Birth of Kiwanis

Birth of Kiwanis is a Michigan historical marker in Detroit, Wayne County, dedicated 1965.

Griswold and Grand River, Detroit

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Kiwanis International, one of the great service organizations of the world, had its origin on January 21, 1915. On this date the state of Michigan issued a charter to a group of business and professional men who organized the first Kiwanis Club on this site in the Griswold Hotel. The club’s name, Kiwanis, was an Indian term. The concept and principle which Kiwanis represents is symbolized by the slogan “We build.” From this beginning, and within two years, Kiwanis became international in its scope.

TodayHistorical map

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USGS Historical Topographic Map Collection

Historical maps covering this location

1873 · (Map of Wayne County, Michigan) (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
1874 · Plan of Detroit (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
1897 · Detroit, vicinity. (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
1903 · Detroit and Vicinity. (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
1918 · Detroit, Michigan (USGS Historical Topographic Map Collection)

Detroit, Michigan, 1918, covering the location of Birth of Kiwanis, with a pin at the marker's coordinates — Detroit, Michigan, 1918, covering this location. USGS Historical Topographic Map Collection. The pin is ours, placed from the marker's coordinates.

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Marker data: Michigan History Center
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On the National Register nearby

Farwell Building180 ft
Lower Woodward Avenue Historic District320 ft

Places within about 300 feet of this marker that are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. A nearby listing is not always the marker's own subject.