Lost ship, Detroit, 1924 to 1948
Greater Buffalo
Demolished in 1948
- Opened
- 1924
- Torn down
- 1948
Designed by Frank E. Kirby
Greater Buffalo stood in Detroit from 1924 until 1948. Here is what it was, who made it and where to find the spot today.
What is there now
Demolished in 1948
We have not yet found a source that says what stands on the spot today. Last looked on October 25, 2026.
The story
In 1924, in the years Detroit became the Motor City and built like it meant to stay on top, Greater Buffalo went up.
The design came from Frank E. Kirby.
It is gone now, demolished in 1948, and the map pin below marks where it stood.
Timeline
- 1924 Built Designed by Frank E. Kirby
- 1945 Closed
- 1948 Demolished
- 2026 Today 78 years since it came down
Where it is
On this map
- 1 Greater Buffalo This place
- 2 City of Detroit III Next door
- 3 Eastern States Next door
- 4 Huntington Place 0.1 mi
- 5 Wayne Hotel 0.1 mi
- 6 Fort Pontchartrain Hotel 0.2 mi
- 7 Aquarama 0.2 mi
- 8 Foundation Hotel 0.3 mi
- 9 UAW-Ford Joint Trusts Center 0.3 mi
Street map from OpenStreetMap contributors
Who made it
Eastern States, by Frank E. Kirby. Photo: Detroit Publishing Company, no known restrictions, via Library of Congress
Architect
Frank E. KirbyAmerican ship designer, 1849 to 1929. Designed Eastern States (1902) and 8 more in Metro Detroit
Also by Frank E. Kirby
- Frank E. Kirby 1890
- Promise 1892
- Owana 1899
- Eastern States 1902
- Western States 1902
- Ste. Claire 1910
More from Detroit in the 1920s
-
Westin Book Cadillac Hotel
Hotel, built 1924, Neo-Renaissance, by Louis Kamper
Photo: Antony-22, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
-
Buhl Building
Skyscraper, built 1925, Neo-Romanesque, by Wirt C. Rowland
Photo: I, Mikerussell, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
-
Chateau Frontenac
Building, built 1925, Mediterranean, by J. Will Wilson, demolished 1999
Photo: Andrew Jameson, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
-
Belcrest Apartments
Building, built 1926, Neo-Romanesque, by Charles N. Agree
Photo: Andrew Jameson, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
-
Bethel Community Transformation Center
House of worship, built 1922, by Albert Kahn
Photo: paintings by Myron G. Barlow photography by Helmut Ziewers,, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
-
Broderick Tower
Structure, built 1927, Beaux Arts, by Louis Kamper
Photo: St8fan, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Around the block
- City of Detroit III Ship, built 1912, by Louis Keil, demolished 1956 Next door
-
Eastern States
Ship, built 1902, by Louis Keil, demolished 1956
Photo: Detroit Publishing Company, no known restrictions, via Library of Congress
Next door
-
Huntington Place
Building, built 1960, Mid-Century Modern, by Louis Rossetti
Photo: Stilfehler, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
0.1 mi
-
![Wayne Hotel, [Wayne Hotel, Detroit, Mich.]](https://rebuilddetroit.com/wp-content/uploads/rd-photos/landmarks/landmark-4886-2457-thumb-5b6dea6682.jpg)
Wayne Hotel
Hotel, built 1887, by Gordon W. Lloyd, demolished 1931
Photo: Detroit Publishing Company, no known restrictions, via Library of Congress
0.1 mi
- Fort Pontchartrain Hotel Hotel, built 1965, by King, Harry & Maxwell Lewis 0.2 mi
- Aquarama Ship, built 1945, demolished 2007 0.2 mi
- Foundation Hotel Hotel, built 1929, Neoclassical, by Hans Gerhke 0.3 mi
- UAW-Ford Joint Trusts Center Building, built 1950, International, by Harley, Ellington & Day 0.3 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.