Don’t Doubt Detroit

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“Life isn’t about how fast you run or how high you climb, it’s about how well you bounce.” – Tigger

We parked at Belle Isle and headed out on our bikes. First stop on our ride was the Oudolf Garden Detroit. A few years ago the Detroit Garden Club contacted Piet Oudolf – a renown Dutch garden designer – and asked for his help in laying out a perennial garden on the island. It’s amazingly beautiful no matter the season.
We biked around the island and over the bridge to the Detroit River Walk, thrilled by the fact that after a multi year wait, the path is completely done and accessible for all to enjoy!

We passed a “sunken ship”.
And wetlands with the RenCen (Renaissance Center) coming into view.
Detroit has a rich Underground Railroad history.
Thrilled to stop & listen to this Motown band along our route.
Nice mural with our “People Mover” passing by on the right.
Grabbed lunch in the garden of our favorite deli.
Biking up to the Michigan Central Station was definitely a thrill!
Built in 1913 – for 76 years this was our Ellis Island – it operated a hub of Detroit life, the place where new immigrants arrived in the city and where soldiers left for World War II. But America’s transportation network changed, and the 18 story station closed in 1988. Scavengers and vandals turned the site into a symbol of urban ruin.
Imagine buying a house with a flooded basement and discovering a secret second basement (also flooded). Then you realize standing water has so corroded the steel beams that support the building that they resemble Swiss cheese. This is what Bill Ford and his team encountered after Ford Motor Co purchased “the station” in 2018. But look at it now!!!
Despite setbacks that included a global pandemic and running years behind schedule, Ford refused to give up. So, look at it now!
A few days ago the doors
opened for all to tour!
We walked along this “ribbon” laid out along the great hall – rich with pictures and information and marveled at this great feat!
Beautiful
Way too much to say about our experience here but I do want to share this one story.
This is where that clock will be returned.
Obligatory LEGO reproduction –
a marvel in itself!
Heading back along the Detroit River with nice views of Windsor Ontario.
Renovations of the Belle Isle Conservatory are well under way on Belle Isle too!

An iconic view on the island is the Scott’s Fountain.

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Published by murphys836

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17 thoughts on “Don’t Doubt Detroit”

  2. Sounds like you had an excellent biking day. We tried to do this trip the last time we visited Michigan. If you can remember, we had a rainy day and weren’t able to bike. Now I see what we missed!

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  5. Fantastic blog!  I sent a comment but I don’t think it went through!

    Sent from my iPad

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  9. Wonderful pics! We spent some time on the waterfront when we visited Detroit in April, and we walked there from Eastern Market, down the Dequindre Cut to the lake. We noticed all the positive changes – very good to see!

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