Belle Isle
Inscription
This island, a jewel in the hearts of Detroiters, has provided shining memories for visitors of all ages. About 1845 this site received its present name, Belle Isle, in honor of Governor Lewis Cass’s daughter Isabella. On September 23, 1879, this island was purchased by the city of Detroit for two hundred thousand dollars.
Early in the 1880s, the Board of Park Commissioners consulted with Frederick Law Olmsted, the designer of Central Park in New York City, to plan the development of Belle Isle as a public park. Belle Isle is now a unique island park covering 981 acres and attracting millions of visitors annually. Its most popular features include a beach, the Casino restaurant, beautiful formal gardens, Scott Fountain, riding stables, an aquarium, a conservatory, a nature interpretive center, and the Dossin Great Lakes Museum.
Location
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