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Belle Isle has a host of great things to do, whether you have children in tow or just want a day alone. As the weather continues to delight with spring-like temperatures, metro Detroit families may be itching to get out of the house and enjoy the outdoors.
Visiting the iconic park can be an all-day adventure — or just a quick stop for some fantastic photos.
Whatever way you choose to enjoy the island, Pure Michigan's official 2016 Travel Guide has these ideas to get you started.
1) James Scott Memorial Fountain
When James Scott died in 1910, he left $200,000 to the City of Detroit, with one caveat: He wanted the money to be used to build a fountain with a life-sized statue of himself.
Scott was known as a gambler with a vindictive personality though, prompting several community and religious leaders to rally against the move, arguing Scott shouldn't immortalized by the city.
Then-Mayor Philip Breitmeyer urged Detroiters to accept the gift.
Supporters of the fountain won out and construction of it and the nearby life-sized statue ended up costing $500,000. At dusk, the fountain puts on a water and light show. The fountain will run June 11-Sept. 20 from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.
2) Nature Zoo
The Belle Isle Nature Zoo is the perfect location to get an up-close view of 19 species of Michigan wildlife, including the black rat snake, snapping turtles and fallow deer.
The Deer Encounter also offers a great opportunity to feed the beautiful creatures while learning about their history on Belle Isle.
Hours: Wednesday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. from April to November, and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. November through April. Free admission.
3) Dossin Great Lakes Museum
The Dossin Great Lakes Museum showcases the 'story of the Great Lakes, with a special emphasis on Detroit's role in regional and national maritime history,' according to the Detroit Historical Society's website.
The 16,000-square-foot museum has several fascinating exhibits, including the bow anchor of the legendary Edmund Fitzgerald, which sank in a Lake Superior storm on Nov. 10, 1975.
Hours: Saturday and Sunday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Free admission.
4) Anna Scripps Whitcomb Conservatory
Satisfy your love for growing things at the Anna Scripps Whitcomb Conservatory, located at the center of the island.
The historic building was designed by renowned architect Albert Kahn and opened on Aug. 18, 1904. It wasn't until 1955 that it was dedicated and renamed after Anna Scripps Whitcomb, who had donated a huge collection of orchids to Detroit.
The conservatory is divided into six distinct sections: the Vestibule, the Palm House, the Tropical House, the Cactus House, the Fernery and the Show House, which includes an outdoor lily pond.
Hours: Wednesday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Free admission.
5) Nancy Brown Peace Carillon
A longtime columnist for the Detroit News, Nancy Brown was a well-loved figure of her time. According to the Belle Isle Conservancy website, the idea for the Peace Carillon came about after a reader suggested — and Brown promoted — a gathering for a sunrise service on the island. Thousands came out, and it became an annual event. In 1940, the 85-foot tower — created to commemorate the service — was completed and dedicated. It was funded through contributions, fund-raisers and sale of Brown's book at the cost of nearly $59,000. Brown died Oct. 7, 1948.
6) Giant Slide
Bring out your inner kid and ride down Belle Isle's giant slide. According to the Michigan DNR website, the slide opens June 8 and closes on Labor Day. Hours are Wednesday-Sunday, from noon to 8 p.m. The cost is $1 per slide or $5 for six slides.
7) Belle Isle Aquarium
Like they say, there's plenty of fish in the sea Belle Isle Aquarium. Home to more than 1,000 fish and 118 species of sea life, the Belle Isle Aquarium is the oldest aquarium in the U.S. Designed by architect Albert Kahn, the aquarium was closed in 2005, but reopened in 2012. According to the Belle Isle Conservancy, much of the water in the tanks was brought in directly from the ocean. Open Saturdays and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
8) Water fun
When the Detroit River warms up, be sure to dig your toes into the half-mile stretch of Belle Isle's beach or simply jump into the refreshing waters.
'Three lakes and a lagoon connected by canals crisscrossing the island also provide paddling routes,' says the Travel Michigan 2016 guide.
Paddle-boarders, kayakers and boaters can be seen from the shores.
