Watching the Big Show

Historical marker location:

29777 Gratiot Avenue, Roseville, Michigan

( Marker is at the intersection of VFW Memorial Drive and PFC Wetzel Drive, on the right when traveling east on VFW Memorial Drive.)

Marker installed: 2014

at the Gratiot Drive-In Theater.

Michigan was the birthplace of the American automobile industry. In the early 20th century, automakers such as Ford, General Motors, and Chrysler established headquarters and factories in Michigan, leading to a boom in the state's economy and population. Detroit became known as the "Motor City" and a symbol of American industrial power.