David Whitney House Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Significant dates

David Whitney House
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
U.S. Historic district Contributing property

The David Whitney House in 2008
Location	4421 Woodward Avenue Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
Built	1894
Architect	Gordon W. Lloyd
Architectural style	Romanesque Revival
NRHP reference No.	72000671
Added to NRHP	August 21, 1972

The David Whitney House is a huge, old house located at 4421 Woodward Avenue in Midtown Detroit, Michigan. It was built in the 1890s as a private home. Later, in 1986, it was fixed up and became a restaurant. This amazing building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1972, which means it's a very important historical site.

History of the Whitney House
Who Was David Whitney Jr.?
Haunted Stories
The Whitney House in the Media
Images for kids
See also

History of the Whitney House

The Whitney House, around 1905

The David Whitney House was built between 1890 and 1894. It was the home of David Whitney Jr., a very rich man who made his money in the lumber business. He was one of the wealthiest people in Detroit and even in Michigan!

Building this house cost about US$400,000 back then. That would be like spending millions of dollars today! Because it was so grand, many newspapers wrote about it at the time.

The outside of the house is made from pink jasper stone, which came all the way from South Dakota. The house is huge, covering 21,000 square feet (about 2,000 square meters). It has 52 rooms, including 10 bathrooms. There are also 218 windows, 20 fireplaces, and even a secret vault in the dining room!

One of the most special things about the house is its many Tiffany glass windows. These beautiful stained-glass windows are thought to be worth more than the house itself! The designs on the windows often match the room they are in. For example, the music room windows have musical themes and pictures of Saint Cecilia, who is the patron saint of music. The main staircase has a giant stained-glass window showing a knight. This was a way to honor the Whitney family members who were knights in England. The Whitney House was also the first home in Detroit to have its own working elevator!

Who Was David Whitney Jr.?

David Whitney Jr., around 1891

David Whitney Jr. was born in 1830 in Watertown, Massachusetts. He became very rich from his lumber business. In 1857, when he was just 27 years old, he moved to Detroit. He started a business with his brother, Charles, and grew his lumber empire into Ohio, Indiana, and Pennsylvania.

When he came to Detroit, he quickly became friends with the city's richest families. People even nicknamed him "Mr. Woodward Avenue" because he loved buying land and buildings around Detroit.

David Whitney Jr. was very interested in the Detroit Athletic Club (DAC). This club, started in 1887, was known as one of the best private clubs in the country. Both David Whitney Jr. and his son, David C. Whitney, were important members. This is why Whitney chose to build his mansion overlooking the DAC's grounds.

After David Whitney Jr. passed away in 1900, his family lived in the mansion until 1920. In 1986, the house was turned into a fancy restaurant. Today, many members of the Whitney family still live in the Grosse Pointe area.

Haunted Stories

Since the house was renovated in the mid-1980s, people have told stories about strange things happening there. Many believe these events are linked to David Whitney Jr. and his wife, who both died inside the mansion. Some people still think that David Whitney Jr.'s ghost haunts the Whitney House!

One of the most talked-about haunted spots is the elevator. People have reported the elevator moving up and down by itself, even when no one is inside! Other unexplained sightings have been reported on the second and third floors. Once, a staff member saw an old man looking out a second-floor window. When asked to leave, the figure simply disappeared! Staff members have also reported hearing sounds of dishes and silverware moving on their own. These stories only add to the mystery of the Whitney mansion.

The Whitney House in the Media

The David Whitney House has been featured on TV shows that explore paranormal activity.

In 2016, the house was on the SYFY channel's show Ghost Hunters. The team on the show investigated the strange things reported inside and outside the building.

The house, also called the Whitney Mansion, was shown on Most Terrifying Places in America in 2018. It was part of an episode called "Restless Dead" on the Travel Channel.