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Cass Gilbert

American architect, 1859 to 1934, born in Zanesville

James Scott Memorial Fountain, Detroit's Belle Isle, 1925 Photo: Carol M. Highsmith, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Sculptor of the James Scott Memorial Fountain, the monument that was dedicated in Detroit's Belle Isle in 1925. Another 2 of Gilbert's works are on record across Detroit, each on the map below.

works on record in Metro Detroit
3
notable works beyond Metro Detroit
12

Cass Gilbert, here and around the world, by height

All 3 of Gilbert's works on record, with 6 of Gilbert's notable works elsewhere drawn paler, oldest at left. Heights are to scale where one is on record (3 of 9, tallest the Woolworth Building at 791 feet); the rest are drawn at one standard size.

All 3 of Gilbert's works on record, with 4 of Gilbert's notable works elsewhere drawn paler, oldest at left. Heights are to scale where one is on record (2 of 7, tallest the Woolworth Building at 791 feet); the rest are drawn at one standard size.

James Scott Memorial Fountain

1925, Detroit, height not on record, drawn at one standard size

Still standing, photographed 2016

Open its page
  • Standing
  • Beyond Metro Detroit
  • Tap or point at a building

The story

By Victoria Jackson, Editor in Chief Updated

Cass Gilbert, an American architect, was born in 1859 in Zanesville and lived until 1934. The James Scott Memorial Fountain heads Gilbert's work in Metro Detroit, a monument in Detroit's Belle Isle, finished in 1925.

All 3 of Gilbert's works on record are still standing. Outside Metro Detroit, Gilbert's work includes Saint Louis Art Museum in St. Louis, Missouri (1879), Minnesota State Capitol in Saint Paul, Minnesota (1905), and 90 West Street in Manhattan, New York (1907). Gilbert's honors include the Fellow of the American Institute of Architects.

The record opens in 1921 with the Detroit Public Library, in the years Detroit became the Motor City and built like it meant to stay on top, and closes in 1925 with the James Scott Memorial Fountain. The 1920s were Gilbert's busiest decade here, with 3 works on record. In Detroit, Gilbert's work stands in Wayne State and Belle Isle. The Detroit Public Library at 5201 Woodward Ave is a good first stop for anyone tracing Gilbert's buildings.

Cass Gilbert (November 24, 1859, May 17, 1934) was an American architect.

From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Cass Gilbert's mark on Metro Detroit, building by building

Where their buildings stand

3 works on the map

Loading the map

  • Standing
  • Demolished
  • Altered
  • Works close together

3 works on the map

Beyond Metro Detroit

12 notable works by Cass Gilbert in 8 places, from 1879 to 1962, as Wikidata lists them.

Where the work stands

Photo credits

All 15 photos on Cass Gilbert's page, each with its author, license and the original.

  1. Title: Bicylists round the James Scott Memorial Fountain on Detroit's Belle Isle, a once-posh island park in the..., 1980 Photo: Carol M. Highsmith, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
  2. Cass Gilbert by Robert Bolling Brandegee, 1880, oil on canvas, from the National Portrait Gallery which has explicitly... Photo: Robert Bolling Brandegee, CC0 1.0, via Wikimedia Commons
  3. Public Library, Detroit, Mich. Photo: Detroit Publishing Company, no known restrictions, via Library of Congress
  4. The exterior of the Detroit Public Library (Main Library) in Detroit, Michigan (United States), 2018 Photo: Michael Barera, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
  5. Saint Louis Art Museum Photo: public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
  6. Minnesota State Capitol Photo: McGhiever, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
  7. 90 West Street Photo: Godsfriendchuck, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
  8. Woolworth Building Photo: No machine-readable author provided. Aude assumed (based..., public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
  9. First Division Monument Photo: AgnosticPreachersKid, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
  10. New York Life Building Photo: I, Dmadeo, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
  11. Bayonne Bridge Photo: Jim.henderson, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
  12. United States Supreme Court Building Photo: UpstateNYer, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
  13. Thurgood Marshall United States Courthouse Photo: Americasroof, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
  14. George Washington Bridge Photo: Gryffindor, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
  15. Alexander Hamilton U.S. Custom House Photo: ajay_suresh, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Sources

The facts on Cass Gilbert come from Historic Detroit, Wikidata, Wikipedia, and Photos; Rebuild Detroit wrote the story above from them, and each photo names its license.