Ossian H. Sweet House

The Ossian H. Sweet House is a single-story brick residence in Detroit with a basement and a porch on the south side. The building includes an open entrance hall and an enclosed sun room that expanded the living space.

The house was purchased in 1925 by physician Ossian Sweet, which triggered violent protests from white neighbors and became a nationally significant legal case. The violent tensions surrounding it became a turning point in American legal history regarding self-defense rights.

The house represents the housing discrimination and racial tensions of 1920s Detroit, where neighborhoods were sharply divided by race. It shows how one family's daily life was shaped by these boundaries and the hostility they faced from neighbors.

The location is accessible today through preservation efforts and public engagement and sits in a residential neighborhood. Visitors should check opening times and access before visiting, as the house remains a private residential property.

The famous attorney Clarence Darrow defended Dr. Sweet and nine other defendants in court after shots fired from the house. His successful case became a turning point for self-defense rights and set an important precedent in American legal history.

Location: Detroit

GPS coordinates: 42.37028,-82.98417

Latest update: December 10, 2025 16:28