Detroit Women's City Club facts for kids
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Women's City Club
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U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
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| Location | 2110 Park Avenue Detroit, Michigan |
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| Built | 1924 |
| Architect | William B. Stratton; Waldridge & Aldinger |
| Architectural style | Arts and Crafts, Early Modern |
| Part of | Park Avenue Historic District (ID97000396) |
| NRHP reference No. | 79001179 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | November 20, 1979 |
| Designated CP | May 13, 1997 |
The Women's City Club is a special building in Downtown Detroit, Michigan. It's located at 2110 Park Avenue, inside the Park Avenue Historic District. This building was recognized as important in 1979. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places and named a Michigan State Historic Site. It was a place where women could gather, learn, and connect.
How the Club Began
After the American Civil War, more and more women were getting educated. Many middle-class women started to form groups. These groups became very important around the time of World War I. This was also when the 19th Amendment was passed. This amendment gave women the right to vote.
In Detroit, there were many women's groups. They needed a central place to meet. So, in 1919, some local leaders started the "Women's City Club." Their goal was to help women meet each other. The club hired an architect named William B. Stratton. He designed the building, which was finished in 1924.
What the Building Looks Like
The outside of the building is made of brick. It has a simple, modern look. The building has six floors. The bottom three floors look solid and even. The top three floors seem to sit on top of the lower ones. The bricks are different colors in these two sections. The windows also look different. There is a line of bricks separating the two parts.
The lower floors were designed for social events. They were also used for planning club activities. The top three floors had apartments. These apartments were for women who moved to Detroit for work. They wanted a safe and healthy place to live.
The inside of the building was decorated in the Arts and Crafts style. This style uses handmade items. You can see beautiful ironwork and tiles from Pewabic Pottery. Even the swimming pool was decorated with these special Pewabic tiles.
The Club's Activities and Future
The Women's City Club offered many classes and fun programs. Over 8,000 women became members. But after World War II, fewer women joined. In 1974, the club moved to a smaller place. The original building's social areas were used for different things. They even became a restaurant and bar later on.
In 1976, a group called Feminist Economic Network bought the building. It became the Feminist City Club for a while. Later, it was owned by Forbes Management. They also owned other famous Detroit places. Forbes Management improved the building's outside. In 2017, the building was sold to a company connected to Ilitch-owned Olympia Entertainment. Olympia Entertainment announced plans to fix up the building. It will be part of a new area called the "District Detroit."
See also
In Spanish: Women's City Club para niños
