Manoogian Mansion

The Manoogian Mansion is Detroit's official mayoral residence built in the Mediterranean and Spanish Colonial style popular in the early 1900s. The house contains 15 rooms spread across 4,000 square feet, including sunrooms, a library, and dining spaces that face the Detroit River.

Wealthy businessman Alex Manoogian purchased the property at an auction in 1939 during the Great Depression and donated it to the city of Detroit in 1966. His gift transformed the mansion from a private home into a public institution serving the city's leadership.

The mansion shows how wealthy Detroit residents liked to live in the 1920s through its Mediterranean and Spanish Colonial design. This architectural style was fashionable among affluent American families during that time.

The mansion sits in a residential area on Dwight Street and opens for guided tours on select occasions throughout the year. Check ahead for tour schedules since visits are not available every day and spots fill quickly during special events.

The mansion maintains a private chef and live-in caretaker on staff, making it unusual among American mayoral homes. Few official residences in the country operate with this level of dedicated household personnel.

Location: Detroit

Architectural style: Spanish Colonial Revival architecture, Mediterranean Revival architecture

GPS coordinates: 42.35370,-82.98170

Latest update: December 7, 2025 10:03