Building, Detroit, since 1901
Grand Army of the Republic Building
Standing, closed
- Opened
- 1901
- Style
- Romanesque
- Standing
- 125 years
Designed by Julius Hess and Richard E. Raseman
The Grand Army of the Republic Building has stood on W. Grand River Ave. in Detroit since 1901, 125 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 25, 2026. Nothing new at this address in the last two years.
The story
In 1901, in the years Detroit became the Motor City and built like it meant to stay on top, the Grand Army of the Republic Building opened.
Credit the design to Julius Hess and Richard E. Raseman, working in Romanesque.
Its doors are closed for now, but the building still stands.
Next time you are nearby, stop at 1942 W. Grand River Ave and look up.
Timeline
- 1901 Built Designed by Julius Hess and Richard E. Raseman
- 1982 Closed
- 2026 Today Standing, closed
Where it is
1942 W. Grand River Ave.
On this map
- 1 Grand Army of the Republic Building This place
- 2 G.A.R. Building Next door
- 3 Brunswick Hotel 190 ft
- 4 Leland Hotel 500 ft
- 5 Fairfax Hotel 520 ft
- 6 Young Woman's Home 0.1 mi
- 7 Michigan Theatre 0.1 mi
- 8 United Artists Theatre 0.1 mi
- 9 Morgan Hotel 0.1 mi
Street map from OpenStreetMap contributors
Who made it
Henry Glover House, by Julius Hess. Photo: w_lemay, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Architect
Julius HessArchitect. Designed Second Avenue Presbyterian Church (1888) and 4 more in Metro Detroit
Also by Julius Hess
Harmonie Club, by Richard E. Raseman. Photo: Andrew Jameson, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Architect
Richard E. RasemanArchitect, 1855 to 1944. Designed Garden Bowl (1913) and 7 more in Metro Detroit
Also by Richard E. Raseman
- Metropole Building 1881
- Harmonie Club 1895
- Cary Building 1906
- The Factory at Corktown 1907
- Hemmeter Building 1911
- Garden Bowl 1913
More from Detroit in the 1900s
-
![Eastern States, [Str. Eastern States, Detroit, Mich.]](https://rebuilddetroit.com/wp-content/uploads/rd-photos/landmarks/landmark-4436-2275-thumb-5717c27eed.jpg)
Eastern States
Ship, built 1902, by Louis Keil, demolished 1956
Photo: Detroit Publishing Company, no known restrictions, via Library of Congress
-
Bonstelle Theatre
Theater, built 1903, Beaux Arts, by Mason & Kahn
Photo: Saul Vielmetti, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
-
Anna Scripps Whitcomb Conservatory
Building, built 1904, Neoclassical, by Albert Kahn
Photo: PDru2014 from Detroit, United States, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
-
![Belle Isle Aquarium, [The Aquarium and conservatory, Belle Isle Park, Detroit, Mich.]](https://rebuilddetroit.com/wp-content/uploads/rd-photos/landmarks/landmark-4284-2164-thumb-099cdc24f0.jpg)
Belle Isle Aquarium
Building, built 1904, Baroque-Beaux Arts, by Albert Kahn
Photo: Detroit Publishing Company, no known restrictions, via Library of Congress
-
Ford Piquette Avenue Plant
Building, built 1904, Late Victorian, by Field, Hinchman & Smith
Photo: Jackdude101, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
-
Breitmeyer-Tobin Building
Building, built 1905, Beaux Arts, by Raseman & Fisher
Photo: Andrew Jameson, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Around the block
-
G.A.R. Building
Building, Richardsonian Romanesque
Photo: Albert duce, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Next door
- Brunswick Hotel Hotel, built 1890, by John Scott, demolished 1935 190 ft
-
Leland Hotel
Hotel, built 1927, Italian Renaissance, by Cornelius W. Rapp
Photo: Andrew Jameson, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
500 ft
- Fairfax Hotel Hotel, built 1888, by Van Leyen & Preston, demolished 1925 520 ft
- Young Woman's Home Built 1888 0.1 mi
- Michigan Theatre Theater, built 1926, French Renaissance, by Cornelius W. Rapp 0.1 mi
- United Artists Theatre Theater, built 1928, Spanish Gothic, by C. Howard Crane 0.1 mi
- Morgan Hotel Hotel, built 1866, Italianate, demolished 1929 0.1 mi
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.