(9:30-5:00)$65 includes lunch at the LONDON CHOP HOUSE!*
Albert Kahn was born in Prussia in 1869. He came to Detroit in 1880 at the age of 11. As a teenager, he got a job at the architectural firm of Mason and Rice. Later, he won a year’s scholarship to study in Europe. (he traveled some
with William Bacon. Bacon designed the Lincoln Memorial in Washington D.C.) In 1895 Kahn founded the architectural firm of Albert Kahn Associates.
He developed a new style of construction where reinforced concrete replaced
wood in factory walls, roofs, and supports. (Packard 1st in 1907)**Kahn was
the architect for the 1907 Highland Park Ford Plant***and the Ford River Rouge Plant in 1917.**** By 1938 Kahn’s firm was responsible for 20% of all architect-designed factories in the USA!
Kahn made many buildings in Walkerville, Ontario, but, it was in Detroit where he was responsible for many factories, office buildings and homes. Between 1917 and 1929 Kahn built the HQ for the first three major daily newspapers in Detroit. *****60 of Kahn’s buildings are on the National Register of Historic Places .
Kahn’s Moscow office built 521 factories between 1930 and 1932. These factories helped the allies win WW II. Kahn did at least 4 buildings on the U of M’s campus in Ann Arbor.
OTHER BUILDINGS WE WILL EITHER SEE OR LEARN ABOUT-
On Belle Isle– the Aquarium, the Conservatory and the Lighthouse. Other places
include the Garden Court Apartments, Detroit Racquet Club, First National Building,
National Bank of Detroit (Chase Bank), National Theater, Detroit Athletic Club, Police
HQ in Greektown, Kales Bldg., (Kresge Bldg. #2), William Livingstone Home, Albert Kahn Home, Maccabees Bldg., Fisher & GM Building, Argonaut Bldg., Lighthouse
Cathedral, (Temple Beth-El # 2), Detroit Golf Club, Cranbrook and many more.
*After being closed for years the luxurious London Chop House recently opened under the leadership of Ted Gatzaros. (who sadly passed away recently.)
**Building# 10 at Packard Plant on East Grand Blvd.
***The largest factory in the world when it opened in 1914. It is also where Henry Ford started the $5 DAY!
****The River Rouge Factory became the largest factory n the world —passing the Highland Park plant!! (Davison Freeway)
*****Detroit Free Press, Detroit News and the Detroit TIMES
PS- Look forward to 2014 when Stewart will do a Marshall Fredericks, Louis Kamper and Corrado Parducci Tour. These are three fantastic gentlemen who are often overlooked. (in part because of the FANTASTIC ALBERT KAHN!!)
PSS- Call 313-922-1990 or e-mail Stewart at stewart@mcmillintours.com for more info.