Locations

Between Linwood and Woodward, east/west; and between Boston and Edison, north/south

The Boston Edison neighborhood once served as home to Detroit’s power brokers such as Henry Ford, the Fisher family, James Couzens, Walter P. Reuther and Joe Louis. Take self-guided tour of one of the Detroit’s most famed and historic neighborhoods by visiting the website: historicbostonedison.org.

Wayside Exhibit Program – Clark Catalog (NE corner Grand and Washtenaw)
Began before Bement was A. Clark & Co (in 1865), and though not as enormously profitable or renown, pioneer Albert Clark would grow his company out of a farrier shop to be one of the city’s largest manufactures of fine carriages. Albert would train his son, Frank, in the trade, and who would for a time mirror the career of R. E. Olds. Pictured is the cover of the 1881 catalog.

Clark Factory
The three-story factory was at the corner of Grand and Washtenaw. It was 150' x 125' and shared the banks of the Grand River with so many of the early factories who took advantage of the harvest of lumber floated up or downstream to be milled. Notice, as with most other factories of the time, the number of windows that would take best advantage of natural light in the days before a centralized lighting source, and compare to today's architecture of corrugated metal-boxed factories that rely exclusively on electric light.

On Detroit’s eastside, Conner Creek once flowed from what is now the City of Warren to the Detroit River. It was a significant natural feature for Native American and European settlers. At one point ribbon farms dominated the landscape along the creek and Detroit River to maximize landowners’ access to the water. In time, the old Indian trails and the village plank roads gave way to railroads and other developments. The Detroit Terminal Railroad, constructed parallel to the creek, attracted many of the early American auto makers. Chrysler, Hudson Motor Car, Continental Motors, Budd Motor Company, Briggs Manufacturing, Cadillac and Liberty Motor Car Company are just some of the car makers who chose this stretch to house their factories.

While much of the original creek was tunneled underground, the planned Greenway follows the creek’s historic route to connect residents, neighborhoods and commerce via landscaped paths and bike trails instead of water. From the Fisher Mansion at the Detroit River to the Huppmobile and Chrysler Viper Plant near Eight Mile, the Greenway at Conner Creek gives historians, auto enthusiasts, and visitors a chance to experience the past and present of America’s auto heritage.

If you delight in enjoying chicken, fries and shakes, then the Chick Inn is a must place to visit. An Ypsilanti tradition for more than 50 years, the Chick Inn offers year round carhop and curb service!

Founded in 1965, the Charles H. Wright Museum features innovative exhibits that celebrate the events and accomplishments of African Americans and all Americans.

Hours:
Daily 11am-11pm
Cascades are illuminated dusk -11pm

Admission: Park is free, Cascades: $3 per person, $4 fireworks in the summer 5 and under are free.

You'll be walking in a water wonderland at Cascades Park in Jackson! 

Enjoy a friendly game of golf, tennis or baseball while the kids putt away at the Cascades miniature golf course.

And, of course, allow plenty of time for the mesmerizing Falls themselves—the rushing water will captivate the attention of the young and old alike with its continually-changing patterns and fantastic nighttime light shows and fireworks.

The Cascades were begun in 1929 by William Sparks, whose foundation was started to develop land into a recreation spot for Jackson's residents. The Cascades opened in 1932 in front of 25,000 people on William Sparks' 59th birthday and continue to be a defining feature of the city of Jackson.

Experience the story of Michigan's famed Arsenal of Democracy by visiting the Michigan Flight Museum (formerly the Yankee Air Museum) in Van Buren Township. The Museum highlights the story of the Willow Run B-24 Bomber Plant which played a critical role in ending WWII.

Located in the community that bears the namesake of its celebrated university, the Ye Ole Carriage Shop is a must-see for auto and history enthusiasts. The site boasts the largest collection of Jackson-made autos such as an original 1903 Jaxon, a 1914 Imperial (one of only two left), 1954 Kaiser-Darrin and a beautifully restored 1911 Cutting.

Visit the Ypsilanti Automotive Heritage Museum to experience a fully restored Hudson Dealership resembling how it appeared in its heyday. The museum's featured automotive stories are Chevrolet Corvair, Tucker, Hudson, Kaiser-Frazer, and General Motors Hydra-matic; all with local connections to the surrounding community.

The Canadian Transportation Museum is a state-of-the-art 25,000 sq. ft facility that commemorates Canada's transportation heritage from the Windsor Ford City Model T's to the 1992 Dodge Viper. The Heritage Village features over a dozen buildings of local significance.