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Building, Islandview, since 1928

El Tovar Apartments

Still standing, photographed 2020

El Tovar Apartments on Grand in Detroit MI Photo: Andrew Jameson, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Opened
1928
Style
Art Deco
Standing
98 years

Designed by Robert J. West

The El Tovar Apartments has stood on E. Grand Blvd. in Islandview since 1928, 98 years and counting. Who built it, what makes it special and how to see it for yourself.

On the map

More photos of El Tovar Apartments

View down the walkway toward the deeply recessed entrance courtyard of the El Tovar Apartments, 320 East Grand..., 2020 Photo: Andre Carrotflower, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Looking upward from ground level at the north side of the façade of the El Tovar Apartments, 320 East Grand Boulevard..., 2020 Photo: Andre Carrotflower, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Looking upward from ground level in the courtyard near the entrance of the El Tovar Apartments, 320 East Grand..., 2020 Photo: Andre Carrotflower, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

What is there now

Standing and open

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

The El Tovar Apartments opened in 1928, during the boom years when the auto industry turned Detroit into one of the fastest growing cities in America.

Credit the design to Robert J. West, working in Art Deco.

It joined the National Register of Historic Places in 1991.

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

Go see it at 320 E. Grand Blvd. Photos never get the scale right.

The El Tovar Apartments is an apartment building located at 320 East Grand Boulevard in Detroit, Michigan, in the East Grand Boulevard Historic District. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1991.

From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Timeline

  1. 1928 Built Designed by Robert J. West
  2. 1991 Listed on the National Register February 28, 1991
  3. 2026 Today 98 years and still standing

Where it is

320 E. Grand Blvd.

On this map

  1. El Tovar Apartments This place
  2. Saint Paul Manor Apartments 230 ft
  3. East Grand Boulevard Historic District 270 ft
  4. Kingston Arms Apartments 0.2 mi
  5. Church of the Messiah 0.2 mi
  6. St. Charles Borromeo Roman Catholic Parish Complex 0.2 mi
  7. Julius T. Melchers House 0.4 mi
  8. West Village Historic District 0.4 mi
  9. The Van Dyke Apartment 0.4 mi

Street map from OpenStreetMap contributors

Who made it

Architect

Robert J. West

Architect. Designed the El Tovar Apartments (1928) and the Alwyne Lane Apartments

Also by Robert J. West

More from Detroit in the 1920s

Around the block

It is in Islandview. See the neighborhood's homes, pros and story.

Photo credits

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

  1. El Tovar Apartments on Grand in Detroit MI Photo: Andrew Jameson, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
  2. View down the walkway toward the deeply recessed entrance courtyard of the El Tovar Apartments, 320 East Grand..., 2020 Photo: Andre Carrotflower, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
  3. Looking upward from ground level at the north side of the façade of the El Tovar Apartments, 320 East Grand Boulevard..., 2020 Photo: Andre Carrotflower, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
  4. Looking upward from ground level in the courtyard near the entrance of the El Tovar Apartments, 320 East Grand..., 2020 Photo: Andre Carrotflower, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
  5. Ornamental ironwork, red roof tiles (unfortunately a bit worse for wear), and an elegant round arch adorn the gateway..., 2020 Photo: Andre Carrotflower, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
  6. Looking upward from ground level at the inner corner of the north pavilion of the El Tovar Apartments, 320 East Grand..., 2020 Photo: Andre Carrotflower, 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.