World's Largest Stove

Bet you didn't know Detroit was once known as the Stove Capital of the World! There were at least five companies producing wood, coal, or coke burning stoves in the late 1800's. The "World's Largest Stove" was built for the Michigan Stove Company's exhibit at the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago. It now resides at our Michigan State Fair Grounds on 8 Mile and Woodward in Detroit. You wouldn't want to cook on it though as it's made out of wood. This handsome 6 foot 2 guy in front is helping us with the scale of this thing!

Michigan State Fair

The Michigan State Fair opened on August 28 and is running through September 7, 2009. Armed services day is Sept 6 where Vets and those currently serving are admitted free. Doreen's favorites at the fair were the agricultural displays, the miracle of life (baby cows, pigs, chicks, etc), the mules, donkeys, chicken, doves and pigeons. Be sure to visit the Community Arts Building to see displays of local talent in photography, quilting, canning, painting, wood carving, table setting, cake decorating. The music on Saturday night was fantastic with plenty of seating, plenty of food, bottomless chocolate milk for 50 cents and carnival rides. We surely hope this is not the last State Fair. Did you know that it is the nation's oldest? It began in 1849, shortly after we became a state and is designated as an official Historic State site. It is situated on 164 acres.