We
tend to take Woodward Avenue for granted here metro Detroit, but the boulevard's
new status as an officially designated All-American Road should give us a new
appreciation for the storied highway.
Classic
car buffs and confirmed gear heads know Woodward as a long-time cruising strip.
The annual Woodward Dream Cruise draws a million or more people to the avenue
each August. Many show off their classic cars, while others join the party by hanging
out along Woodward to enjoy the passing parade.
But
Woodward is so much more than just a storied cruising and drag strip.
Woodward
traces its roots to a foot path used by Native Americans to travel from the
Detroit area to Saginaw and points farther north. The route remained as a major
traffic artery in the area and officially became known as Woodward when the
city rebuilt after a devastating fire that destroyed much of the town in 1805.
Travel
along Woodward was pretty primitive during those early years, but with the
advent of the automotive age in Detroit, many early automakers settled on or
near Woodward.
The
America's Byways Web site has several detailed Woodward tour itineraries, but those
most interested in automotive history will want to check out the Woodward Avenue Auto History Tour, a suggested two-day route that hits many of the most
significant stops for car buffs.
The
Auto History Tour starts at Detroit's riverfront and runs north to the
Cranbrook Educational complex in Bloomfield Hills. Along the way, see sights
like the intersection that had the world's first four-way, tri-color electric
traffic light, Henry Ford's innovative assembly-line factory that spurred the
city's growth by drawing workers seeking the then-generous five-dollar-a-day
jobs, and the site of the world's first stretch of concrete roadway.
Woodlawn
Cemetery is another stop well worth making along this route, as it is the final
resting place of many well known Detroit automotive pioneers, Detroit-area music
luminaries, and civil rights pioneer Rosa Parks. The cemetery is also home to a
unique tribute to Michael Jackson, recognizing a particularly strong bond
between the singer and his Motown fans.
All-American
Road is an official designation from the United States Department of
Transportation that recognizes a select number of routes throughout the country
for embodying at least two significant qualities from the following list:
scenic, natural beauty, historic, cultural, archeological and recreational.
Woodward, while it has its own urban beauty, isn't particularly scenic in the
classic sense--but the route holds a unique place in the country's automotive
history, making it a particularly worthy destination for those with a special
interest in cars and their history.
There
are currently 151 roads, in 46 states, in the America's Byways program. Woodward
is one in the select sub-group of 31 routes qualifying as All-American Roads. The
National Scenic Byways program, created in 1991, recognizes these special
routes as a way to help fuel preservation and enhancement efforts with funding
and positive publicity.
Like
many metro Detroiters, I drive a portion of Woodward most days, but I seldom
consider its significance in the region's history and cultural development.
Perhaps
this new honor will enhance Woodward's reputation and our appreciation for the
treasure right in our own neighborhood!
© Dominique King 2009 All rights reserved
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