You might think that the Wayne State University Buildings Historic District would include much or all of the Wayne State campus. That is not correct. This historic district includes just three buildings. There is the Queen Anne home that was built for David MacKenzie who was the principal of the nearby Central High School and a leader in the formation of the educational institution that eventually became Wayne State University. There is also the building now known as Old Main on the Wayne Campus. When David MacKenzie founded Detroit Junior College as a post secondary institution in 1917, it was housed here and eventually became a component of Wayne State. Finally there is the First Church of Christ Scientist that was taken over by Wayne State in 1961 for their theatrical presentations and named to honor the accomplishments of the fourth president of that college. There are almost a dozen building on the nearby campus of Wayne State that are separately listed on the state and national registers of historic sites including the Belcrest Apartment Building, the MacGreagor Conference Center, the Herman Strasburg residence and St. Andrew’s Memorial Episcopal Church.
The three sites in the Wayne State University Historic District are described on this website:
David Mackenzie Residence; 4735 Cass at West Forest, Built 1895; Architects William Malcomson and William Higginbotham
Central High School/Old Main Building of Wayne State University; 4841 Cass at West Warren, Built 1896; Architects William Malcomson and William Higginbotham
First Church of Christ Scientist/Hilberry Theater, 4743 Cass; Built 1917; Architects Field, Hinchman and Smith
City of Detroit Designated Historic District: Not registered
State of Michigan Registry of Historic Sites; P 25280 Listed January 19, 1957
National Register of Historic Sites: Listed June 23, 1978
Description prepared: January, 2011
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Michigan P 25280 Listed January 19, 1957
National Register of Historic Sites: Listed June 23, 1978