Great Lakes Crossing

The story

Campus Martius began as a military drill ground in 1788 and became Detroit's historic "point of origin" when Judge Augustus Woodward laid out the city plan in 1805. After the Civil War, the Michigan Soldiers and Sailors Monument was erected here in 1872. By the late 20th century, the site had deteriorated into what locals called a "pigeon plaza"—a largely empty, paved-over intersection used mainly for vehicular traffic. In 1999, Mayor Dennis Archer and the Detroit 300 Conservancy launched a revitalization task force with a vision to create "the best public space in the world." The redesigned park, completed in November 2004 by Rundell Ernstberger Associates, transformed the space into a vibrant gathering place. It now hosts year-round programming, seasonal ice skating, restaurants, and hosts over 4.5 million visitors annually.

Everything that was here

• 1998–present · still open

  Great Lakes CrossingOther

  The Soldiers and Sailors Monument once sat alone in a paved parking lot surrounded by traffic; now it anchors a 2.5-acre public square that draws millions of visitors yearly.

  See the map in 1999 →

Did you know?

Nearby history