DETROIT HISTORY

Aug. 11 marks the unofficial/official 50th anniversary of hip hop.

Sixto Rodriguez, the Detroit folk rocker who was rediscovered in an award-winning documentary in 2012, has died at 81, according to his official website.

July 24 is Detroit’s birthday, and to help you celebrate, we’ve developed a quiz on the city’s history.

Hear more about the "The Prince of Detroit" from the director Damon Dash

Tuesday marks the 80th anniversary of the 1943 Detroit race riots.

March 13 is a day to celebrate Detroit -- also known as, 313 Day. (3/13, you get it)

They’re whipping up history and staying true to a legacy

The Walk to Freedom ended at the TCF Center -- then named Cobo Arena -- where Dr. King delivered a powerful speech. It was a precursor to his iconic “I Have A Dream” speech two months later in Washington.

On Oct. 24, 1926, the legendary magician Harry Houdini performed what would be his final show before his untimely death at a Detroit hospital.

As the tallest building in Downtown Detroit, the Renaissance Center has dominated the city’s skyline for more than four decades ... but what did the city look like before the enormous building was erected?

You may remember seeing two iconic Vernors bottle plants in Detroit between 1930 and 1985. What happened to those things?

A wall built in Detroit in 1941 to racially segregate Black and white neighborhoods has received historic designation from the state of Michigan.

A plan to turn a Detroit highway that was built through a historic Black neighborhood in the 1960s into a boulevard is one step closer to reality.

The theatrical run has expanded to more than twenty cities in Michigan, Illinois, Indiana and Wisconsin, with additional screenings across the U.S. and Canada later in the fall.

The always outspoken and entertaining Stephen A. Smith will be in Detroit this week for a special gala, and he’s bringing ESPN’s “First Take” along with him.

Thursday marks 21 years since the death of Aaliyah, but her legacy is not forgotten.

For the first time in 40 years, two historic apartment buildings in Detroit’s Jefferson Chalmers neighborhood have reopened -- and they’re newly renovated.

For decades, Edgewater Park was one of the most popular attractions in Detroit.

Boblo Island. It’s one of the most iconic Detroit area things you can bring up to anyone who grew up here.

Say the name "Boblo" to anyone who grew up around Michigan, and their eyes will light up.

I love a hotdog. I love a hotdog almost anyway they come. Chicago dog? With extra peppers please. Seattle dog? Slather on that cream cheese. Dodger dog? Classics never go out of style.

It's one of the most brutal murders in Detroit's history, and after more than 90 years it still remains unsolved.

On this day, nearly 160 years ago, a circus hippopotamus escaped his cage and jumped into the Detroit River.

Was there really a tunnel under Jefferson Avenue in Detroit to the Belle Isle bridge?

The video and pictures from June 11, 1982 in Downtown Detroit are as unnerving as they are impressive. A fiery and bloody assault on the Buhl Building’s 8th floor that morning far outstrips anything the most creative Hollywood script writer could ever conjure.

Did you know that there are salt mines beneath the streets of Detroit? We took a look at the history of them in this deep dive.

According to the Detroit Salt Company, 400 million years ago, ocean water flooded into a large basin, an area known as the Michigan Basin.

The video and pictures from June 11, 1982 in Downtown Detroit are as unnerving as they are impressive. A fiery and bloody assault on the Buhl Building’s 8th floor that morning far outstrips anything the most creative Hollywood script writer could ever conjure.

Nestled into what are now parks, picnic spots and soccer fields are the scattered remnants of an era gone by. The left behind ruins of when Detroit was on the literal front lines of the Cold War.

Nestled into what are now parks, picnic spots and soccer fields are the scattered remnants of an era gone by. The left behind ruins of when Detroit was on the literal front lines of the Cold War.

A piece of Detroit history that was nearly torn down has been made new again, and is ready to be seen by visitors at Greenfield Village in Dearborn.

Most Michiganders hope that April showers will end the season's snow until next winter - but in Michigan, it's never a sure thing.

The Motor City is known for its road layout, but how did that layout come to be and who are those roads named for? Local 4’s Rod Meloni reports.

March 13 is a day to celebrate Detroit -- also known as, 313 Day. (3/13, you get it)

In this segment of our History 4 All special, we’re taking a look back at “The Scene”: A TV show that showcased Detroit’s spirit and culture in the 1970s.

In this segment of our History 4 All special, Local 4′s Kimberly Gill and Devin Scillian visit with Daniel Baxter, founder of the Dr. Ossian Sweet Foundation, at the Ossian H. Sweet House in Detroit to learn more about the history of the famed Black physician.

The author of a new book on the life of iconic Detroit hip hop producer J Dilla will participate in a virtual event this week hosted at Detroit’s Source Booksellers.

