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House of worship, Piety Hill, since 1921

Temple Beth-El

Still standing, photographed 2022

Temple Beth-El (1921), Beth-El's second temple, in central Detroit, southeastern Michigan, 2008 Photo: Andrew Jameson at English Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Opened
1921
Style
Neoclassical
Standing
105 years

Designed by Albert Kahn

Temple Beth-El has stood on Woodward Ave. in Piety Hill since 1921, 105 years and counting. Who built it, what makes it special and how to see it for yourself.

On the map

More photos of Temple Beth-El

Painting by Myron G. Barlow in the Bethel Community Transformation Center, formerly the Temple Beth El, 2022 Photo: paintings by Myron G. Barlow photography by Helmut Ziewers,, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Painting by Myron G. Barlow in the Bethel Community Transformation Center, formerly the Temple Beth El, 2022 Photo: paintings by Myron G. Barlow photography by Helmut Ziewers,, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Painting by Myron G. Barlow in the Bethel Community Transformation Center, formerly the Temple Beth El, 2022 Photo: paintings by Myron G. Barlow photography by Helmut Ziewers,, CC BY-SA 4.0, 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

Temple Beth-El opened in 1921, during the boom years when the auto industry turned Detroit into one of the fastest growing cities in America.

Albert Kahn drew the plans, in the Neoclassical style.

The National Register of Historic Places listed it in 1982.

Go see it at 8801 Woodward Ave. Photos never get the scale right.

The former Temple Beth-El is a historic building located at 8801 Woodward Avenue (Woodward at Gladstone) in Detroit, Michigan. It was built in 1921 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1982.

From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Timeline

  1. 1921 Built Designed by Albert Kahn
  2. 1982 Listed on the National Register August 3, 1982
  3. 2026 Today 105 years and still standing

Where it is

8801 Woodward Ave.

On this map

  1. Temple Beth-El This place
  2. Bethel Community Transformation Center 110 ft
  3. Mt. Royal Hotel 200 ft
  4. Woodward-Gladstone Terrace 230 ft
  5. North Woodward Congregational Church 380 ft
  6. Central Woodward Christian Church 430 ft
  7. Religious Structures of Woodward Avenue TR 450 ft
  8. Little Rock Missionary Baptist Church 0.1 mi
  9. First Baptist Church of Detroit 0.1 mi

Street map from OpenStreetMap contributors

Who made it

Albert Kahn
Photo: public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Architect

Albert Kahn

American architect, 1869 to 1942. Designed the General Motors Building (1922) and 114 more in Metro Detroit

Also by Albert Kahn

More from Detroit in the 1920s

Around the block

It is in Piety Hill. 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. Temple Beth-El (1921), Beth-El's second temple, in central Detroit, southeastern Michigan, 2008 Photo: Andrew Jameson at English Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
  2. Painting by Myron G. Barlow in the Bethel Community Transformation Center, formerly the Temple Beth El, 2022 Photo: paintings by Myron G. Barlow photography by Helmut Ziewers,, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
  3. Painting by Myron G. Barlow in the Bethel Community Transformation Center, formerly the Temple Beth El, 2022 Photo: paintings by Myron G. Barlow photography by Helmut Ziewers,, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
  4. Painting by Myron G. Barlow in the Bethel Community Transformation Center, formerly the Temple Beth El, 2022 Photo: paintings by Myron G. Barlow photography by Helmut Ziewers,, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
  5. Painting of Albert Kahn (architect) by Myron G. Barlow in the Bethel Community Transformation Center, formerly the..., 2022 Photo: paintings by Myron G. Barlow photography by Helmut Ziewers,, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
  6. Ceiling in the Bethel Community Transformation Center, formerly the Temple Beth El, 2022 Photo: paintings by Myron G. Barlow photography by Helmut Ziewers,, CC BY-SA 4.0, 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.