Historical figures in Detroit

The atlas holds 14 people and 36 moments here, from 1815 to 2018. The most recorded lives are Henry Ford, Rosa Parks and Aretha Franklin. Among them Writers, Performers and Business Leaders, across the Cold War and the Space Age.

Notable people

1. Aretha Franklin

   from 1947 to 2018

   6 moments here

   American singer, pianist, songwriter, and civil-rights activist known as the “Queen of Soul.” Her documented movements span childhood relocations…

2. Ayrton Senna

   from 1986 to 1987

   2 moments here

   Brazilian racing driver Ayrton Senna da Silva was a three-time Formula One World Drivers’ Champion.…

3. Diego Rivera

   in 1932

   3 moments here

   Mexican painter and muralist Diego Rivera was a central figure in Mexican muralism. His documented movements include study in Mexico and Europe, work…

4. Frida Kahlo

   in 1932

   1 moment here

   Mexican painter Frida Kahlo (Magdalena Carmen Frida Kahlo y Calderón) was born in Coyoacán and spent much of her life in Mexico City.…

5. Henry David Thoreau

   in 1861

   1 moment here

   American naturalist, essayist, poet, and philosopher associated with transcendentalism. Thoreau lived chiefly in and around Concord, Massachusetts,…

6. Henry Ford

   from 1863 to 1947

   9 moments here

   American industrialist and founder of Ford Motor Company. Ford grew up in rural Michigan, worked in Detroit engineering and machine shops, developed…

7. James Monroe

   in 1817

   1 moment here

   James Monroe was an American Revolutionary War officer, Virginia politician, diplomat, secretary of state and war, and fifth president of the United…

8. Olivia de Havilland

   from 1951 to 1971

   2 moments here

   Olivia de Havilland was a British-American-French actress whose career ranged from California community theatre and Warner Bros.…

9. Prince

   in 1984

   1 moment here

   Prince Rogers Nelson was an American singer, songwriter, musician, producer, actor, and filmmaker associated with the Minneapolis sound.…

10. Ronald Reagan

    in 1980

    1 moment here

    American broadcaster, actor, labor leader, governor of California, and 40th president of the United States.…

11. Rosa Parks

    from 1956 to 2005

    6 moments here

    American civil-rights activist whose lifelong work against racial segregation included local NAACP organizing in Montgomery, the 1955 bus protest and…

12. Thomas Edison

    in 1929

    1 moment here

    American inventor and industrialist whose laboratories developed and commercialized technologies in telegraphy, recorded sound, electric lighting and…

13. Ulysses S. Grant

    in 1848

    1 moment here

    Ulysses S. Grant was an American army officer, Union commander during the Civil War, and the 18th president of the United States.…

14. William Henry Harrison

    in 1815

    1 moment here

    William Henry Harrison was an American army officer, territorial governor, diplomat, Whig politician, and the ninth president of the United States.…

Moments

1. 1815 Treaty of Spring Wells negotiations William Henry Harrison
2. 1817 Northern tour: Detroit James Monroe
3. 1848 Postwar arrival in Detroit Ulysses S. Grant
4. 1861 Detroit stop Henry David Thoreau
5. 1863 Birth at the Ford farm Henry Ford
6. 1879 Apprentice machinist in Detroit Henry Ford
7. 1882 Return to the family farm Henry Ford
8. 1891 Move to Detroit for Edison employment Henry Ford
9. 1896 Quadricycle first drive Henry Ford
10. 1896 Driving the Quadricycle Henry Ford
11. 1901 Sweepstakes race victory Henry Ford
12. 1929 Dedicates Greenfield Village Thomas Edison
13. 1932 Visits Ford's River Rouge plant Diego Rivera
14. 1932 Detroit residence and artistic work Frida Kahlo
15. 1932 Paints Detroit Industry Diego Rivera
16. 1932 Signs Rockefeller Center contract in Detroit Diego Rivera
17. 1944 Edison Illuminating Company building dedication Henry Ford
18. 1947 Family relocation to Detroit Aretha Franklin
19. 1947 Death at Fair Lane Henry Ford
20. 1951 Romeo and Juliet opening in Detroit Olivia de Havilland
21. 1952 Early gospel singing at New Bethel Aretha Franklin
22. 1956 Boycott-related visit and address Rosa Parks
23. 1957 Relocation to Detroit Rosa Parks
24. 1957 Return to Detroit Rosa Parks
25. 1961 Virginia Park Street residence Rosa Parks
26. 1971 Autobiographical tour stop in Detroit Olivia de Havilland
27. 1980 Wins nomination in Detroit Ronald Reagan
28. 1984 Purple Rain Tour opening Prince
29. 1986 Detroit Grand Prix victory Ayrton Senna
30. 1987 One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism recording Aretha Franklin
31. 1987 Second Detroit Grand Prix victory Ayrton Senna
32. 1994 Attack at her Detroit home Rosa Parks
33. 2005 Death in Detroit Rosa Parks
34. 2013 Detroit Christmas concert Aretha Franklin
35. 2016 Thanksgiving national-anthem performance Aretha Franklin
36. 2018 Death at Detroit home Aretha Franklin

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