Lost ship, Detroit, 1902 to 1959
Western States
Demolished in 1959
- Opened
- 1902
- Torn down
- 1959
Designed by Frank E. Kirby and Louis Keil
Western States stood in Detroit from 1902 until 1959. Here is what it was, who made it and where to find the spot today.
Then and now
What stands there now
Cadillac Square Park
Detroit's Western States, designed by Frank E. Kirby and Louis Keil, stood on this spot for 57 years. It came down 67 years ago. Today the spot is part of Cadillac Square Park.
- 1902 Opens Western States
- 1955 Closes Western States
- 1959 Comes down Western States
- 2026 Today Park
What is there now
Cadillac Square Park
- Today Park Source: OpenStreetMap
- Western States came down Source: Historic Detroit
We checked Wikidata, Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Rebuild Detroit's landmark records and the county parcel records on October 25, 2026.
The story
Western States went up in 1902, during the boom years when the auto industry turned Detroit into one of the fastest growing cities in America.
Credit the design to Frank E. Kirby and Louis Keil.
It is gone now, demolished in 1959, and the map pin below marks where it stood.
Timeline
- 1902 Built Designed by Frank E. Kirby and Louis Keil
- 1955 Closed
- 1959 Demolished
- 2026 Today 67 years since it came down
Where it is
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
- Ste. Claire 1910
- City of Detroit III 1912
Eastern States, by Louis Keil. Photo: Detroit Publishing Company, no known restrictions, via Library of Congress
Architect
Louis KeilArchitect, 1861 to 1918. Designed Eastern States (1902) and 7 more in Metro Detroit
Also by Louis Keil
- Frank E. Kirby 1890
- Owana 1899
- Eastern States 1902
- The Kappa Kastle 1905
- City of Detroit III 1912
- Iroquois Avenue Christ Lutheran Church Parsonage 1912
More from Detroit in the 1900s
-
Bonstelle Theatre
Theater, built 1903, Beaux Arts, by Mason & Kahn
Photo: Saul Vielmetti, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
-
Anna Scripps Whitcomb Conservatory
Building, built 1904, Neoclassical, by Albert Kahn
Photo: PDru2014 from Detroit, United States, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
-
![Belle Isle Aquarium, [The Aquarium and conservatory, Belle Isle Park, Detroit, Mich.]](https://rebuilddetroit.com/wp-content/uploads/rd-photos/landmarks/landmark-4284-2164-thumb-099cdc24f0.jpg)
Belle Isle Aquarium
Building, built 1904, Baroque-Beaux Arts, by Albert Kahn
Photo: Detroit Publishing Company, no known restrictions, via Library of Congress
-
Ford Piquette Avenue Plant
Building, built 1904, Late Victorian, by Field, Hinchman & Smith
Photo: Jackdude101, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
-
Breitmeyer-Tobin Building
Building, built 1905, Beaux Arts, by Raseman & Fisher
Photo: Andrew Jameson, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
-
![Charlevoix Hotel, [Hotel Fuller and Hotel Charlevoix, Detroit, Mich.]](https://rebuilddetroit.com/wp-content/uploads/rd-photos/landmarks/landmark-4345-2224-thumb-6285d11b4c.jpg)
Charlevoix Hotel
Hotel, built 1905, Beaux Arts, by William S. Joy, demolished 2013
Photo: Detroit Publishing Company, no known restrictions, via Library of Congress
Around the block
- Greyhound Ship, built 1902, demolished 1935 Next door
- North West Ship, built 1894, demolished 1941 Next door
-
Ste. Claire
Ship, built 1910, by Frank E. Kirby, demolished 2018
Photo: Detroit Publishing Company, no known restrictions, via Library of Congress
Next door
- Seeandbee Ship, built 1913, by Frank E. Kirby, demolished 1947 Next door
- Owana Ship, built 1899, by Louis Keil, demolished 1981 Next door
- J.T. Wing Ship, built 1919, demolished 1956 Next door
- Frank E. Kirby Ship, built 1890, by Louis Keil, demolished 1932 Next door
- Victoria Ship, built 1872, demolished Next door
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.