Personalized Gift Baskets in Detroit, MI

Detroit, MI, is one of the places with a very deep history and a great influence on the culture and industry of the United States. Detroit earned the nickname Motor City due to the car manufacturing activities in the city that also saw a major transformation in the manufacturing world with the introduction of the assembly line by Henry Ford. The very city is also the center of the music genre, Motown, which has brought forth several famous artists including Stevie Wonder, Diana Ross and Marvin Gaye. If people have been impressed by Detroit in the past, it is easy to imagine what could be said now – the city is coming back literally from the ashes having faced economically tough times for several decades, still vibrant art scenes, touristable institutions like the Detroit Institute of Arts, and emerging technologic activities further helps in its revitalisation. Detroit, with its post-industrial landscape, rich musical heritage, and ongoing renaissance, serves as a reminder to all Americans of the nation’s unique creativity and capacity for transformation.

A Glimpse into Detroit’s History

• Established in 1701: The City of Detroit began life as Fort Pontchartrain du détroit, established by Benoit de la Croix, Michilimackinack Governor and first of many settlers Antoine de la Mothe Cadillac in 1701 making it among the oldest cities in Midwestern America. Initially it served as a military post and a fur trading post.
• Boom of Automotive Industry: Detroit became the core of the United States electric car industry in the early 20th Century hence the term Motor City. Figures such as Henry Ford innovated methods of manufacture such as the moving assembly line, which made Detroit the center of automotive industries.
• Great Migration: From the 1910s to the 70s, during the Great Migration, Detroit became a destination for many blacks who moved from the South to the North in pursuit of factory work. This changed the dynamics of the city and its cultural orientation to be dominated by African Americans and brought about African American music styles such as jazz and Motown.
• Civil Rights Movement: Detroit was an important city in the Civil Rights Movement . It hosted such notable events like the “Great March to Freedom” in 1963 with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr at the helm or the quite brutal Detroit Riot in 1967 one of the fiercest urban riots in the history of the US.
• Sobering Economic Trends: For years and years and years the economy of Detroit has suffered problems, and its people left the city too, most recently due to the death of the automotive industry, then due to sprawl. Like every person who has suffered through demographic and economic depression, Detroit filed for Chapter 9 bankruptcy in 2013. Since then, the city has been slowly coming back to life, with a lot happening in the downtown, especially with arts and culture.

Things to do and Entertainment in Detroit

• Detroit Institute of Arts (DIA): The DIA is considered one of the premier art galleries and houses a rich collection of masterpieces, including the renowned Detroit Industry Murals by Diego Rivera, which depict the city’s industrial legacy.
• Motown Museum: Commonly referred to as “Hitsville U.S.A.,” this iconic museum is where some of the greatest artists who shaped the music industry, including Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, and The Supremes, recorded their hits.
• Detroit Riverwalk: An enjoyable promenade along the Detroit River with beautiful sights of the city and Windsor Canada. This is great for riding, running or just venturing out to the post and engaging in activities on the waterfront.
• Eastern Market: A historic public market which is pencil and alive with people, Eastern Market displays such business as local Produce, Flowers, Art, and gourmet Foods. It is also a cultural center for street arts and festivals.
• Fox Theatre: A gorgeous historic theater located in downtown which has been rehabilitated and today boasts numerous broadway events and concerts in a lavish surrounding reminiscent of the 1920s.
• Detroit Historical Museum: Located in Midtown, the area comprising the museum encompasses the entire history of Detroit from its inception to the auto industry and is rich in displays and activities centered around the music, industry, and cultural history of the city.