Wanda Young, a member of Motown’s chart-topping The Marvelettes, has died in suburban Detroit.

A Chicago-based property management company has purchased Detroit’s Westin Book Cadillac Hotel and plans to fully renovate its interior.

Now, the original treasure will shine bright for all to see as it will be part of the University of Michigan’s William L. Clements Library collection.

It’s been 23 years since the iconic Hudson’s building in Detroit was demolished.

On Oct. 24, 1926, the legendary magician Harry Houdini performed what would be his final show before his untimely death at a Detroit hospital.

After receiving a personal gift from Ford CEO Jim Farley, England was given a VIP tour of Detroit’s iconic Michigan Central Station. It’s a tour of a lifetime and what a lifetime England has had.

The Detroit Historical Society is debuting a new, interactive exhibit honoring the history of Detroit’s Black Bottom neighborhood.

Do you remember the giant stove that sat on Woodward Avenue -- and other areas of Detroit?

It’s been 20 years since Detroit and the world lost Aaliyah, but her legacy is not forgotten.

It’s been 20 years since Detroit and the world lost Aaliyah, but her legacy is not forgotten.

The predominantly Black neighborhood of Black Bottom in Detroit was demolished in the late 1950s to 1960s, later replaced with the Lafayette Park residential district and a major freeway.

Given all of the attention around statues, let’s take a look at statues around Detroit -- and the stories behind the people and faces we etch into history.

The French Canadian, Metis and Native American cultural event celebrates the founding heritages of Detroit.

A vacant lot near the Coleman A. Young Community Center on Detroit’s east side was once a training ground for Black men during the Civil War.

DETROIT – For the Detroit Tigers’ Opening Day game against the Cleveland Indians, there’s no doubt the field at Comerica Park will be looking pristine. READ: Ranking 22 Detroit Tigers questions we can’t wait to learn the answers to this seasonIt’s all thanks to Tigers head groundskeeper Heather Nabozny. Her path to the Detroit Tigers started as a teenager. After two years at Northern Michigan University, she transferred to Michigan State University, for its Turf Management Program. READ: More Women’s History Month coverageAdMORE: Detroit Tigers news

DETROIT – For 10 years, Detroit’s Orchestra Hall presented jazz artists under the name Paradise Theater, opening on Christmas Eve 1941. The Paradise hosted renowned jazz musicians, including Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday, Count Basie, and Duke Ellington. The Paradise Theater years ended in 1951 at Orchestra Hall, now home to the Detroit Symphony Orchestra. Here is its story -- watch the video above. More: Black History Month

DETROIT – Black doctors needed to establish their own hospitals in 20th-century Detroit due to segregation. Dunbar Hospital was the first of its kind in the city. The house that was once this hospital still stands at 580 Frederick Street. Here’s its story -- watch the video above. To learn more go here: BlackScrollNetworkMore: Black History Month sectionRelated: Work underway to restore Underground Railroad safe house in Walled Lake

DETROIT – Conrad Mallett Jr. said it wasn’t enough for him to be the first Black chief justice. What mattered most was how he performed in the job once he had it. Watch the interview above. More: Black History Month stories

Garlin Gilchrist II said he wants to make his family and the state proud of the work he does every day. As a public servant and role model, Gilchrist said he doesn’t take any of his responsibilities lightly. His parents believed in a strong work ethic and made sure he had the same foundation growing up. “I think all of us exists to change the world for the better,” Gilchrist said. Gilchrist now heads the state’s Coronavirus Task Force, addressing the racial disparities and why the crisis hit people of color in Detroit the hardest.

DETROIT – Baker’s Keyboard Lounge is reopening with restrictions in place. Learn all about the history of the place and what it has to offer now -- watch the video above. Baker’s is situated right along Livernois at 8 Mile Road. More: Black History Month stories you need to learn about

A new exhibit is shedding light on what happened to hundreds of Detroiters who once lived in the neighborhood known as Black Bottom. “We have not been taught the full breadth of our history,” said PG Watkins, the director of the Black Bottom Archive. “It was a high-density black neighborhood not considered worthwhile for the city to invest in," Watkins said. “When we talk about Black History Month, we think about all of the contributions of black folks. More: Black History Month

DETROIT – Carmen Harlan was one of the first people in Detroit to publicly say that Kwame Kilpatrick had to go. The former Detroit mayor will be released from prison after serving seven years of a 28-year sentence for his role in a major corruption scandal after President Donald Trump commuted his sentence late Tuesday night. UPDATE: US releases former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick from prisonHarlan retired from WDIV in 2016 after nearly 40 years in broadcast news. RELATED: Detroit reporters who covered corruption scandal offer insight after Kwame Kilpatrick’s commutation“As we age, I would hope we can see things in a bigger perspective and that is that people change,” Harlan said. He’s certainly had a lot of time to think about it.”RELATED: Carmen Harlan’s final newscast: ‘It’s been a wonderful, wonderful ride’More: Kwame Kilpatrick section

