BASILICA OF STE. ANNE DE DETROIT

The first building to be constructed in the French colony of Fort Pontchartrain in Detroit - which would eventually become the city of Detroit - began construction two days after Antoine Laumet de Lamothe Cadillac arrived on the shores of the Detroit River, on July 26, 1701, the feast day of Saint Anne. The church was burned down and rebuilt a few times, sometimes in different places, notably during the 1805 fire that ravaged the entire city. Although the present church dates from 1886, it has been able to preserve several elements of the one built in 1818 and demolished in the 1860s: communion rail, bell, statue of Saint Anne. With its neo-Gothic architectural style and its buttresses, it honors the French history of the territory and of this parish. It also has the oldest stained glass windows in Detroit and is the second oldest Catholic parish still active in the United States. As a result, it has earned a spot on the National Register of Historic Places, as well as being elevated to the status of a minor basilica by Pope Francis in 2020. To discover this architectural and historical gem, you must join a mass or other celebration, as the place is not open to tours. However, it is possible to have a guided tour for families and groups by reservation (US$5 per adult, US$3 per child). There is also a souvenir store on site.