Majestic Building (Detroit) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Majestic Building |
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Majestic Building, c. 1896–1899
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| General information | |
| Status | Demolished |
| Type | Offices |
| Location | 1001 Woodward Avenue Detroit, Michigan |
| Coordinates | 42°19′54″N 83°02′51″W / 42.3317°N 83.0475°W |
| Completed | 1896 |
| Demolished | 1962 |
| Height | |
| Roof | 68 m (223 ft) |
| Technical details | |
| Floor count | 14 |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | Daniel H. Burnham |
The Majestic Building was a very tall building, known as a skyscraper, located in Downtown Detroit, Michigan. It was built in 1896 and was one of the first skyscrapers in the city. This impressive building had 14 floors and stood about 68 meters (223 feet) tall. It was designed by a famous architect named Daniel H. Burnham. For many years, the Majestic Building was the tallest building in Detroit.
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Built to Impress
The Majestic Building was finished in 1896. It was originally planned for a department store called Mabley and Company. However, the owner, C. R. Mabley, passed away before it was completed. Because of this, the building became an office block instead.
The building's design was in the Beaux-Arts style. This style is known for being grand and fancy. The outside of the building was covered with terra cotta, which is a type of baked clay. The total cost to build it was about $1,000,000. This was a lot of money back then!
The Majestic Building was the tallest building in Detroit from 1896 until 1909. That's when the Ford Building was finished and took its place as the tallest.
A "Fireproof" Wonder
One special thing about the Majestic Building was that it was called a "fireproof skyscraper." This claim was put to the test in 1915. A fire broke out on the top floor and burned for two hours. Even with the fire, it never spread to other floors. The building's main structure was also not damaged. This showed that the building was indeed very strong and safe.
Weather Watchers on Top
Starting in 1907, the United States Weather Bureau had offices in the Majestic Building. They also had an observation deck on the roof. This deck was used by meteorologists, who are scientists who study the weather. They could make weather observations from up high.
The observation deck offered amazing views for up to 12 miles in every direction. It was even open to the public! For just a dime, people could go up and enjoy the view.
The Human Fly Stunt
In 1916, something very exciting happened at the Majestic Building. The Detroit News newspaper hired a person known as "The Human Fly," whose real name was Harry H. Gardiner. He was famous for climbing the outside of tall buildings.
This event was a promotional stunt to get people interested. It was planned for lunchtime and drew a huge crowd. So many people came to watch that traffic and streetcars on Woodward Avenue stopped completely!
End of an Era
The Majestic Building stood tall in Detroit for many years. However, it was torn down in 1962. It was demolished to make space for a new building called the First Federal Building. The First Federal Building was completed a few years later, in 1965.
See also
In Spanish: Majestic Building (Detroit) para niños
