Which is Detroit's most iconic landmark?

[night-timer]

The exterior cleaning of the Book Tower in Downtown got me thinking. For me, the Book Tower is the [[architectural) symbol of Detroit, although plenty would argue. Which is it for you?

[313WX]

The Ren Cen

[Meddle]

The Ren Cen

Screw Coleman's coin rollers. Just plain ugly, just like he was.

Besides, they have the same type of building in other cities. Atlanta and LA as I recall, maybe others, so it hardly says 'Detroit'.

[eastland]

Screw Coleman's coin rollers. Just plain ugly, just like he was.

Besides, they have the same type of building in other cities. Atlanta and LA as I recall, maybe others, so it hardly says 'Detroit'.

Mayor Young wasn't yet in office when the four original towers and hotel were started.

[mwilbert]

Mayor Young wasn't yet in office when the four original towers and hotel were started.

For some people, everything is about Young.

As far as the original question, I think that it really depends upon what you mean by iconic. What people always depict as the icon of the city is, in fact, Ren Cen. But it isn't really a good choice, as it is basically an alien presence dropped onto the waterfront for no good reason.

I would say the Fisher Building would be the best choice, an excellent representative of Detroit's era of mass building, and aside from being a great building its isolation really makes it stand out. And I say that as an unabashed Book Tower fan.

[313WX]

Screw Coleman's coin rollers. Just plain ugly, just like he was.

Besides, they have the same type of building in other cities. Atlanta and LA as I recall, maybe others, so it hardly says 'Detroit'.

To correct you, the Ren Cen was actually Henry Ford II's "coin rollers."

BTW, say what you will about the way Coleman ran the city and his personality, but ugly he wasn't. In fact, he was quite attractive in his day.

http://www.gettyimages.com/detail/ne...re-id486826475

[Meddle]

The Fisher Building. Stands out for miles.

[SammyS]

Fox Theater

[One Shot]

Ren Cen. Always has been this 40yo. Surprised the Penobscot hasn’t been mentioned yet. That would trump the others mentioned so far. The blinking red ball....that’s an icon!

[Meddle]

Surprised the Penobscot hasn’t been mentioned yet.

The blinking red ball....that’s an icon!

That, and the MichCon building with the top floor lit stood out for downtown.

[Jimaz]

Guardian.characters

[Canadian Visitor]

FWIW............I take the word Iconic to mean "symbol associated with"

In that respect there are only 2 choices.

1) The Ren. Ctr

2) Mich Central Depot

Those are the things that have appeared in countless movies, in disrepair or all their glory.

They are the buildings mostly like to gather a reaction from a non-Detroiter.........when seen........."oooh, that's Detroit".

There are architecture and urban geeks who love and appreciate Book [[myself included), and various other buildings.

But show a typical person in Toronto, New York or L.A. that building......and you might get 'nice building'..........but not that instant association w/Detroit.

[ABetterDetroit]

Iconic? It’s RenCen unfortunately. Every first time visitor wants to see it and will call it out when they get their first view of it.

My favorite? Penobscot Building wins easy. Still would love to see her get the bath she so badly needs.

[EastsideAl]

The big tire on I-94 on the way in from the airport.

[Hermod]

The big tire on I-94 on the way in from the airport.

I was going to say that! I also like the big stove on the east side and the old city hall.

[401don]

I might have said Tiger Stadium until 1999. If you don't think a ballpark could be a city's most iconic landmark what would you pick for Boston?

[iheartthed]

Definitely Michigan Central. It's not my favorite building but it seems like anyone who has ever heard about Detroit has seen it.

[Eber Brock Ward]

Locally/in the region, the Spirit of Detroit statue.

Nationally/internationally, the RenCen

[MicrosoftFan]

Spirit of Detroit statue??

[CassTechGrad]

The bear fountain at the Zoo, the most photographed object of all, period.

[Jason]

I agree, I think the Spirit of Detroit. It's right by Hart Plaza and so a lot of visitors see it, putting sports jerseys on it is popular, it's included on a lot of letterheads, and it's often included in videos about Detroit.

I'd also say that the Ren Cen is iconic, because it has an iconic form, a prominent location, a prominent owner, and because it was pushed as a symbol of Detroit's... renaissance for a few decades. A lot of logos etc feature the Ren Cen.

Dodge Fountain is pretty iconic. A lot of people have seen it or interacted with it, it's commonly shown in videos, and it has an iconic form. I've also seen it on letterheads before. I'd rate it as being less iconic than the Spirit of Detroit though. I think the Joe Louis Fist is in the same category.

imo the *idea* of MCS is iconic but if you asked random people to draw it, I think most people don't really know what it looks like.

I think the Fisher Building, Guardian, Penobscot, and other buildings are popular, but I think to the average person they're "another old building but this one is bigger and fancier and I know its name".

[Király]

I agree, I think the Spirit of Detroit.

Almost no people outside of Detroit know what it is. I wear my Spirit of Detroit T-shirt around Vancouver and most people who comment on it think it's some sort of meditation/Buddhist thing. The only people who have ever correctly identified it, once lived in the Detroit/Windsor area.

[313WX]

Almost no people outside of Detroit know what it is. I wear my Spirit of Detroit T-shirt around Vancouver and most people who comment on it think it's some sort of meditation/Buddhist thing. The only people who have ever correctly identified it, once lived in the Detroit/Windsor area.

To your point, most of the suburbanites I associated with back in I was in Detroit knew nothing about the Penobscot Building, Fisher Building [[heck, they barely heard of "New Center") or Book Tower.

They're far from "iconic" amongst locals. After all, we're talking about people who were raised to think "Detroit" and any thoughts about it should be avoided at all costs, except for a sports game.

[Gistok]

They're far from "iconic" amongst locals. After all, we're talking about people who were raised to think "Detroit" and any thoughts about it should be avoided at all costs, except for a sports game.

I have to respectfully disagree with that sentiment. Oldsters may spout that they haven't been in Detroit in 30 years... and may tell younger suburbanites not to go there... but since when do young folks follow what their elders say they should do??

I think that anyone who enjoys concerts or [[as you mentioned) sporting events has been downtown many times. They may not all eat down there... but they go.

Also, with free admittance to the DIA for tri-county residents... you'd be surprised how many suburbanites come down there as well.

Even the Detroit Opera House and Detroit Symphony count a decent part of their patrons as those living within a 3 hour drive of the venues.... which means a part of 9 million households.

So there are plenty of people who come into Detroit's city center from all parts of Michigan... as well as Ohio and Ontario.

[Meddle]

But I still say the Fisher Building. Even if you never came into town that way you know about the Golden Tower of The Fisher Building by listing to WJR.