William Wickens

Elizabeth Hudson
Section 501

Who Are We?

Who are we? is a question that mankind has asked itself since the beginning of time.
Identity is a form of self-expression, yet at the same time, identity is based on the perceptions
that others make. The issue with determining identity is that ones identity is a constant clash of
introspective and extrospective ideas. Ways of seeing are different among individuals, so how
can an object truly be defined in a universal way such as identity?
One mans trash is another mans treasure is a phrase about identity that is thrown
around often, but it leaves one to question what is the items true value and to whom? Campus
Martius in Detroit, is an excellent example of multiple perceived values. This tract of land, often
compared to little more than the traffic island it replaced (Schwartz), can also be called one of
The Motor Citys crowning gems.
Campus Martius is a small park of about 1.6 acres that exists like an oasis in the middle
of the concrete jungle known as Detroit. Located in center of downtown at the intersection of
Woodward and Monroe, this spot is filled with a rich history and is also presently a vibrant
cultural center for the many inhabitants of Detroit. There are not many places in the world where
six of the busiest roads in a city come together to meet a part, let alone an area that half of the
time is occupied by beach sand and the other half of the time is occupied by an ice rink.
Campus Martius had humble beginnings as a low and marshy marching ground for
training soldiers during the late 18th century (DetroitHistorical). After Detroit was nearly
destroyed by a fire in 1805 Judge Augustus Woodward wanted to redesign the city to be more
like the prominent city of Washington D.C. so he used Campus Martius as a Point of Origin
for the whole city. Streets north of this simple marsh were given designations based on their

William Wickens
Elizabeth Hudson
Section 501

distance from Campus Martius, clearly depicting that roads such as 8 mile road are eight miles
from the spot that Woodward knew had potential (DetroitHistorical).
In 1847 the city council of Detroit voted to have 100 yards of dirt laid on Campus
Martius so that the land could be developed. In 1872, the Michigan Soldiers and Sailors
Monument was erected at Campus Martius because of its historic involvement in training militia
men (PPS), but Campus Martius still appeared to be little more than an empty lot until the grand
opening in November 2004 (CampusMartiusPark). By then Detroit had fallen on hard times that
the city felt that it needed to have a symbol of its new revitalization. Looking back now, there is
no wonder as to why Detroit chose for Campus Martius to be the flagship of its reinvention.
Campus Martius since 2004 has become the premiere location for community events with
over 200 events ranging from music festivals, movies, swing dancing, and concerts all being held
in it in a single summer (PPS). People of every creed, class, and color come to park simply
socialize and relax in the atmosphere and environment. The park has no one set function, but
rather serves to fulfill the needs of anyone that inhabits, and this ambiguity is what made my
group originally interested in the park.
When asked the question which of these locations best represents Detroit my group
chose to study Campus Martius for a variety of reasons. We understood the importance of
identity and individualism in the city of Detroit and wanted to reflect these values in the location
we chose, but we also wanted something that fit the complex history and unique spirit of Detroit.
When my group visited Campus Martius we noted a lot of the unique things that we saw.
We got to park at 7:30PM on a cold September night and the first thing we noticed was the
abrupt transition between the city sprawl and the grassy tranquility of the park. In the center of

William Wickens
Elizabeth Hudson
Section 501

the park there was a fountain and dining area to enjoy, and even at 7:30 these features were being
enjoyed by many people such as couples on dates and children wanted to play in the water.
Everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves and paying attention to their company as well as the
company of the others that were also in the park which they acknowledged with the occasional
glance and observational comment. As we walked through the beach sand that took over half of
the park we found a nice spot to sit and admire the Michigan Soldiers and Sailors Monument.
Each of the features, while at first glance appeared helter-skelter, suddenly came together in a
cohesive style which appeared to be that they each were there because someone wanted them to
be there. There wasnt a single thing in the park that wasnt being enjoyed.
Campus Martius teaches us that identity can be universal in the way that it is ambiguous.
What could be called a shabby stretch of Detroit is unlike any city in the world in the sense that it
reinvents itself to suit its needs, the same way that Campus Martius suits the needs of anyone that
occupies it, whether that purpose is to seek solace from the hustle of the city or simply be used as
a landmark for meeting friends and navigating. Different ways of seeing something lead to a
unique personal experience, and because of this, a unique identity. Inward expressions of identity
may be the same, but by different perspectives the outward expressions of others we can see
what is desired and can become forever improving, similar to how Detroit is constantly
envolving.