Getting on Belle Isle
As of last year, all vehicles entering Belle Isle will need a recreation passport. The passports allow entry year-round to Belle Isle as well as all Michigan state parks. They are available when you renew your license plate for $11 for vehicles and $5 for motorcycles. More information can be found here. Non-Michigan drivers that visit Belle Isle will pay $9 for a day pass or $31 for an annual pass. Entry is free for visitors that walk, bike or take public transportation onto the island.
| James Scott Memorial Fountain | |
|---|---|
| Artist | Cass Gilbert & Herbert Adams |
| Year | 1925 |
| Type | Marble |
| Location | Belle Isle Park Detroit, Michigan |
| Coordinates: 42°20′06″N82°59′58″W / 42.33506°N 82.99931°W | |
The James Scott Memorial Fountain is a monument located in Belle Isle Park, in Detroit, Michigan. Designed by architect Cass Gilbert and sculptor Herbert Adams, the fountain was completed in 1925 at a cost of $500,000.[1] The lower bowl has a diameter of 510 ft (160 m) and the central spray reaches 125 ft (38 m). The fountain honors the controversial James Scott, who left $200,000 to the City of Detroit for a fountain in tribute to himself.
History[edit]
Scott was left a sizable fortune by his father who invested in Detroit real estate.[2] According to contemporaries, Scott gambled and told off-color stories. He was described by twentieth-century author W. Hawkins Ferry as a 'vindictive, scurrilousmisanthrope'[3] who attempted to intimidate his business competitors and when this was unsuccessful, he filed suit. Perhaps for these reasons, Scott died in 1910 with no heirs or colleagues and he bequeathed his estate to the City of Detroit with the condition that the fountain include a life-sized bronze statue of him.[1][2] Some accounts state that the will required that the statue be at the fountain's pinnacle.[4]
Several community and religious leaders—including Bishop Charles D. Williams[1]—spoke against accepting the bequest, saying that a person with Scott's reputation should not be immortalized in the city.[2] Mayor Philip Breitmeyer and City Council President David Heineman urged accepting the gift, saying that the city shouldn't insult any of its citizens by refusing such a generous offer.[5]
While the debate raged, Scott's fortune continued to grow, topping $1 million by the time construction commenced.[5]
Design[edit]
The monument is located in Belle Isle Park, in Detroit, Michigan. Designed by architect Cass Gilbert and sculptor Herbert Adams, the marble fountain was completed in 1925 at a cost of $500,000.[1] The lower bowl has a diameter of 510 ft (160 m) and the central spray reaches 125 ft (38 m). The final design placed Scott's statue in inconspicuous spot behind the fountain.[1]
Belle Isle Casino Detroit Rental
Movie appearances[edit]
A famous scene from the 1973 drama Scarecrow, starring Gene Hackman and Al Pacino was filmed here. In the scene shortly after learning of the death of his estranged son (though falsified by the mother), Pacino's character Francis Lionel 'Lion' Delbuchi, happily plays with a group of children before, upon uncovering a deep emotional truth, he snatches one of them up and begins to ascend the fountain. He is left catatonic in a hospital following the incident.
The fountain is also featured briefly in Anthony Mann's 1947 film noir T-Men, photographed by John Alton. Early in the film, two Treasury Agents preparing to go undercover discuss Detroit criminal gangs and gang activities while standing in front of the fountain.
Gallery[edit]
Old postcard
Detail of one of fountain's lion figures
Detail of one of the eight small pools in the lower basin
The lower basin
16 separate reliefs depict life in the early days of Detroit
The Belle Isle Casino is in the background of a dry James Scott Memorial Fountain
References[edit]
- ^ abcdeBak, Richard (1998). Detroit: A Postcard Album. Arcadia Publishing. ISBN0752413554. P. 78.
- ^ abcAustin, Dan. 'James Scott Memorial Fountain'. HistoricDetroit.org. Retrieved April 25, 2016.
- ^Sharoff, Robert (2005). American City: Detroit Architecture, 1845-2005. Wayne State University Press. ISBN0-8143-3270-6. P. 44.
- ^'The James Scott Fountain'. detroit1701.org. Retrieved October 25, 2010.
- ^ abLochbiler, Don (November 7, 1997). 'Detroit's Fountain of Mirth'. The Detroit News. detnews.com. Archived from the original on January 21, 2013. Retrieved October 25, 2010.
Further reading[edit]
Belle Isle Park Detroit Mi
- Hill, Eric J. and John Gallagher (2002). AIA Detroit: The American Institute of Architects Guide to Detroit Architecture. Wayne State University Press. ISBN0-8143-3120-3.
Belle Isle Casino Pictures
| Wikimedia Commons has media related to James Scott Memorial Fountain. |
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