Monument, Detroit, since 1910
Christopher Columbus Monument
Standing, closed
- Dedicated
- 1910
- Standing
- 116 years
Designed by Augusto Rivalta
The Christopher Columbus Monument has stood on East Jefferson Avenue and Randolph Street in Detroit since 1910, 116 years and counting. Who built it, what makes it special and how to see it for yourself.
What is there now
Standing, closed
- Closed Source: Historic Detroit
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
In 1910, in the years Detroit became the Motor City and built like it meant to stay on top, the Christopher Columbus Monument was dedicated.
Augusto Rivalta drew the plans.
Its doors are closed for now, but the building still stands.
Next time you are nearby, stop at East Jefferson Avenue and Randolph Street and look up.
Timeline
- 1910 Dedicated Designed by Augusto Rivalta
- 2020 Closed
- 2026 Today Standing, closed
Where it is
East Jefferson Avenue and Randolph Street
On this map
- 1 Christopher Columbus Monument This place
- 2 Old Wayne County Building Next door
- 3 Burton Abstract & Title Co. Building 230 ft
- 4 Lawyers Building 250 ft
- 5 Reid Building 350 ft
- 6 Globe Tobacco Building 380 ft
- 7 Burns Hotel 410 ft
- 8 Light Guard Armory 450 ft
- 9 Detroit Police Headquarters (old) 470 ft
Street map from OpenStreetMap contributors
Who made it
More from Detroit in the 1910s
-
7300 Woodward
Building, built 1910, by Albert Kahn
Photo: Jet Lowe, Historic American Buildings Survey, no known restrictions, via Library of Congress
-
Dreamtroit (Warren Motor Car Co.)
Building, built 1910, Commercial Style, by Rogers & MacFarlane
Photo: Andrew Jameson, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
-
Cathedral Church of St. Paul
House of worship, built 1911, Neo-Gothic, by Ralph Adams Cram
Photo: Andrew Jameson at English Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
-
Belle Isle Casino
Building, built 1908, Renaissance Revival, by Van Leyen & Schilling
Photo: Tichnor Brothers, Publisher, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
-
![Broadway Market, [Edw. Neumann, Broadway Market, Detroit, Mich.]](https://rebuilddetroit.com/wp-content/uploads/rd-photos/landmarks/landmark-4310-2194-thumb-42e52f2f8b.jpg)
Broadway Market
Building, built 1912, Beaux Arts, by Harry C. Stevens, demolished 1967
Photo: Detroit Publishing Company, no known restrictions, via Library of Congress
-
![Capitol Park Building, [Griswold Street from Capitol Park, Detroit, Mich.]](https://rebuilddetroit.com/wp-content/uploads/rd-photos/landmarks/landmark-4329-2213-thumb-3f981d9a17.jpg)
Capitol Park Building
Building, built 1913, by Leonard B. Willeke
Photo: Detroit Publishing Company, no known restrictions, via Library of Congress
Around the block
- Old Wayne County Building Building, built 1902, Beaux Arts, by John Scott Next door
- Burton Abstract & Title Co. Building Building, built 1924, by Frank Herman, demolished 1977 230 ft
- Lawyers Building Building, built 1923, by Bonnah & Chaffee 250 ft
- Reid Building Building, built 1896, Romanesque Revival, by Donaldson & Meier 350 ft
-
Globe Tobacco Building
Building, built 1889, Richardsonian Romanesque, by William Scott & Co.
Photo: Andrew Jameson, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
380 ft
- Burns Hotel Hotel, built 1908, by Joseph G. Kastler, demolished 1925 410 ft
- Light Guard Armory Structure, built 1898, Richardsonian Romanesque, by Malcomson & Higginbotham, demolished 1945 450 ft
- Detroit Police Headquarters (old) Building, built 1884, by Gordon W. Lloyd, demolished 1928 470 ft
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.