El Tovar Apartments

El Tovar Apartments is a four-story residential building on East Grand Boulevard with an orange brick wall, limestone trim, and a roof covered in Spanish tile. The structure houses 73 apartments and features a central entrance pavilion marked by carved lion figures lining the entrance walkway.

The building was constructed in 1928 by architect Robert J. West for the Sumeracki developers. It received recognition on the National Register of Historic Places in 1991, honoring its role in Detroit's architectural history.

The building shows how Detroit changed in the 1920s as apartment complexes became the new way people chose to live in the city. The architecture reflects how developers created a modern form of urban housing that shaped daily life for residents.

The complex is easily visible from the street and recognizable by the distinctive lion sculptures at the entrance. The property is best explored on foot to fully appreciate the facade details and roof features.

The roof displays unexpected details like small minaret towers and stylized crenellations that give the building an exotic flair. Pseudo-flying buttresses run across the facade and create a theatrical effect that is typical of Art Deco architecture from this era.

Location: Detroit

Inception: 1928

GPS coordinates: 42.35333,-83.00556

Latest update: December 12, 2025 12:07