(MSF) – The President’s House Traditional Geocache
(MSF) – The President’s House
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The MSF (Michigan State Fairgrounds) series of caches will focus on historical landmarks on this historic site.
The first official Michigan State Fair was held in 1849, which is claimed by the state of Michigan to be the oldest state fair in the United States. The first fair was held in Detroit, Michigan. Subsequent fairs were held in other cities until it received its permanent home in 1905 at the Michigan State Fairgrounds in Detroit. In 1904, Joseph L. Hudson, together with three of his associates, decided to give the State Fair its permanent home. They formed the State Fair Land Company, which acquired 135 acres between 7½ and 8 Mile Roads, east of Woodward Avenue. Because Hudson had no interest in running the fair, he sold the land to the Michigan State Agricultural Society for one dollar on April 18, 1905. The Agricultural Society accepted the land then purchased an additional 32 acres, extending the fairgrounds to 167 acres. The state fair ran at this site until 2009, when state funding was cut. From 2010-2013, this property remained largely unused until a new shopping plaza was installed on this site.
Ulysses S. Grant carries the honor of being the only president of the United States to live in the Detroit area. From 1849-1851, Grant was assigned as a Lieutenant to Fort Wayne. Because he had a wife and child, he was billeted in this two-story Greek Revival house, originally located on West Fort Street near the intersection with Livernois, and not a nearby hotel (like his fellow officers).
Date of Completion: About 1847
Architectural Style: Greek Revival
Use in 2004: Historical Museum
City of Detroit Local Historic District: Not listed
State of Michigan Registry of Historic Sites: Listed August 23, 1956
State of Michigan Historical Marker: Located in front of the historic home
National Register of Historic Sites: Not listed
In the 1950s, the Michigan Mutual Liability Insurance Company purchased this historic home, moved it from West Fort Street to the State Fairgrounds and donated it to the state as a historical museum.
Please feel free to share any stories you may have of the fairgrounds in your logs!
Although this is a shiny new plaza, always be aware of your surroundings.
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