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Building, State Fair, since 1922

Michigan State Fair Riding Coliseum, Dairy Cattle Building, and Agricultural Building

No demolition on record

Coliseum and Agricultural Building at the Michigan State Fair Photo: Andrew Jameson, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Opened
1922
Style
Roman Classical
Standing
104 years

Designed by Lynn W. Fry

The Michigan State Fair Riding Coliseum, Dairy Cattle Building, and Agricultural Building has stood on Michigan State Fairgrounds in State Fair since 1922, 104 years and counting. Who built it, what makes it special and how to see it for yourself.

On the map

More photos of Michigan State Fair Riding Coliseum, Dairy Cattle Building, and Agricultural Building

Agricultural Building at the Michigan State Fair, Detroit Photo: Andrew Jameson, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Dairy Cattle Building at the Michigan State Fair in Detroit Photo: Andrew Jameson, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Riding Coliseum at Michigan State Fair in Detroit Photo: Andrew Jameson, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

What is there now

Standing

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 Michigan State Fair Riding Coliseum, Dairy Cattle Building, and Agricultural Building opened in 1922, in the years Detroit became the Motor City and built like it meant to stay on top.

Lynn W. Fry drew the plans, in the Roman Classical style.

It joined the National Register of Historic Places in 1980.

Go see it at Michigan State Fairgrounds. Photos never get the scale right.

The Michigan State Fair Riding Coliseum, Dairy Cattle Building, and Agricultural Building are three buildings located on the grounds of the Michigan State Fair in Detroit, Michigan. They were listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1980.

From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Timeline

  1. 1922 Built Designed by Lynn W. Fry
  2. 1980 Listed on the National Register June 6, 1980
  3. 2026 Today 104 years and still standing

Where it is

Michigan State Fairgrounds

On this map

  1. Michigan State Fair Riding Coliseum, Dairy Cattle Building, and Agricultural Building This place
  2. Garland Stove 0.3 mi
  3. Rosa L. Parks Freedom Chapel 0.3 mi
  4. Ulysses S. Grant house 0.4 mi
  5. Snyder House 0.4 mi
  6. Feld House 0.5 mi
  7. Chester A. Souther House 0.5 mi
  8. Clarence F. Tollzien House 0.5 mi
  9. Louis Miller House 0.6 mi

Street map from OpenStreetMap contributors

Who made it

Lynn W. Fry
Photo: public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Architect

Lynn W. Fry

American architect, 1894 to 1967. Designed the Michigan State Fair Riding Coliseum, Dairy Cattle Building, and Agricultural Building (1922)

More from Detroit in the 1920s

Around the block

It is in State Fair. 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. Coliseum and Agricultural Building at the Michigan State Fair Photo: Andrew Jameson, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
  2. Agricultural Building at the Michigan State Fair, Detroit Photo: Andrew Jameson, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
  3. Dairy Cattle Building at the Michigan State Fair in Detroit Photo: Andrew Jameson, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
  4. Riding Coliseum at Michigan State Fair in Detroit Photo: Andrew Jameson, CC BY-SA 3.0, 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.