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Theater, Detroit, since 1928

Wilson Theatre

Still standing, photographed 2015

Music Hall (Wilson Theater) Detroit MI Photo: Andrew Jameson, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Opened
1928
Standing
98 years

The Wilson Theatre has stood on Madison Avenue in Detroit since 1928, 98 years and counting. Who built it, what makes it special and how to see it for yourself.

On the map

More photos of Wilson Theatre

musichall, 2015 Photo: HistoryGeek1967, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
The Music Hall Center for the Performing Arts in Detroit, Michigan (United States), 2015 Photo: Michael Barera, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Music Hall, 2015 Photo: HistoryGeek1967, 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 25, 2026. Nothing new at this address in the last two years.

The story

By Victoria Jackson, Editor in Chief Updated

In 1928, during the boom years when the auto industry turned Detroit into one of the fastest growing cities in America, the Wilson Theatre opened.

It joined the National Register of Historic Places in 1977.

Go see it at 350 Madison Avenue. Photos never get the scale right.

The Music Hall Center for the Performing Arts is a 1,731-seat theatre located in the city's theatre district at 350 Madison Street in Downtown Detroit, Michigan. It was built in 1928 as the Wilson Theatre, designated a Michigan State Historic Site in 1976, and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1977.

From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Timeline

  1. 1928 Built
  2. 1977 Listed on the National Register August 9, 1977
  3. 2026 Today 98 years and still standing

Where it is

350 Madison Avenue

On this map

  1. Wilson Theatre This place
  2. Music Hall 90 ft
  3. Detroit Athletic Club 230 ft
  4. Century Building and Little Theater 260 ft
  5. Gem Theatre Detroit 290 ft
  6. Harmonie Club 370 ft
  7. The Ashley 440 ft
  8. Madison-Lenox Hotel 450 ft
  9. Hemmeter Building 460 ft

Street map from OpenStreetMap contributors

More from Detroit in the 1920s

Around the block

Photo credits

Every photo on this page is used under its license, named here with its author and a link to the original.

  1. Music Hall (Wilson Theater) Detroit MI Photo: Andrew Jameson, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
  2. musichall, 2015 Photo: HistoryGeek1967, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
  3. The Music Hall Center for the Performing Arts in Detroit, Michigan (United States), 2015 Photo: Michael Barera, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
  4. Music Hall, 2015 Photo: HistoryGeek1967, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
  5. Hilberry Theatre at Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan, 2006 Photo: Jtmichcock at the English-language Wikipedia, 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.