Woodward Avenue, Detroit - A vacation and an automotive history lesson all rolled into one!

Did you know you can see the first mile of concrete paved road, the first electric traffic light and the first … well just about everything first in the automotive industry on a single street in Detroit?

It’s called Woodward Avenue, and it’s a vacation and a history lesson all in one. It is designated a National Scenic Byway and Motor Cities National Heritage Area.

Here are some highlights:

• The world’s first electric traffic light - Installed at Woodward and Michigan in 1920.

• The world’s first mile of paved concrete highway (1909) Woodward, between Seven & Eight Mile.

• The “birthplace” of the moving assembly line, daylight factory and Five Dollar Day, all at Ford Highland Park - Albert Kahn designed this factory. Woodward, Six to Seven Mile.

• The Davison Limited Expressway - Built in 1941, the first modern urban highway in the United States. Woodward & Manchester.

• The only street where automobile engineers “street tested” new models, in the 1950s and 1960s.

America’s Car Culture literally shifted into first, second, third and fourth gear on Woodward Avenue.
Ford, Cadillac, Dodge, Chrysler, Packard and other brands were first designed and manufactured here. More than 100 car companies had their roots along this scenic byway.

The Motor City Exhibit at The Detroit Historical Museum provides a good place to begin to learn the stories. Other must see museums in the area are:

• The Detroit Institute of Arts – Diego Rivera Mural – depicting the auto industry.
• Ford Piquette Avenue Plant
• GM World – Heritage Museum
• Walter P. Chrysler Museum

And the list of attractions doesn’t stop here. While you are cruising around, take in:

• Detroit/Windsor Vehicular Tunnel - Opened to the public in 1930. Until recently, it was the world’s only underwater, transnational vehicular tunnel. An average of 24,000 vehicles passes through the tunnel daily. Woodward & Michigan.

• Henry and Clara Ford’s Home - Woodward & Davison.

• Boston-Edison and Arden Park Historic Districts to take in the opulent homes of early auto barons Henry Ford, John Dodge and others.

• Woodlawn Cemetery - Includes the final resting places of several notable figures in the automobile industry, including John and Horace Dodge, Joseph Hudson, Edsel Ford and Roy Chapin. Woodward, between Eight Mile & Square Lake.

Here is a brochure that covers everything to see and do on Woodward Avenue. http://www.woodwardavenue.org/uploaded_pics/pdf/pdf-20081216225525.pdf

Here’s a book on cruising Woodward Avenue – to read about our American Automotive heritage:
http://www.amazon.com/Cruisin-Original-Woodward-Avenue-America/dp/0...

For more information, visit: http://www.woodwardavenue.us/