Col. Frank J. Hecker House

The Frank J. Hecker House is a limestone residence featuring corner turrets, Flemish-style roofs, and a wraparound covered loggia with balustrades. The property contains 49 rooms with elaborate interiors, including an oak-paneled hall, an oval mahogany dining room, and a music room with marble fireplaces.

Colonel Frank J. Hecker, a Civil War veteran and railroad manufacturer, commissioned architects Scott, Kamper & Scott to build this residence in 1888. The structure reflects the architectural ambitions of Gilded Age industrialists who shaped Detroit's development during the city's most prosperous period.

The mansion served for decades as a performance space where orchestras and musicians gathered for concerts and rehearsals. This role shaped how the neighborhood understood and valued the building.

The residence is located on Woodward Avenue in Midtown, a central Detroit area with good connections to surrounding neighborhoods. Wayne State University now owns the property and uses it for administrative purposes, which may affect visiting options.

The mansion includes a music room with Egyptian Nubian marble fireplaces, a rare material choice that reflected the eclectic tastes of wealthy collectors of the era. This detail shows how international influences found their way into the interior design of prosperous American homes.

Location: Detroit

Official opening: 1888

Architectural style: châteauesque

GPS coordinates: 42.36158,-83.06700

Latest update: December 10, 2025 16:29