The Spirit of Detroit

One of Detroit’s most recognizeable landmarks is the Spirit of Detroit.

Fans of the Detroit Pistons, Detroit Red Wings and even the Tigers know that when their team plays for or wins a championship, the Spirit will don their uniform. Lions fans are as yet unsure if the tradition applies to them… The Spirit also wore a jersey to honor Super Bowl XL.

Marshall Fredericks, the sculptor who crafted the Spirit of Detroit and other public works in Detroit & Michigan. Fredericks was a man who felt his art was a civic duty and said this about it:

I want more than anything in the world to do sculpture which will have real meaning for other people, many people, and might in some way encourage, inspire or give them happiness.

The Spirit of Detroit is located at 2 Woodward Ave, Detroit, MI 48226, directly across Jefferson Avenue from Hart Plaza.

photo credit: The Spirit of Detroit by Sumner Caughey. View the photo & others in his great Detroit set of photos on Flickr!