Besides being known as the center of the automotive industry in the U.S., the city of Detroit has plenty of historic firsts that don’t have to do with cars. In fact, these seven things Detroit was the first city to do are extremely important and revolutionary! Check them out below!
- The first mile of concrete was made in Detroit.
Carlos Lowry/Flickr Detroit is known as America’s automotive industry, so it makes sense that the first mile of concrete was made in the city. The first construction of concrete begun on Woodward Avenue in Detroit.
- The first assembly line for vehicles was created here.
Alden Jewell/Flickr The first automotive assembly line was developed in 1913, when Henry Ford thought it was a good idea to put together car parts with labor and movement for faster production.
- The first three-lens traffic light in Detroit.
Andreas Levers/Flickr William Potts is responsible for creating the first modern, three lens traffic light in the downtown area. The first light was installed on the corner of Woodward and Michigan Avenues.
- The first radio news program was broadcasted in Detroit.
PhotoAtelier/Flickr In the 1920s the first news program was broadcasted on the radio. At first, the broadcast (Station 8MK), would only play music, until the radio staff collectively worked out a way to broadcast news.
- The first individual phone numbers were born.
PRONicolas Nova/Flickr In 1879, Detroit welcomed the first individual phone numbers to households, so you did not need to ring an operator first to connect to friends and family or connect to a party line.
- The first Van Gogh to enter a museum.
Kevin Dooley/Flickr The Detroit Institute of Arts holds the first Van Gogh painting to ever be shown and entered in a U.S. museum. Van Gogh’s Self Portrait is one of the DIA’s most important and resepected pieces.
- The first African American legend.
Ken Lund/Flickr There is no doubt that famous boxer Joe Louis is the first African American to reach hero status. He wasn’t born in Detroit, but his family moved to the city and it was here that Louis gained his fame as a boxer, holding the heavyweight championship from 1937 to 1949.
Carlos Lowry/Flickr
Detroit is known as America’s automotive industry, so it makes sense that the first mile of concrete was made in the city. The first construction of concrete begun on Woodward Avenue in Detroit.
Alden Jewell/Flickr
The first automotive assembly line was developed in 1913, when Henry Ford thought it was a good idea to put together car parts with labor and movement for faster production.
Andreas Levers/Flickr
William Potts is responsible for creating the first modern, three lens traffic light in the downtown area. The first light was installed on the corner of Woodward and Michigan Avenues.
PhotoAtelier/Flickr
In the 1920s the first news program was broadcasted on the radio. At first, the broadcast (Station 8MK), would only play music, until the radio staff collectively worked out a way to broadcast news.
PRONicolas Nova/Flickr
In 1879, Detroit welcomed the first individual phone numbers to households, so you did not need to ring an operator first to connect to friends and family or connect to a party line.
Kevin Dooley/Flickr
The Detroit Institute of Arts holds the first Van Gogh painting to ever be shown and entered in a U.S. museum. Van Gogh’s Self Portrait is one of the DIA’s most important and resepected pieces.
Ken Lund/Flickr
There is no doubt that famous boxer Joe Louis is the first African American to reach hero status. He wasn’t born in Detroit, but his family moved to the city and it was here that Louis gained his fame as a boxer, holding the heavyweight championship from 1937 to 1949.
Do you know any other things Detroit was first to do? Share them with us! Check out these unusual and very interesting fun facts about Detroit!
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