Theater, Claytown, since 1926
Senate Theatre
Standing and open
- Opened
- 1926
- Style
- Art Moderne
- Standing
- 100 years
Designed by Christian W. Brandt and Ted Rogvoy
The Senate Theatre has stood on Michigan Ave. in Claytown since 1926, 100 years and counting. Who built it, what makes it special and how to see it for yourself.
Senate Theatre today, from the street
What is there now
Standing and open
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
The Senate Theatre opened in 1926, in the years Detroit became the Motor City and built like it meant to stay on top.
Christian W. Brandt and Ted Rogvoy drew the plans, in the Art Moderne style.
It is still open, and still part of daily life in the city.
Next time you are nearby, stop at 6424 Michigan Ave and look up.
Timeline
- 1926 Built Designed by Christian W. Brandt and Ted Rogvoy
- 2026 Today 100 years and still standing
Where it is
6424 Michigan Ave.
On this map
- 1 Senate Theatre This place
- 2 Edwin F. Conely Branch 0.2 mi
- 3 St. Francis D'Assisi Catholic Church 0.3 mi
- 4 San Telmo Cigar Manufacturing Company Plant No. 2 0.5 mi
- 5 Hanneman Elementary School 0.7 mi
- 6 West Side Dom Polski 0.7 mi
- 7 St. Hedwig Catholic Church 0.7 mi
- 8 Historic Motor City Missionary Baptist Church 0.8 mi
- 9 Gethsemane Evangelical Lutheran Church 0.8 mi
Street map from OpenStreetMap contributors
Who made it
More from Detroit in the 1920s
-
Belcrest Apartments
Building, built 1926, Neo-Romanesque, by Charles N. Agree
Photo: Andrew Jameson, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
-
Broderick Tower
Structure, built 1927, Beaux Arts, by Louis Kamper
Photo: St8fan, 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
-
Cadillac Tower
Structure, built 1927, Late Gothic Revival, by Bonnah & Chaffee
Photo: Andrew Jameson, 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
-
Westin Book Cadillac Hotel
Hotel, built 1924, Neo-Renaissance, by Louis Kamper
Photo: Antony-22, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Around the block
It is in Claytown. See the neighborhood's homes, pros and story.
- Edwin F. Conely Branch Building, built 1913, Renaissance Revival, by Hugh B. Clement 0.2 mi
- St. Francis D'Assisi Catholic Church House of worship, built 1905, Italian Renaissance, by Kastler & Hunter 0.3 mi
- San Telmo Cigar Manufacturing Company Plant No. 2 Building, built 1910, by Albert Kahn 0.5 mi
- Hanneman Elementary School School, built 1918, Colonial Revival, by Malcomson & Higginbotham, demolished 2024 0.7 mi
-
West Side Dom Polski
Building, built 1917, by /architects/joseph-gwizdowski
Photo: Andrew Jameson, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
0.7 mi
- St. Hedwig Catholic Church House of worship, built 1911, by Harry J. Rill 0.7 mi
- Historic Motor City Missionary Baptist Church House of worship, built 1891, Victorian Gothic, by Spier & Rohns 0.8 mi
-
Gethsemane Evangelical Lutheran Church
House of worship, built 1891, Carpenter Gothic, by Spier & Rohns
Photo: Andrew Jameson, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
0.8 mi
Photo credits
Every photo on this page is used under its license, named here with its author and a link to the original.
- Senate Theatre from the street today Photo: Street View, 2026
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.