Gem/Century Building, Detroit, MI
Posted by: WrightStuff
N 42° 20.255 W 083° 02.734
17T E 331485 N 4689285
The Gem/Century Building is now located on Madison Avenue in Detroit, MI.
Waymark Code: WMV85
Location: Michigan, United States
Date Posted: 10/14/2006
Views: 44
Buit in 1903, the Gem & Century building is home to the 450-seat Gem Theatre, 192-seat Century Theatre, 100-seat Century Grille Restaurant, and the 250-seat Century Grille Banquet Facility. In 1997, the Gem/Century buildings faced an extinction crisis due to the city's plan to construct two new sports facilities, Comerica Park and neighboring Ford Field. Rather than have these historic facilities end up in a landfill, owner Chuck Forbes and his family immediately began preparations to physically move the 5.5 million pound Gem and Century buildings to preserve these historic structures.
On November 10, 1997, the building completed its five-block, 1,850 foot journey, setting a new Guinness Book World Record as the heaviest building ever moved on wheels.