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When going south on Northwestern Hwy right past Middlebelt, there is a silhouette on the distant downhill horizon that looks like the Renaissance Center. The road is certainly pointed that way, but it doesn't seem possible. I'm attaching a street-view link [[takes a few moments to load) just so you can see where I'm talking about, can't see it in this pic. Has anyone else noticed this or know if it is in fact the Ren Cen in the distance?
https://maps.google.com/maps?q=north...135.98,,0,8.24
I used to work near Northwestern Highway and Middlebelt.Quote:
Originally Posted by narnarnar
To answer your question, yes you can see the Renaissance Center from that intersection.
I'm on top of it right now, waving my arms. Can you see me?
I remember driving downtown as a kid and whoever saw RenCen first got a dime. I doubt kids care about dimes today.
Quote:
Originally Posted by narnarnar
If you have a open line of sight and it's a clear day it shouldn't be a problem. You can see the RenCen pretty clearly from Harsen's Island at the North end of Lake St. Clair and that's a distance of around 20 miles.
I've seen the RenCen before from BASF Park in Wyandotte [[although Wyandotte is actually closer to downtown Detroit than Farmington Hills is to downtown). Plus, I remember a post on the old forum that mentioned that the RenCen was visible from the Battle of Lake Erie monument in Put-in-Bay, Ohio [[a distance of about 65 miles!).Quote:
Originally Posted by narnarnar
Oh, come on. Kids stopped giving a damn about dimes long before the Ren Cen went up. It isn't like the damned thing has been there since 1965.Quote:
Originally Posted by MikeyinBrooklyn
Not sure about Northwestern [[although I certainly believe it), but you can definitely see the Ren Cen, Penobscot, and One Detroit Center from Grand River and 8 Mile, the north side of which is Farmington Hills.
I have seen the RenCen from 28 and mound on a clear day.
The Renaissance Center is also visible from Mound Rd. out in Warren and Sterling heights.
The Penobscot Building is in the central line of sight for the Penobscot Building on Gratiot for some ways into Macomb County on a clear day... and ditto for all of downtown from Ford Rd. in Dearborn and beyond.
All of downtown and New Center is visible from the entry way hill at Stony Creek @ 26 Mile Rd.
Oh, and obviously on Woodward you can see One Detroit Center and sometimes other buildings from 696, although not really from any farther out.
I remember riding my bike on M-14 in the spring of 79, before it opened, and seeing the Ren Cen clearly from somewhere around Sheldon Road. My thought at the time was that was proof how flat [[or sloped) it is between Plymouth and the river.
I've seen the Ren Cen from a hilltop at Ford's proving grounds up by 36 mile near Romeo.
Quote:
Originally Posted by narnarnar
You are correct. Northwestern right before 13 Mile, is a slight hill going south, and on a clear day you can see the main tower peering over the trees.
You can see the Ren Cen from Grand River and 7 Mile Rd.
You can see the Ren Cen from from Ford Rd. and Wayne Rd.
You can see the Ren Cen from Southfield FWY and I-96.
You can see the Ren Cen from Gratiot Ave. 14 Mile Rd.
You can see the Ren Cen from Woodward Ave. 8 Mile Rd.
You can see the Ren Cen from Mound Rd. and 14 Mile Rd.
Any Direction from all directions in Wayne, Oakland and Macomb counties The Ren Cen is the beacon to Downtown Detroit.
I've seen the Ren Cen from Canada.
You'd almost think that since it appears to be at the end of every radial road, it was sited like that intentionally.
HB
Call me cheap, I still gladly accept dimes. They add up quick!Quote:
Originally Posted by NickCharles
On a Clear Day You Can See General Motors: John Z. DeLorean
Best response possible. But did you walk across the river to get there?Quote:
Originally Posted by 401don
X2 haha!Quote:
Originally Posted by MikeyinBrooklyn
I too think it's cool to see at such great distances. Cresting the Rouge on 75 [[while not that far away) is always a cool view.
