River Place

In 1870, a seed was planted on the banks of the Detroit River. This seed, Parke-Davis and Company, would grow into a pharmaceutical giant, its roots intertwining with the very fabric of River Place. River Place wasn’t always its name. This sprawling 14.5-acre complex, bordered by Joseph Campau, Wight, McDougall, and the Detroit River, began as a humble riverfront property. Parke-Davis nurtured its growth over decades, from the 1870s to 1955. The result? Twenty-six structures, each a testament to a different era of industrial architecture. Architectural giants like Donaldson and Meier, Albert Kahn, and Smith, Hinchman and Grylls lent their vision, creating a tapestry of brick and concrete, a blend of mill buildings and reinforced concrete structures, rising one to six stories tall. River Place is more than just bricks and mortar. It’s a time capsule, preserving the legacy of Parke-Davis. This company wasn’t just producing medicine; it was pioneering the future of pharmaceuticals. In 1902, they built the first industrial research laboratory in the U.S. dedicated to pharmacological research, right here on this site. This lab, now the Roberts Riverwalk Hotel, stands as a monument to their groundbreaking work, a National Historic Landmark since 1976. In 1979, the Stroh family, of Stroh Brewery Company fame, took up the mantle, transforming the complex into the River Place we know today. The buildings, once humming with the production of medicines, now house offices, shops, residences, and the Rattlesnake Club restaurant in the redesigned 300 River Place building. The spirit of innovation lives on, woven into the very stones of River Place. From Parke-Davis’s groundbreaking research to the Stroh family’s revitalization, this place whispers stories of transformation, a testament to Detroit’s enduring spirit.