Local Tourist -- Belle Isle

On Thursday, the Local Tourist and his Mrs. found themselves on the east side of Detroit.  We had attempted to visit the War Memorial on Lake St. Clair, but there was a funeral being conducted there.  I took one photo of the building (first photo), but we did not pass through to the memorial structure on the lake front.

We continued to drive down Jefferson Avenue until we got to Belle Isle.  We drove to the James Scott Fountain and took a few photos in that area.  It was a pretty windy day, so you can see the water being blown to one side.  A prettier day would produce prettier photos -- except the photo of the Mrs.  She always looks good.

Windsor, Ontario on the left; Detroit, Michigan on the right.  

If you expand the photo, you can see the Ambassador Bridge connecting the two.

Best photo of the day!

Local Tourist -- Belle Isle, Detroit

This past Saturday, the Local Tourist and family (at least, whoever was available, which was only Laura and Peter), wanted to do something to see different scenery.  We decided to go to Historic Fort Wayne on the south side of Detroit and along the banks of the Detroit River.  It is only $5 per car load, and there are lots of buildings to walk through.  It is only open on weekends.  Sadly, it does not open for guests until May.  So, plan B.

We headed north of the downtown and drove to Belle Isle and had a picnic along the bank of the Detroit River.  We walked through the aquarium, the conservatory, played around the fountain, stopped in briefly at the Dossin Great Lakes Museum, and walked to the Livingstone Lighthouse on the north-eastern tip of Belle Isle.

Because we have the state park passport already, the entire day was free (donations accepted at most places).  Because the day was so nice, Belle Isle was really hopping.  There were lots of bikers, joggers, picnic-ers, photographers, fishers, boaters, and people just enjoying the sun.  Workers were also in the process of getting the roads on Belle Isle prepared for the Detroit Gran Prix later this spring.  The trees were still pretty barren, only buds; but the fields of daffodils--large swaths of yellow--were scattered around the island and were in full bloom.  They were pretty.

Some photos.

Canada on port side; Detroit on starboard (assuming we are headed downriver. 

Inside the Belle Isle Aquarium.

Even though it was gorgeous outside, it is always soothing to look at palm trees.

Peter enjoys the James Scott Fountain.  It will be functioning Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend.

The anchor from the Edmund Fitzgerald.  It was dropped in the Detroit River in 1974 (chain link broke) and retrieved in 1992.

Livingstone Lighthouse.

Local Tourist -- Dossin Great Lakes Museum

The Local Tourist got back out again last Saturday.  I have been meaning to get to the Dossin Great Lakes Museum for years now, but it has never worked out.  It doesn't help that the hours for the museum are only on Saturdays and Sundays.  On the other hand, admission is free.  Donations are welcome (and the museum is worthy of your donation!).

The museum is on Belle Isle in the Detroit River.  As soon as you walk in, you see The Gothic Room, which was the lounge from the passenger steamer, S.S. The City of Detroit III.  The City of Detroit III ferried passengers from Detroit to Cleveland and also to Buffalo until it was decommissioned in 1956.  The lounge (see below) is quite ornate with beautiful wood work.

We also got to see the pilot house of the S.S. William Clay Ford, and the bow anchor from the Edmund Fitzgerald.  The Edmund Fitzgerald had been anchored in the Detroit River in 1974 where it somehow had lost its bow anchor.  It was recovered in 1992 and now sits just outside the museum.

Some photos.

The Gothic Room from the S.S City of Detroit III.

 

Bow Anchor from the Edmund Fitzgerald

Brothers check out the periscope.

The Pilot House from the S.S. William Clay Ford.