House
* Orson Everitt House
* Ossian H. Sweet House
* Park Avenue House
* Parke-Davis and Company Pharmaceutical Company Plant
* Parke Lane Road–Thorofare Canal Bridge
* Pasadena Apartments
* Paul Harvey Deming House
* Penn Central Station
* Pere Gabriel Richard Elementary School
* Perry McAdow House
* Philetus W. Norris House
* Phillip and Maria Hasselbach Dingledey House
* Pilgrim and Puritan Apartment Complex
* Ponchartrain Apartments
* Pontchartrain Club/Town House Apartments
* Prentis Building and DeRoy Auditorium Complex
* Professional Plaza Tower
* Redford Theatre Building
* Redford Township District No. 5 School
* River Terrace Apartments
* Robert M. and Matilda (Kitch) Grindley House
* Rosa L. (McCauley) and Raymond Parks Flat
* Sacred Heart Major Seminary
* Sacred Heart Church
* St. Albertus Roman Catholic Church
* Saint Andrew's Memorial Episcopal Church
* Ste. Anne Roman Catholic Church Complex
* St. Bonaventure Monastery
* St. Boniface Roman Catholic Church
* St. Catherine of Siena Roman Catholic Church
* St. James Episcopal Church
* St. John's Episcopal Church
* St. John's–St. Luke's Evangelical Church
* St. Josaphat's Roman Catholic Church
* St. Joseph's Episcopal Church (1883)
* St. Joseph's Episcopal Church (1926)
* St. Joseph Roman Catholic Church
* Saint Paul Catholic Church Complex
* Saint Paul Manor Apartments
* Saints Peter and Paul Academy
* Saints Peter and Paul Church
* Saint Rita Apartments
* St. Stanislaus Bishop and Martyr Roman Catholic Church
* St. Theresa of Avila Roman Catholic Church
* St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church
* Samuel L. Smith House
* Santa Fe Apartments
* Scarab Club
* Second Baptist Church of Detroit
* Sheldon Inn
* Shrine of the Black Madonna of the Pan African Orthodox Christian Church
* Sibley House
* Sidney D. Miller Junior High and High School
* Somerset Apartments
* South Pointe Drive–Frenchman's Creek Bridge
* S. S. Kresge World Headquarters
* Starkweather School
* State Savings Bank
* Stuber–Stone Building
* Sweetest Heart Of Mary Roman Catholic Church
* Temple Baptist Church – King Solomon Baptist Church
* Temple Beth-El (Bonstelle Theatre)
* Temple Beth-El (Bethel Community Transformation Center)
* The Clay School
* The Harmonie Club
* The Kean
* The Palms
* The Players
* The Wardell
* Third Precinct Police Station
* Thomas and Isabella Moore Clyde House
* Thomas and Maria Blackman Bartlett House
* Thomas A. Parker House
* Thomas M. Cooley High School
* Thomas S. Sprague House
* Thompson Home
* Tiger Stadium
* Tivadar and Dorothy Balogh House
* Trinity Episcopal Church
* Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church Complex
* Trinity United Methodist Church
* Tushiyah United Hebrew School – Scott Memorial Methodist Episcopal Church
* US 12 Bridges
* U.S. Post Office, Court House, and Custom House
* United States Immigration Station
* United States Postal Service Roosevelt Park Station
* Vanity Ballroom Building
* Verona Apartments
* Vinton Building
* Waltz Road–Huron River Bridge
* Warren Motor Car Company Building
* Wayne County Building
* Weil and Company – Gabriel Richard Building
* West Jefferson Avenue–Rouge River Bridge
* West Side Dom Polski
* WGPR-TV Studio
* Whittier Hotel
* William and Margot Kessler House
* William B. and Mary Chase Stratton House
* William C. Boydell House
* William H. Wells House
* William Hawkins Ferry House
* Wilson Barn
* Wilson Theatre
* WJBK-TV Studios Building
* Women's City Club
* Woodward Avenue Presbyterian Church
* Wyandotte Odd Fellows Temple

National Historic Landmarks|

* Detroit Industry Murals
* Edsel and Eleanor Ford House (Gaukler Pointe)
* Fair Lane
* Fisher Building
* Ford Piquette Avenue Plant
* Ford River Rouge Complex
* Fox Theatre Building
* Highland Park Ford Plant
* General Motors Building
* Guardian Building
* Mies van der Rohe Residential District, Lafayette Park
* McGregor Memorial Conference Center
* Parke-Davis Research Laboratory
* Pewabic Pottery
* The Henry Ford

Former listings|

* Chateau Frontenac Apartments
* Dodge Mansion
* Grand Riviera Theater
* Harper Hospital
* Lincoln Motor Company Plant
* Columbia (steamboat)
* Ste. Claire (steamboat)
* Woodward Avenue Baptist Church

See also: National Register of Historic Places listings in Wayne County, Michigan and List of National Historic Landmarks in Michigan

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Timeline of the tallest buildings in Michigan

* Frank & Seder Building (41 m) (1881)
* Hammond Building (46 m) (1889)
* Detroit Savings Bank Building (49 m) (1895)
* Majestic Building (67 m) (1896)
* Ford Building (83.8 m) (1909)
* Penobscot Building Annex (94.5 m) (1913)
* Chrysler House (98.6 m) (1913)
* Book Cadillac Hotel (106.4 m) (1924)
* Buhl Building (111.6 m) (1925)
* Book Tower (144.8 m) (1926)
* Greater Penobscot Building (172.2 m) (1928)
* Renaissance Center Marriott (221.5 m) (1977)

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