About Detroit
The city of Detroit, Michigan has gained worldwide fame with its nicknames Motor City and Motown, both referring to its importance as a centre for car manufacturing. The three big American car brands, Ford, GM and Chrysler, all have their roots in Detroit and still hold a strong influence in the metropolitan region. Located on the southwestern tip of Lake Erie, Detroit historically served as an important port city before the industrialization came along and placed the Detroit region on the map as the berth of mass industrialization.
The industrial boom of Detroit brought a lot of, mostly black, labor to the city. The influences of the increasing black communities made Detroit also a centre for music successes, with the label Motown becoming synonymous for the popularity of Soul Music. Due to Japanese competition in the car industry, Detroit faced a tragic recession and decline during the 70’s and 80’s, resulting in large employment and deterioration of neighborhoods, as well as racial conflicts. Due to the recovery of the American automotive sector and fueled by the coming of other industries to the city. Detroit is currently regaining its status and position as a leading industrial city in the USA.
Not surprisingly for Motor City, getting around in Detroit requires a car as the city widespread infrastructure is dominated by a net of freeways and asphalt corridors, called the Mile Roads (the movie 8th Mile with rap star Eminem refers to one of the major mile road arteries of the city).
Downtown Detroit combines the architectural heritage of the wealth in the 50’s with modern buildings, with GM’s Renaissance Center dominating the skyline. The Civic and Cultural Center houses the Detroit Institute of Arts, while around the Center other museums worthwhile a visit include the Detroit Historical Museum and the Wright Museum of African American History. The Cobo Hall and Arena, one of America’s biggest convention and congress centers, is also located in downtown.
The need for employment in Detroit’s Golden Age brought besides black labor from the South also many foreign immigrants to the city, from which a Greek, Hispanic and Arab community aroused. The neighborhoods of Greektown and Mexicantown nowadays provide a wide variety of great eateries, charming bars and a variety of nightlife entertainment. The Arab community is located in Dearborn, the suburb that has gained fame as the home of the Ford Motor Company. The Henry Ford Museum and Greenfield Village in Dearborn provide an interesting insight in the automobile manufacturing history.
Lake St. Claire and Lake Erie are popular for water sports and lakeshores of Detroit provide a variety of parks for relaxation or leisure activities. Outside Detroit, Oakland Country and the city of Windsor in Canada are an interesting places to visit, providing plenty of shopping and nightlife opportunities.
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