WELCOME: News and Events
Take a Walk Down Woodward
Woodward Avenue in downtown Detroit offers visitors an opportunity to learn about major labor history events.
Starting at Grand Circus Park at Woodward and Adams, and continuing for about a mile south to the riverfront, visitors will walk past historic Central United Methodist Church; the statue of the “idol of the people,” Mayor Hazen Pingree; the site of the 1937 sit-down strike at the old Woolworth’s 5-and-dime; Cadillac Square, which has been the scene of many demonstrations and rallies over the years; and Hart Plaza, at the riverfront, home to the Labor Legacy landmark, “Transcending,” and the Underground Railroad monument.
You can take a self-guided tour in about an hour, starting at Grand Circus Park, and then catch a bus to take you back to your starting point. Download the tour from this website by going to the “Labor History” section. Under “Newsletter, Papers, Talks,” you’ll see the Summer 2011 edition of the MLHS newsletter, “Looking Back, Moving Forward,” where you’ll find an annotated description of major sites along Woodward. Enjoy your walk!
New Labor Legacy Signs
Ever since it was installed in 2003, the Labor Legacy Landmark, or “Transcending,” on West Jefferson Ave. just west of Woodward Ave. in downtown Detroit has been seen by thousands of visitors from all over the world. A 62-foot-high pair of stainless-steel arcs is surrounded by bronze bas-relief sculptures that tell stories of local labor and social history and that honor working men and women in many different occupations. A raised dais incorporates dozens of quotations from many men and women — including the classic statement by former hotel workers’ president Myra Wolfgang: “Women were in Labor Before Men Were Born.”
Now, two new signs calling attention to the landmark have been erected, so that pedestrians and drivers on Jefferson Ave. will be introduced to the purpose of “Transcending.” A similar sign faces Hart Plaza and the river, welcoming visitors to the plaza into the landmark area.
A photo of “Transcending” appears on the cover of one of the Detroit road atlases and several photographs are included in the National Geographic book, “Etched in Stone.” By going to the “Labor’s Legacy Landmark” section of this website, you can find further information and photographs.
Guided Tours Available
MLHS can arrange for tours of “Transcending,” the Labor Legacy Landmark in Detroit, for union locals, students and teachers, community groups, and others. Tours can also be arranged during union conventions or conferences. Please contact us at: Michigan Labor History Society, 5401 Cass, Detroit MI 48202, or telephoning our office at 313-577-4003.
Interested in Labor History?
We Can Use Your Help
MLHS is always looking for volunteers to serve as labor-history tour guides and to work on projects developing labor history tours and materials for the public. MLHS has also contributed to the virtual tour of Southwest Detroit now under development. If you are interested in volunteering for any of our projects, please get in touch by writing to us at Michigan Labor History Society, 5401 Cass, Detroit MI 48202, or telephoning our office at 313-577-4003.
Thank you for your interest.
