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Structure, Detroit, since 1929

Ambassador Bridge

Still standing, photographed 2025

The Ambassador Bridge across the Detroit River viewed from Riverside Park in Detroit, Michigan in 2025 Photo: Antony-22, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Opened
1929
Tall
386 ft
Standing
97 years

Designed by Jonathan Jones

The Ambassador Bridge has risen over W. Fort St. in Detroit since 1929, 97 years and counting. Who built it, what makes it special and how to see it for yourself.

On the map

More photos of Ambassador Bridge

ambassador bridge | windsor/detroit border, 2014 Photo: alyssa BLACK. from toronto, canada, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Ambassador Bridge, 2025 Photo: Nils Huenerfuerst, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Michigan, Detroit - NARA - 23941551 (cropped), 1917 Photo: public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

What is there now

New construction on the lot

  • Standing and open Source: Historic Detroit

Building permits at this address

8 permits since January 2025

$2.1 million in declared work (2 of 8 name a figure) Newest: Plumbing permit, June 5, 2026

  1. Plumbing permit

    Kiosk Renovation

  2. Alteration permit

    Interior alterations to Code per plans. Subject to Field Approval.

    $95,000

  3. Electrical permit

    Power for a starbucks kiosk

  4. Plumbing permit

    Underground plumbing installation for new coffee shop.

  5. Electrical permit

    Addl permit fees

  6. Electrical permit

    Install electrical wiring for new restrooms and a store remodel

  7. Electrical permit

    Additional

  8. Alteration permit

    Interior/Exterior alterations to Retail Store as per plans. Submit to Field Approval

    $2 million

Source: City and county building permits

We checked building permits, sales, listings and the city's blight and demolition files on October 25, 2026.

The story

By Victoria Jackson, Editor in Chief Updated

In 1929, during the boom years when the auto industry turned Detroit into one of the fastest growing cities in America, the Ambassador Bridge opened.

The design came from Jonathan Jones.

It rises 386 feet.

It is still open, and still part of daily life in the city.

Go see it at 3400 W. Fort St. Photos never get the scale right.

Timeline

  1. 1929 Built Designed by Jonathan Jones
  2. 2025 4 building permits $2 million in declared work, the latest October 7
  3. 2026 4 building permits $95,000 in declared work, the latest June 5
  4. 2026 Today New construction on the lot

Where it is

3400 W. Fort St.

On this map

  1. Ambassador Bridge This place
  2. J.W. Westcott II 0.1 mi
  3. Labadie House 0.2 mi
  4. Ste. Anne Roman Catholic Church Complex 0.5 mi
  5. Greyhound Bus Garage 0.5 mi
  6. Basilica Ste. Anne de Détroit 0.6 mi
  7. Yorba Hotel 0.7 mi
  8. Fort Clark Hotel 0.7 mi
  9. Detroit Harbor Terminal Building 0.7 mi

Street map from OpenStreetMap contributors

Who made it

Architect

Jonathan Jones

Architect. Designed the Ambassador Bridge (1929)

More from Detroit in the 1920s

Around the block

Photo credits

Every photo on this page is used under its license, named here with its author and a link to the original.

  1. The Ambassador Bridge across the Detroit River viewed from Riverside Park in Detroit, Michigan in 2025 Photo: Antony-22, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
  2. ambassador bridge | windsor/detroit border, 2014 Photo: alyssa BLACK. from toronto, canada, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
  3. Ambassador Bridge, 2025 Photo: Nils Huenerfuerst, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
  4. Michigan, Detroit - NARA - 23941551 (cropped), 1917 Photo: public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
  5. Ambassador Bridge, 1979 Photo: Chris Light, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Sources

Facts only, gathered from these sources. The story above is written by Rebuild Detroit. Every photo names its author and license where it appears.