For hundreds of years, the area was so important to commerce between Native American tribes that only traders were allowed into the territory.

Detroit wouldn't begin to shape into its current form until roughly three centuries ago. That's when French explorer Antoine de la Mothe Cadillac landed on the banks of the Detroit River and established a fort in 1701. Nine years later he was removed from his post as outpost commander due to "ill conduct" (i.e. excessive lining of his own pockets).

Change would remain a constant throughout Detroit's first century. In 1760, French rule gave way to British. And in 1796 the United States took over Detroit as a result of Jay's Treaty.

Detroit was incorporated as a city in 1815 and spent the decades leading up to the Civil War as the final U.S. stop on the Underground Railroad. The area also was earning a reputation for, among other things, the manufacturing of cigars and kitchen ranges.

So why did Detroit become the Motor City instead of the stove-making capital of the world?

It's in large part due to the influence of a farmer's son named Henry Ford. In 1896, Ford built his first car in Detroit - not an entirely earth-shattering event since the automobile had already been around for a while. It was the method of building cars that he would later devise - the moving assembly line - that put the world on wheels.

During the early part of the 20th century, dozens of companies emerged in the area committed to finding success in the new industry. During World War II, the factories they built to produce cars were put to use churning out weapons for the Allied Powers. The production edge they provided helped to win the war.

Ironically, it was a former autoworker that led the way for Detroit's other famous 20th century contribution - Motown. founded by Berry Gordy Jr. with just an $800 family loan, the upstart record company introduced the world to Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, Smokie Robinson, Michael Jackson, The Temptations, Diana Ross and others - all of whom either grew up or gained their first fame in Detroit.

At the start of the 21st century, metro Detroit is starting to reap the rewards of decades of work put into revitalization. We encourage you to come and examine our region's rich history, learn more about our bright future and enjoy our exciting present.

Detroit...

• is home to the Motown sound founded by Berry Gordy Jr. in 1957
• installed the first mile of paved concrete road, just north of the Model T plant, on Woodward Avenue between McNichols and 7 Mile Roads in 1909
• installed the country’s first traffic light in 1915 in downtown Detroit
• built the nation’s first urban freeway, the Davison, in 1942
• is home to the oldest state fair in the nation, first held in 1849
• is the potato chip capital of the world, based on consumption
• has country’s largest island park within a city – Belle Isle Park
• is home to the world’s only floating post office, the J.W. Westcott II, can be found on the Detroit River
• is north of Canada
• is home to the largest flower-bedding market in the world – Eastern Market
• is second in the nation in fishing rod sales
• shares the world’s first auto traffic tunnel between two nations – the Detroit/Windsor Tunnel
• is home to the second tallest hotel in North America – the Detroit Marriott Renaissance Center, at 73 stories
• is the true home of the “Boston Cooler”
• is also home to Vernors ginger ale, Sanders hot fudge, Better Made Potato Chips, Faygo soda pop, Stroh’s Ice Cream
• receives freighters from over 100 world ports on the Detroit River
• has the most registered bowlers in the United States
• was the first city in the nation to assign individual telephone numbers in 1879
• founded the world’s first convention bureau in 1896
• has more theater seats than any other city, east of the Mississippi River, outside New York City

© 2006 Detroit Metro Convention & Visitors Bureau Taken from http://www.visitdetroit.com/visitorcenter/aboutdetroit/history/