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Detroit History
The History of Detroit


DET006 - Mapping Detroit: The Evolution of Boundaries, Private Claims, and Military Reserves through 1876
Detroit, Campus Martius, 1870s The historical development of Detroit can be traced through its evolving maps and shifting boundaries,...

Patrick Foley
Feb 115 min read
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DET005 - Detroit’s Public Lands: The Governor and Judges’ Plan, the Park Lots, and the Ten-Thousand-Acre Tract
The story of Detroit’s land development in the early 19th century is one of dispute, ambition, and controversy, centered around the...

Patrick Foley
Feb 115 min read
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DET004 - Cadillac’s Land Grants: The Origins of Detroit’s Private Claims
The founding of Detroit was not merely an act of exploration and settlement; it was also a complex legal and economic enterprise centered...

Patrick Foley
Feb 114 min read
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DET003 - Detroit’s Early Bounty: The Fertile Lands and Abundant Wildlife of Michigan’s Frontier
French Pear Trees, Detroit River From its earliest days, Detroit and its surrounding lands were celebrated for their fertility, abundant...

Patrick Foley
Feb 114 min read
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DET002 - The Detroit River: A Lifeline of History and Industry
The Detroit River, a defining geographical feature of the city, has long played a crucial role in shaping its identity. A natural...

Patrick Foley
Feb 114 min read
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DET001 - Detroit: A City Forged in History and Industry
Detroit stands as one of the oldest and most historically rich cities in America, with a history predating the establishment of major...

Patrick Foley
Feb 113 min read
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