Monument, Detroit, since 1889
John J. Bagley Bust
Standing, closed
- Dedicated
- 1889
- Standing
- 137 years
Designed by Carl Herman Wehman
John J. Bagley Bust has stood in Detroit since 1889, 137 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.
The story
John J. Bagley Bust was dedicated in 1889, as Detroit's lumber, stove and shipbuilding money went into brick and stone.
The design came from Carl Herman Wehman.
Its doors are closed for now, but the building still stands.
Go see it. Photos never get the scale right.
Timeline
- 1889 Dedicated Designed by Carl Herman Wehman
- 1926 Closed
- 2026 Today Standing, closed
Where it is
On this map
- 1 John J. Bagley Bust This place
- 2 Detroit Opera House (first) 40 ft
- 3 Wonderland and Temple Theatre 100 ft
- 4 Detroit Opera House (second) 190 ft
- 5 1001 Woodward 200 ft
- 6 Russell House 230 ft
- 7 Cadillac Chair 230 ft
- 8 Soldiers and Sailors Monument 250 ft
- 9 Columbia Theatre 260 ft
Street map from OpenStreetMap contributors
Who made it
More from Detroit in the 1880s
-
Globe Tobacco Building
Building, built 1889, Richardsonian Romanesque, by William Scott & Co.
Photo: Andrew Jameson, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
-
![Cadillac Hotel, [Hotel Cadillac and Washington Boulevard, Detroit, Mich.]](https://rebuilddetroit.com/wp-content/uploads/rd-photos/landmarks/landmark-4323-2196-thumb-ce55ea75dc.jpg)
Cadillac Hotel
Hotel, built 1888, Italian, by John Scott, demolished 1923
Photo: Detroit Publishing Company, no known restrictions, via Library of Congress
-
![Detroit Museum of Art, Art museum [Detroit Museum of Art], Detroit, Mich.](https://rebuilddetroit.com/wp-content/uploads/rd-photos/landmarks/landmark-4407-2249-thumb-f19f2910c9.jpg)
Detroit Museum of Art
Building, built 1888, Richardsonian Romanesque, by James Balfour, demolished 1960
Photo: Detroit Publishing Company, no known restrictions, via Library of Congress
-
First Unitarian Church
House of worship, built 1890, Romanesque revival, by Donaldson & Meier, demolished 2014
Photo: Andrew Jameson, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
-
Grace Hospital
Building, built 1888, by Gordon W. Lloyd, demolished 1979
Photo: Detroit Publishing Company, no known restrictions, via Library of Congress
-
Bagley Memorial Fountain
Monument, built 1887, Romanesque
Photo: Andrew Jameson, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Around the block
- Detroit Opera House (first) Theater, built 1869, French Renaissance, by Sheldon Smith & Son, demolished 1897 40 ft
- Wonderland and Temple Theatre House of worship, built 1899, Renaissance Revival, by John Scott, demolished 1935 100 ft
- Detroit Opera House (second) Theater, built 1898, Beaux Arts, by Mason & Rice, demolished 1966 190 ft
-
1001 Woodward
Skyscraper, built 1965, International, by Smith, Hinchman & Grylls
Photo: Coreyfein01, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
200 ft
-
![Russell House, [Russell House, Detroit, Mich.]](https://rebuilddetroit.com/wp-content/uploads/rd-photos/landmarks/historic_home-2537-2148-thumb-31d5f1cdf9.jpg)
Russell House
Built 1857
Photo: Detroit Publishing Company, no known restrictions, via Library of Congress
230 ft
- Cadillac Chair Monument, built 1901, Classic Revival, demolished 1941 230 ft
-
Soldiers and Sailors Monument
Monument, built 1872, Classic Revival
Photo: JJonahJackalope, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
250 ft
- Columbia Theatre Theater, built 1911, by C. Howard Crane, demolished 1957 260 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.