Detroit Public Library, Detroit

A fascinating feature of the Cultural Center is the main branch of the Detroit Public Library. Opened in 1921 and expanded in 1963, the library is made of white Vermont marble and green Maine granite and was designed by Cass Gilbert, architect of the U.S. Supreme Court building, in Italian Renaissance style. Murals, stained glass and even a tiled fireplace add to the grand effect. The library has a main library which holds a wider range of books and documents. It also houses eleven departments and six special collections, including the National Automotive History Collection, the nation's premier public automotive archive and the Burton Historical Collection, a wealth of local history and genealogical information.