Detroit’s gifts to the world

By Layla McMurtrie on Wed, Mar 13, 2024 at 10:26 am

Detroiters are known for their immense hometown pride, often boasting about the gems that the city has to offer. Well, it’s our turn now.

Throughout time, the Motor City has inspired and influenced people across the globe in realms including arts, culture, music, the auto industry, and more.

Here are some of our favorite gifts that Detroit has given to the world.

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Facebook, Faygo Beverages

Faygo pop

Born in Detroit in 1907, Faygo has become an iconic symbol of Detroit’s culture. From classics like Redpop to unique flavors such as Cotton Candy, Faygo has since been served up far beyond its hometown.

Shutterstock

Vernors

If you’re from Detroit, you know Vernors is considered medicine. Its creator James Vernor was a pharmacist, so it seems even more believable. The ginger ale is actually one of the country’s oldest pops, first served to the public in 1866.

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Shutterstock

The Motown sound

Motown Records, founded by Berry Gordy Jr. in 1959 as Tamla Records, introduced the world to a new and distinctive sound: a style of soul music with mainstream pop appeal that broke racial boundaries. Artists such as Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, The Supremes, The Temptations, Diana Ross, and many others produced hit songs for Motown that helped shape the landscape of popular music.

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Facebook, Grand Traverse Distillery

Alcohol during prohibition

During the 1920s prohibition era, 70% of all the illegal alcohol that entered the United States came through Detroit. So, the city was basically supplying the nation with booze and good times.

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Photo via Daily Detroit

Phone numbers

Detroit was the first city to ever assign phone numbers back in 1879, so you can thank Motown for being able to get your crush’s digits.

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MT file photo

The Detroit Institute of the Arts

The DIA houses one of the largest art collections in the United States, including works by renowned artists who have inspired worldwide creativity such as Vincent van Gogh and Diego Rivera. Plus, it was just named the No. 1 art museum in the nation by USA Today, a title that the spot has held numerous times.

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Viola Klocko

Techno music

Detroit is considered the birthplace of techno music, emerging in the early 1980s from the city’s underground electronic music scene. Detroit techno evolved from a blend of funk, electro, and European electronic sounds, creating a distinctive style that influenced electronic music worldwide.

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Courtesy of Detroit ACE

Detroit Youth Choir

The DYC’s time on America’s Got Talent put them on a public stage where they captivated audiences with strong performances and inspiring stories. The recently released Disney+ show Choir, which showed the group’s journey to performing at Carnegie Hall, did the same. In both cases, the DYC not only showcases the talent of Detroit’s youth but also serves as a positive light for the city and a source of inspiration for people everywhere.

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Credit to 89.1 WEMU

Four-way traffic lights

The very first four-way traffic light was hung at the intersection of Woodward and Fort St. in Detroit. Serving as a safety protocol and a solution to increased traffic, four-way traffic lights quickly gained popularity and became a standard feature in urban areas worldwide.

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Mark Reinstein /MediaPunch

Aretha Franklin

Emerging from the gospel scene of Detroit’s New Bethel Baptist Church, the Queen of Soul left an undeniable mark on music history with hits like “Respect,” and “I Say a Little Prayer.” Beyond her music, she championed civil rights and Indigenous communities’ rights, earning 18 Grammy Awards and the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

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Photo is public domain, Wikimedia Creative Commons

Modern-day paved roads

Detroit played a significant role in the development of paved roads in the United States as one of the first cities to experiment with paving roads using materials like brick, concrete, and asphalt. In 1909, a mile of Woodward Avenue from Six Mile to Seven Mile was converted to concrete, which helped pioneer road construction and paving techniques nationwide.

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Kahn Santori Davison

Detroit hip-hop

While Eminem remains one of the biggest rappers of all time, Detroit has a vibrant rap scene, with artists such as Tee Grizzley, Danny Brown, Icewear Vezzo, Babyface Ray, 42 Dugg, Babytron, and more creating a fresh sound that reaches a global audience, plus contributes to the growth and evolution of hip-hop culture.

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Courtesy photo

Detroit-style pizza

Detroit-style pizza is characterized by its rectangular shape, thick crust, crispy edges, and deep-dish construction. Originating from Detroit pizzerias in the 1940s allegedly utilizing a metal pan made for car parts, this distinctive style has gained popularity nationwide in recent years and has become a beloved culinary tradition.

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Doug Wojciechowski

Movement Festival

Since techno music started in the D, it’s only fitting for the city to host one of the biggest festivals centering on electronic music. The Detroit Electronic Music Festival started in 2000 to celebrate Detroit’s techno heritage and after coming under producers Paxahau, the city’s Memorial Day weekend electronic music festival became known as the Movement Music Festival. The annual event attracts electronic music enthusiasts from around the world.

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KelleyCook, Wikimedia Creative Commons

Urban freeways

The Davison Freeway in Detroit is often cited as one of the earliest urban freeways in the world. Completed in 1942, the freeway was a pioneering project in urban transportation planning and engineering. Its construction marked a shift in urban transportation infrastructure, setting a precedent for the development of urban freeways in cities across the United States and around the world.

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Randiah Camille Green

Detroit vs. Everybody

Originating as a clothing brand in 2012 created by Tommey Walker, “Detroit vs. Everybody” has since gained global recognition. The phrase’s message of resilience and unity expanded its appeal, leading to it being adopted in various contexts worldwide. Inspired by Detroit, festivals, cities, and other communities now often put their own twist on the slogan.

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Photo viaYouTube screengrab

Detroit rock ’n’ roll

Thanks in part to the influential Creem magazine, Detroit became a capital of rock ’n’ roll music in the ’60s and ’70s, with influential acts like the MC5, Iggy and the Stooges, Alice Cooper, Bob Seger, Death, Rodriguez, and more hailing from here.

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Courtesy photo

Detroit Riverfront

Detroit’s revitalized riverfront, which was named the best in the nation by USA Today for three consecutive years, serves as a model for urban waterfront revitalization projects worldwide.

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Courtesy photo

J Dilla

Renowned as a groundbreaking figure in hip-hop production, J Dilla, born James Dewitt Yancey, spent much of his life in Detroit. His innovative off-kilter beats influenced an entire era of hip-hop, collaborating with icons such as Slum Village, the Pharcyde, Erykah Badu, and Common.

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Virtual Motor City

The Assembly Line

Henry Ford’s use of assembly lines revolutionized manufacturing, making mass production of automobiles more efficient and affordable. This approach transformed not only the automotive industry but also influenced manufacturing methods across various sectors globally.

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