DETROIT – People across Metro Detroit have different opinions on former Detroit mayor Kwame Kilpatrick’s prison sentence. UPDATE: US releases former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick from prisonWhen Kilpatrick rose to the office of mayor, it was absolutely electric. His opinion of Detroit was contagious, it could be felt in the neighborhoods and a coming commerce. In the days of COVID, it’s difficult to go out and take the pulse of the people on the commutation of Kilpatrick’s 28 year sentence to 7 years. RELATED: ‘The Kwame Kilpatrick rollercoaster ride’ -- The rise and fall of former Detroit mayorThere was talk that Kwame could have been Governor or even President.

DETROIT – Former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick will be released from prison after serving seven years of a 28-year sentence for his role in a major corruption scandal after President Donald Trump commuted his sentence late Tuesday night. UPDATE: US releases former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick from prisonKilpatrick was hoping for a pardon -- a complete dismissal of the conviction as if it had never happened. The official executive grant of clemency for the former Detroit mayor was signed by Trump on Jan. 13. “President Trump commuted the sentence of the former Mayor of Detroit, Kwame Malik Kilpatrick. More: Kwame Kilpatrick section

DETROIT – Before Kwame Kilpatrick was convicted of 24 federal felonies, he served as Detroit’s mayor from 2002-08. RELATED: Detroit reporter recalls ‘magnetic’ Kwame Kilpatrick’s rise and fallThe ambitious Cass Tech graduate had a knack for connecting with people. In 1998, Kwame Kilpatrick was elected minority floor leader for the Michigan Democratic Party. At 31, Kilpatrick became the youngest mayor of Detroit when elected. Miller provided information that strengthened the federal case against Kilpatrick.

Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick speaks at the Welcome to Detroit press conference at the Super Bowl XL Media Center at the Renaissance Center in Detroit, Michigan on January 30, 2006. And that’s the contextual backdrop for Kwame Kilpatrick in my long experience with this city. That, too, is the contextual backdrop for Kwame Kilpatrick. But when Kwame Kilpatrick was elected mayor, it was absolutely electric. Kwame Kilpatrick remains an enigma.

DETROIT – Monday is the 35th official Martin Luther King Jr. Day. For many, MLK Day is just another day off -- a day to relax, a day to do things, do some community service. For one couple, the day means so much more to them because they were there the day King came to Detroit and debuted his original “I Have a Dream” speech on June 23, 1963. Somewhere in that crowd was a 22-year-old warrior for Civil Rights named Dorothy Dewberry-Aldridge. She and her husband, Dan Aldridge, have spent more than 60 years fighting for Civil Rights, equality and social justice.

The Renaissance Center has dominated Detroit's skyline since its completion in 1977.

Maybe you drive the Davison Freeway every day. The Davison Freeway, which runs east-west between M-10 and Interstate 75, was the first urban freeway constructed in America. In 1914, the area was incorporated into a 2.9 square mile city called Highland Park, which exists within the boundaries of the City of Detroit. Because of heavy traffic, the Highland Park Council approved a proposal to replace the road with a six-lane freeway and construction began in 1941. Avenue turns to Davison Freeway -- history is madeIn 1942, the freeway was opened without a dedication ceremony and thus the first urban, below grade freeway in the United States was born.

DETROIT – During the Prohibition era, Detroit’s underground booze business exploded. Given Detroit's close proximity to an international port, Canada, it's no surprise how profitable illegal alcohol was for organized crime groups, like the Purple Gang, and speakeasy owners. Related: When the 'Purple Gang' ruled DetroitBy 1929, making and distributing illegal alcohol, or rum-running, was Detroit's No. One of the biggest methods was for large vessels docked in Windsor to have documentation for South America, but would then just drop illegal booze shipments in Detroit. Eventually, lawmakers argued the only way to end the violence and crime was to end Prohibition, which finally happened on Dec. 5, 1933.

Local 4 meteorologist Paul Gross was born in Detroit and has spent his entire life and career right here in southeast Michigan. Paul has researched, written and produced eight half-hour documentaries for WDIV, as well as many science, historical and environmental stories.

It's been 22 years since the iconic Hudson's building in Detroit was demolished.

