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House of worship, Detroit, since 1929

Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church

Photographed standing in 2008

Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church side elevation Photo: Andrew Jameson, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Opened
1929
Style
Late Gothic Revival
Standing
97 years

Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church has stood on Gratiot Ave. 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 Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church

Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church Front Photo: Andrew Jameson, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
The landmark St. Paul on the Lake Catholic Church, on Lakeshore Drive in Grosse Pointe Farms, Michigan, 2008 Photo: Umdet, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Città del Vaticano, Cupola della Basilica di S. Pietro, 2006 Photo: MarkusMark, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

What is there now

Standing

We checked building permits, sales, listings and the city's blight and demolition files on October 24, 2026. Nothing new at this address in the last two years.

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, Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church opened.

It was built in the Late Gothic Revival style, and it still reads that way from the sidewalk.

It joined the National Register of Historic Places in 1991.

Next time you are nearby, stop at 13770 Gratiot Ave and look up.

The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church is a Catholic church of the Archdiocese of Detroit located at 13770 Gratiot Avenue in Detroit, Michigan. It is commonly known as the Assumption Grotto Church. The church community was founded in the 1830s, and the present building completed in 1929, designated a Michigan State Historic Site in 1990 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1991.

From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Timeline

  1. 1929 Built Late Gothic Revival, Renaissance
  2. 1991 Listed on the National Register August 5, 1991
  3. 2026 Today 97 years and still standing

Where it is

13770 Gratiot Ave.

On this map

  1. Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church This place
  2. Assumption Grotto Church 140 ft
  3. Mount Calvary Lutheran Church 0.3 mi
  4. Wilkins Elementary School 0.9 mi
  5. Von Steuben School 0.9 mi

Street map from OpenStreetMap contributors

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. Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church side elevation Photo: Andrew Jameson, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
  2. Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church Front Photo: Andrew Jameson, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
  3. The landmark St. Paul on the Lake Catholic Church, on Lakeshore Drive in Grosse Pointe Farms, Michigan, 2008 Photo: Umdet, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
  4. Città del Vaticano, Cupola della Basilica di S. Pietro, 2006 Photo: MarkusMark, CC BY-SA 3.0, 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.