List of buildings on Woodward Avenue Facts for Kids

The list below shows some of the amazing buildings you can find along Woodward Avenue in Detroit, Michigan! This famous street starts at the Detroit River and goes all the way north to Eight Mile Road. It's like a timeline of Detroit's history, with buildings from different eras.

Woodward Avenue: A Historic Street
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Woodward Avenue: A Historic Street

Woodward Avenue is one of Detroit's most important streets. It's home to many famous buildings, from towering skyscrapers to beautiful old churches and museums. Let's take a trip down Woodward and explore some of its cool landmarks!

Downtown Detroit's Amazing Buildings

As you start your journey from the Detroit River, you'll find yourself in the heart of downtown. This area is packed with modern and historic buildings.

One Woodward Avenue (1 Woodward Avenue): This tall office building was built in 1962. It was designed by Yamasaki Associates, the same architects who designed the original World Trade Center in New York City. It has 29 floors!
Coleman A. Young Municipal Center (2 Woodward Avenue): This building is Detroit's city hall and courthouse, built in 1954. It has 21 floors and is known for the famous "Spirit of Detroit" sculpture at its entrance.
Guardian Building (500 Griswold Street): Built in 1929, this office building is a stunning example of Art Deco style. It's so beautiful that people call it the "Cathedral of Finance." It has 40 floors!
One Detroit Center (500 Woodward Avenue): This office building, finished in 1993, looks like a modern castle with its Gothic Revival style. It has 45 floors and is one of Detroit's tallest buildings.
The Qube (611 Griswold Street): Built in 1959, this office building was once called the "Cheese Grater Building" because of its unique look! It stands where Detroit's very first skyscraper, the Hammond Building, used to be.
First National Building (660 Woodward Avenue): This impressive office building from 1922 has 28 floors and is built in a Neoclassical style, which means it looks like ancient Greek or Roman buildings.

Parks and Entertainment Spots

Downtown Woodward Avenue also features some great public spaces and entertainment venues.

Campus Martius Park: This is a lively park in the center of downtown. It's a great place to relax, and it even has an ice rink in winter!
Compuware World Headquarters (One Campus Martius): This large office building, built in 2003, is home to a major technology company. It has 20 floors.
J. L. Hudson Department Store and Addition (Former site, 1206 Woodward Avenue): This was once a huge department store, built between 1923 and 1946. It had 33 floors and was a very important shopping spot for many years.
David Whitney Building (1553 Woodward Avenue): Built in 1915, this beautiful building now has apartments and a hotel. It has 19 floors and was recently renovated.
David Broderick Tower (10 Witherell Street): This 35-floor building from 1928 was converted into apartments in 2012.
Grand Circus Park: Another important park, it has monuments and fountains, including one honoring the famous inventor Thomas Edison.
The Fillmore Detroit (2115 Woodward Avenue): This historic theater, built in 1925, is now a popular spot for concerts and shows. It's part of the Palms Building, which has 12 floors.
Fox Theatre (2211 Woodward Avenue): Opened in 1928, this is the largest "Fox Theatre" in the United States! It's a stunning example of Art Deco design and hosts many performances.
St. John's Episcopal Church (2326 Woodward): This beautiful church was built in 1861 in the Gothic Revival style.
Little Caesars Arena (2645 Woodward): This modern arena, built in 2017, is home to Detroit's professional hockey and basketball teams. It's a major sports and entertainment venue.

Midtown: Culture and Learning

Moving north along Woodward, you enter Midtown, an area known for its cultural institutions and universities.

Bonstelle Theatre (3424 Woodward): Built in 1903, this theater was originally a temple before becoming a performance space. It's now part of Wayne State University.
Orchestra Hall (Max M. Fisher Music Center) (3711 Woodward Avenue): This concert hall, built in 1919, is the home of the famous Detroit Symphony Orchestra. It's known for its excellent acoustics.
Detroit Medical Center (3390 John R): This is a large complex of hospitals and clinics, built between 1921 and 1997. It's a major healthcare center in Detroit.
Majestic Theatre (4126 Woodward): This historic theater from 1915 now hosts shows, bowling, and a restaurant.
David Whitney House (4221 Woodward Avenue): Built in 1894 as a grand residence, this beautiful Romanesque Revival building is now a restaurant.
Cathedral Church of St. Paul (4800 Woodward): This large Episcopal church and school was built starting in 1905 in the Gothic Revival style.
Detroit Institute of Arts (5200 Woodward Avenue): Opened in 1927, this is one of the largest art museums in the United States! It has an amazing collection of art from all over the world.
Detroit Public Library (5201 Woodward Avenue): This grand library, built in 1921, is a beautiful example of Renaissance Revival style. It's a wonderful place to read and learn.
Detroit Historical Museum (5401 Woodward Avenue): This museum, built in 1951, tells the story of Detroit's past. It has two floors of exhibits.
Col. Frank J. Hecker House (5510 Woodward Avenue): This unique house, built in 1888, looks like a French castle! It was a family home, then a music store, and now houses offices.
Charles Lang Freer House (71 East Ferry Avenue): Built in 1887, this house was once home to a famous art collector and even housed a special room called the "Peacock Room."

Northward: Parks and History

As you continue further north on Woodward, you'll find more churches, parks, and historic sites.

Our Lady of the Rosary Church (5930 Woodward Avenue): This Roman Catholic church was built in 1896 and has a beautiful Romanesque Revival style.
Detroit Amtrak station (11 West Baltimore Avenue): This is where you can catch a train to other cities.
Grand Boulevard: This area is famous for being the site of Michigan's very first traffic light!
Metropolitan United Methodist Church (8000 Woodward Avenue): This church, built in 1926, has a tall bell tower and houses the second-largest pipe organ in Michigan.
Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament (9944 Woodward Avenue): This large Gothic Revival church, built between 1913 and 1951, is a very important church in Detroit.
Highland Park Ford Plant (91 Manchester Avenue): This historic automobile plant, built by Henry Ford between 1908 and 1910, is where the moving assembly line was first used to build cars! It's a very important place in automotive history.
Palmer Park (19013 Woodward): This large park, established in 1893, offers a golf course, picnic areas, and playgrounds. It's a great green space in the city.
Evergreen Cemetery (19807 Woodward) and Woodlawn Cemetery (19975 Woodward): These are historic cemeteries with beautiful grounds and mausoleums.
Michigan State Fairgrounds Coliseum (1120 West State Fair Avenue): Built in 1922, this coliseum was part of the Michigan State Fairgrounds.