The story of the district
Piquette Avenue in context.
Rail infrastructure around Milwaukee Junction encouraged industrial growth during the 1890s and early twentieth century. The Piquette area became a center for automobile companies and suppliers, with firms including Ford, Studebaker, and Fisher Body contributing to its industrial history.
The Ford Piquette Avenue Plant at 461 Piquette was designed by Field, Hinchman, and Smith in 1904. The first Model Ts were built there. Other properties and sites tell the broader story of production, engineering, and change, including the loss of buildings once central to the district.
Historical context: National Park Service district record and district history and references.
What to notice.
- Compare factory window patterns and floor heights to see how industrial work shaped architecture.
- Consider the relationship between the street, loading access, and the nearby rail corridor.
- Use historic documentation to understand lost buildings as well as the structures that remain.
Find your bearings.
Start your research along Piquette east of Woodward. The district’s nomination identifies its properties; check the Ford Piquette Avenue Plant’s own visitor information if you want to enter the museum.
Explore from public streets and sidewalks. Many district buildings are private homes or workplaces; check access with the owner or operator before entering.
Is the Ford Piquette Avenue Plant the whole historic district?
No. The plant is a major landmark within a wider industrial district. The district record covers a broader group of buildings and sites associated with Detroit’s automotive and engineering history.