If you do, be sure to look both ways for ice breakers before you cross.......Quote:
Originally Posted by MikeyinBrooklyn
Distance to the horizon from the top of the RenCen should be 33 miles. Here's the area that covers:
Attachment 22773
http://www.gpsvisualizer.com/display...86146-map.html
However, that assumes the earth is flat and you are standing at the same elevation as the base of the RenCen. If you are on higher ground, like to the north or northwest you could see it from farther away. If there is higher ground between you and it, that may block your view. Also, to recognize the building, you would probably need to see the top one hundred feet of it, so you might have to be within 30 miles of it.
Profile view of the terrain elevation along Grand River out to Wixom. Elevation peaks just beyond Haggerty Rd:
Attachment 22775
Driving on East River Road on Grosse Isle offers a really nice view of the Ren Cen looking up river. Nice drive around the island, too.
I heard this too and I was in the tower on Put-In-Bay on a fairly clear day and could not see it. The main activity on Put-In-Bay is drinking and I was obliged to partake in this, so my vision may have been impaired.Quote:
Originally Posted by mtburb
On a clear night you can glimpse the Ambassador bridge from the hill on eastbound M14 near Northville road, and that's at least 20 miles. I'd imagine you would also be able to see the Ren Cen from that vantage.
Thats nothing, I have seen the Ren Cen and I was not even in the United States!
This thread has just now got me wondering if it's possible to see at least part of Detroit [[let alone the RenCen) from the One Seagate building in Toledo [[that city's tallest building).
What is it, 4 stories???? :) That IS an intriguing question. Maybe the first DetroitYES science experiment?Quote:
Originally Posted by mtburb
Also for quick second, on a clear day as well, going southbound Crooks Rd. over the I-75 overpass in Troy.
A big hill in Stoney Creek Park north of 26 Mile Road, nicknamed "Mt. Everest", offers a view of the full skyline of downtown, as well as Southfield and other of the seven hills of Detroit.
I worked on the 19th floor of a high rise downtown for several years. We could see the Silverdome from there. Therefore it is not a stretch to see the ren cen from many places in metro Detroit.
Nope, it's 32 stories and 411 feet tall, 316 feet shorter than the RenCen's central tower.Quote:
Originally Posted by Honky Tonk
I looked it up on that Google thing someone pointed out to me. It was my attempt @ humor, therefore the little :) face. I am serious, though, about it being a great science experiment. All aspects of weather would have to cooperate. No smog, fog, or rain clouds between One Seagate Building and the RenCen.Quote:
Originally Posted by mtburb
Line of sight from each to the horizon overlaps, therefore you should be able to see one from the other:
Attachment 22778
Cool, so it's doable. It would be neat I someone had some kind of sighting device, monocular, binoculars, that you could attach a camera to and take a photo. Is there an observation deck or something on either one?Quote:
Originally Posted by MikeM
There's a photo I came across long ago showing the rencen as a faded dot on the horizon taken with a zoom lens from a high floor of plaza tower in Ann Arbor.
Easily:
Attachment 22783
The top of the Perry Monument is 352', but I'm not sure how high the observation deck is. The RenCen should be visible from the top unless there is some higher ground in Ontario blocking the view:Quote:
Originally Posted by Downriviera
Attachment 22784
Sarah Palin, famous half term Alaska governor can see Russia from her house so maybe she can see the Ren Cen too
Well the Ren Cen is the tallest building in Michigan [[center tower @ 73 floors - 727 ft)
See link below that ranks tallest in the state:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of...gs_in_Michigan
A bit off topic, but as for seeing things from long distance. When Norfolk and Southern was running steam engine excursions a few years ago, some yard crew guys at the Melvindale yard told me the steam engine headlight was so bright they could see it at Melvindale yard from Milan, Michigan.
I grew up in Farmington Hills. There is condo complex/subdivison called Chestnut Ridge at 12 Mile and Halstead that has a commons area up on a hill with a large cement deck/patio. In high school, we used to go there at night to drink beer and hang out with girls. It was a great spot because it was secluded, and on clear nights we could easily see the RenCen and the Ambassador Bridge.