DETROIT – A new interactive bike tour launched by the Michigan State Historic Preservation Office highlights some of the most historically significant sites during the civil rights movement in Detroit. The bike tour is part of a larger project to identify and document historically significant sites in Detroit relating to the 20th Century African American Civil Rights movement. The project is funded through an African American Civil Rights program grant by the National Park Service (NPS). “The places associated with the struggle for African American civil rights in the city of Detroit represent a particularly fragile class of resource. The bike tour will also be accessible from the SHPO’s website for the civil rights project.

Housing discrimination in Detroit: An example of systemic racismPublished: June 23, 2020, 10:26 pmOne concept has been often mentioned amid our country’s current crisis, but it is not as often understood: systemic racism.

DETROIT One concept has been often mentioned amid our countrys current crisis, but it is not as often understood: systemic racism. Systemic racism shows up across systems in our community such as education, the criminal justice system, employment and housing. When it comes to housing discrimination, there is no need to look further than what happened right here in Detroit. The Black man was forced to find a house in a Black neighborhood or in a newly-developed housing project, such as Brewster Douglass. By the 1960s, at the height of the Civil Rights Movement, Black people were fed up with housing discrimination in addition to systemic police abuse, job discrimination and other forms of bias.

Hot Sam’s in Detroit is celebrating 99 years in business. Owned by two legendary Detroiters, Tony Stovall and Cliff G. Green, Hot Sams is an iconic Detroit Men’s Fashion Brand built on an essential lifestyle promise. The story goes that in 1974, a couple of determined and hard working young men worked their way up the retail ladder at Hot Sam’s, and in 1994, became owners of the very store they worked at for years! Watch Larry Spruill’s feature story in the video player above.

DETROIT – The city of Detroit is putting out a call for partners to help redevelop the Historic Fort Wayne. When construction on the Gordie Howe International Bridge is complete, traffic will be increased near Fort Wayne, and the city sees a lot of potential for the site that has fallen into despair. Meagan Elliott, with Detroit Parks and Recreation, said the city is collecting ideas from planners to help make the area a public/private partnership. “We’re going to be asking for specific plans and financial documents, anything to prove we can have a lot of serious, quality proposals for what to do with the site," she said. Learn more in the video above.

DETROIT – The first train rolled out of Michigan Central Station on Dec. 26, 1913. Michigan Central was originally scheduled to open in 1914, but a fire at the old depot at Third and Jefferson avenues forced the station to open early. A newspaper quote from when Michigan Central Station first opened in 1913 is projected on the front of the building on June 15, 2018. The train station was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1975. New hopeFord Motor Co. announced it had purchased the train station in the summer of 2018.

DETROIT – Catch a Detroit Red Wings game and help restore the historic Belle Isle sawmill in January. The January 17, 2020 game versus the Pittsburgh Penguins will raise funds in support of the Arboriculture Society of Michigan Foundation. Tickets, which are available until Dec. 17, include a T-shirt and the chance to win a signed Red Wings jersey and puck. Purchase tickets here. Take a look inside the sawmill in the video below.

DETROIT – Ben and Perry Feigenson introduced the first version of what would become a Detroit staple on Nov. 4, 1907, when the bakers created a beverage based off their frosting flavors. The brothers also started referring to the drinks as pop because of the sound the bottles made when opened. The beverage was sold under the name Feigenson Brothers Bottling Works until 1920, when the company was changed to the Feigenson Brothers Company. The next year, the brothers decided the name was too long to put on glass bottles, and shortened it to Faygo. There are now more than 50 Faygo flavors available.

Boblo (or Bob-Lo) sparks memories for many adults who spent summers riding the ferry to Boblo Island, visiting its amusement park or just enjoying a picnic. They transformed the island into an amusement park, including a coaster, Ferris wheel, fun house and more. (From 2018: Old Boblo Island boat catches fire at Detroit marina)BOBLO BOAT TOUR: Take a video tour of the historic boat that traveled the Detroit River for 81 years. http://bit.ly/2cIo6Ny (Video by Alex Atwell) Posted by WDIV Local 4 / ClickOnDetroit on Wednesday, September 28, 2016Vintage Boblo Boat (Video)VINTAGE BOBLO: Throwback video of the old Boblo boat and Boblo Island. Here are some we found on various blogs and forums:I was one of the last generations of people who were able to enjoy Bob-Lo island amusement park.

DETROIT – On Jan. 6, 1994, one of the best ice skaters in the world was attacked and injured at a Detroit ice rink. Nancy Kerrigan had just finished a practice session at Cobo Hall before the Olympic trials in Detroit. Figure Skating Team was Tonya Harding. Eckardt set up a meeting with Derrick Smith and Shane Stant, who agreed to injure Kerrigan for a fee. After hitting Kerrigan, Stant fled the ice rink in Smith’s getaway car.