Lee Plaza Hotel

The story

Thieves stole more than 50 terracotta lion heads from this abandoned Art Deco masterpiece—some were found on a Chicago building.

Everything that was here

• 1929–1997

  Lee Plaza HotelHotel

  Thieves stole more than 50 terracotta lion heads from this abandoned Art Deco masterpiece—some were found on a Chicago building.

  See the map in 1930 →
• 1959–1972

  Hitsville U.S.A. (Motown Museum)Recording Studio

  Berry Gordy bought this house for $800 down and created the most successful Black-owned business in American history.

  See the map in 1960 →
• 1959–1972

  Hitsville U.S.A. (Motown Records Headquarters)Recording Studio

  The humble two-story house where Berry Gordy launched the Motown empire with an $800 family loan.

  See the map in 1960 →

Connected places

Explore the full web of connections on the map.

Nearby history