This cache is a part of the Celebrate
Detroit series, intended to showcase the highlights of
Detroit.
The cache can be found near the General Motors World Headquarters
at the Renaissance Center.
This is almost a drive-up cache, but may take a bit of sleuthing to
locate.
This cache can be reached from the sidewalk and does not require
walking across the grass or through the planted area. There is no
need to walk through the bushes or plants. You will need to
bring your own pen or pencil for signing the log.
History: Located on the Detroit River, the first phase of
construction was announced in 1971 by Detroit Renaissance and
followed in the wake of the 1967 Detroit riots. The new
construction was intended to stem the tide of urban decay and white
flight that followed the unrest. The Renaissance Center was at the
time the world's largest privately financed project with an
anticipated $500 million dollar cost. Henry Ford II spearheaded the
effort, and John Portman was the principal designer.
The first phase constructed included a five-building rosette, with
a seventy-three-story hotel (727 feet) surrounded by four
thirty-nine-story office buildings (522 feet). This first phase
officially opened in March, 1977. Two additional office towers were
built due east on the original project and these opened in 1981. In
May, 1996, General Motors bought the Renaissance Center for $73
million and converted it into its world headquarters.
In 2006 the Ren-Cen was the media headquarters for Super Bowl
XL hosting ESPN television and radio shows along with various
radio stations from around the world.
I had problems getting a good coordinate reading with all the tall
buildings, so I am open to alternate coordinates you may come up
with. The cache was originally hidden across the street and was
found before it was cancelled due to it's proximity to another
Celebrate Detroit cache. It was relocatd to this spot to meet the
.10 mile requirement.
First to find: Brummelbear